Jan
08
2024
Events
Opera 101
Monday, Jan 8, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Category:
The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island SC
Opera 101 welcomes both the uninitiated and experienced lovers of classical western opera from its inception in Italy over 400 years ago to the present, and is open to all Kiawah residents.
Contact Susan Wright Sullivan at [email protected] to be included in email communications for related reading materials and suggested videos.
Saundra DeAthos – Director of Opera & Associate Professor of Voice, College of Charleston Administrative Director, Charleston Opera Theater
La Bohème – Artistic interpretations of the opera
La Bohème is arguably the most famous opera in the repertoire. The story is relatable and accessible to almost everyone. Saundra will take us on a journey through the different interpretations of Puccini’s beloved opera.
Prior to teaching at the CoC, Saundra spent 10 years as Music Coordinator in the Theatre Department, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL. In addition to her teaching experience, Saundra is a lyric soprano heralded for the remarkable quality of both her vocal and dramatic presentations. She received rave reviews in her stunning role debut as Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly, Helena Symphony Orchestra) and reprised the role with the Amarillo Opera where she was described in the North Texas Performing Arts News as “vocally…stunning. She meets the extravagant demands that Puccini makes on his hero without any strain whatsoever. She has a full-throated lyric-verging-on-verismo soprano and can still float a gorgeous pianissimo note at the top of her range. In the final scene, she ate the scenery and left the audience in tears.”
Excelling in a varied and broad repertoire, Saundra began her career as an Adler Fellow and in the Merola Opera Program with San Francisco Opera. She has since graced the stages of many outstanding opera companies across the United States, including San Francisco Opera, Western Opera Theater, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, Eugene Opera, Amarillo Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera North, Opera Illinois, and West Bay Opera.
On the 8th, Saundra’s class will focus on artistic interpretations of Puccini’s La Bohème, an opera she is well versed on. Look for an email the week before the class that will include reading material and suggested videos.
Location
The Sandcastle