FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (12/05)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

Centenary Opera Workshop to Perform The Magic Flute Dec. 10 &11

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary Opera Workshop will present Mozart’s The Magic Flute Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium of the Hurley School of Music at Centenary College.

The Magic Flute, which premiered in 1791, was Mozart’s last opera. It is a fantastic allegory, set in an imaginary time and place. Prince Tamino is commissioned by the Queen of the Night to save her daughter Pamina from the evil Sarastro.The Prince’s quest takes him to Sarastro’s kingdom, where he discovers that life is not as he thought it to be. The Queen is not all good, and Sarastro is not all evil.The Prince is aided in his quest by the character Papageno, who is one of Mozart’s most popular creations.First portrayed by Mozart’s friend, opera impresario Emmanuel Schikaneder, Papageno represents Everyman.The constant comic relief in the opera, Papageno is on a continual search to find the perfect wife and cares nothing for the Prince’s lofty quest. Mozart and Schikaneder were both Masons, and collaborated to fill The Magic Flute with Masonic symbols, which add a mysterious aura to this work.

Centenary students sing the leading characters in this production, in which several roles are double-cast. Tenor Codey Whitt of Burleson, Texas will sing Tamino. Brandon Buzzanca of Bossier City, La. and Billie Harland of Vidor, Texas will each play the role of Papageno.The Queen of the Night will be sung by Centenary alumna Melanie Russell. Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night, will be portrayed by Nancy Carey of West Monroe, La. and Katie Phillips of Shreveport, La.

The Three Ladies who attend the Queen of the Night are Lindsay Hotaling of Branch, La; Melissa Wise of Minden, La; and Mary Greenwood of Ruston, La. Cory Olson of Richardson, Texas and Travis Orr of Henderson, Texas sing the role of Sarastro, and the Speaker of the Temple is Adam Philley of Monterey, La. Sarastro’s evil servant Monostatos is Nolan Budgewater of Baton Rouge, La. The Three Spirits are Jessica Rautio of Princeton, La.; Karen Massey of Pittsburg, Texas; and Shelly Walker of West Monroe, La. Marie Kinnebrew of Shreveport, La. and Elizabeth Sweetman of Hammond, La. sing the role of Papagena. Justin Bailey of Ball, La. and Sam Houston of Houston, Texas are the two priests, and also play the armored men. Heather Nicholls of Shreveport, La. and Leah Sayad of Shreveport, La. are the two slaves.

Dr. Gale Odom directs the Centenary Opera Workshop, and Les Downs accompanies the group. Amy Williams of Lafayette, La. is the assistant director of this production. Terry Wright of Shreveport, La. is the lighting director. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Hurley School of Music Office at 318-869-5235 or music@centenary.edu.

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