Published May 06, 2014
Tickets are now available for the Louisiana Opera’s performances of “Cavalleria Rusticana”
and “Pagliacci” or “Cav” and “Pag.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, May
16, and at 2 p.m., on Sunday, May 18, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall on the
University of Louisiana at Monroe campus. English “supra-titles” will be projected
during the performance.
Student tickets are $10 with a valid school ID, and general admission is $25. Tickets
can be purchased at the Toggery, located at 1400 N. 18th Street in Monroe, and online
at ulmtickets.com.
There will be a VIP reception held before the May 16 performance at 6 p.m., in the
ULM sculpture garden behind Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.
Guests will sample Italian delicacies and meet the celebrity guest singers. There
will also be a VIP reception in the ULM sculpture garden following Sunday’s 2 p.m.
show.
VIP tickets are $50 and include reserved seats in the first six rows, as well as admittance
to the exclusive receptions.
“Cavalleria Rusticana” is a story of love, loss and betrayal, taking place on an Italian
Easter Sunday.
“Pagliacci,” follows the personal struggles and triumphs of members of an improvisational
comic troupe that travels into a small southern Italian town to perform.
Cast performers include Allan Glassman from the Metropolitan Opera, and exciting new
baritone John Brandon.
Returning to Monroe is baritone Ron Ulen, who has performed leading roles in Germany
for 19 years, and favorite Jos Milton, who is on the voice faculty at the University
of Mississippi.
Baritone Wei-Shu Tsai and soprano Meng-Jung Tsai, from the National Theater in Taiwan
will also sing leading roles.
Richard Seiler, professor of music at ULM will serve as the pianist, and Mark Ross
Clark leads the production as director.
Soprano Claire Vangelisti, associate professor of music at ULM, who has international
and national performing credits, will sing the leading role of Nedda in “Pagliacci.”
Strauss award winner Lynn Clark, associate professor of education at ULM, and tenor
Julian Jones, instructor of music at ULM, will also join the cast.
Also returning from last year’s production of “La Boheme” is Betsy Uschkrat, a former
Miss Indiana, and tenor Tyler Smith, who has performed with the New Orleans opera.
The guest stars will also offer a very special appearance at Landry’s Vineyard beginning
at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, May 13.
They will perform the “greatest hits” from “Les Miserables,” “Chess,” “Man of La Mancha,”
“Showboat,” and other favorites.
General admission is $10 and includes snacks. Beverages will be available for purchase.
For more information, call 318-342-3247, or visit ulm.edu/opera
