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May 18, 2012

ULM and Friends of Opera to present "Rigoletto" June 3

The Friends of Opera will present "Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi at ULM on Sunday, June 3, at 4 p.m. in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.

The opera, reportedly great music infused with dramatic passion and intrigue, will showcase the vocal talent of the area, including the entire voice faculty at ULM. Joining soprano Dr. Claire Vangelisti, bass Louis Nabors, bass-baritone Dr. Matthew James, tenor Julian Jones, and mezzo-soprano Lynn Clark will be the extraordinary tenor Bray Wilkins, singing the role of the Duke.

Travelling to Monroe to sing the title role in this performance will be baritone Ron Ulen, who has sung over 40 different roles in the opera houses of Germany and Switzerland. Ulen is presently on faculty at Texas State University in San Marcos.

"Rigoletto" will be performed in Italian with projected English translated titles to follow the drama.

Acclaimed artist Dr. Richard Seiler will be the pianist. Seiler is head of the piano faculty at ULM and has been the collaborative pianist in countless recitals and concerts on and off campus, including the well-received recital of tenor Arnold Rawls this past fall.

Producer of the opera is ULM Director of Opera and Musical Theater Dr. Mark Ross Clark, who has produced and directed more than 50 operas in the U.S. and in Brazil, Taiwan and England. He regularly teaches and directs in Germany, Mexico and Italy.

There will be a VIP "Meet the Artists" reception immediately following the performance at the home of Carole and Tex Kilpatrick. A limited number of tickets are available for $25 per ticket, and can be purchased at Zeagler's Music, at 1401 N. 18th Street (on the corner of N. 18th and Glenmar Ave.).

For more information call 318-342-1414. All proceeds from the event will assist student production costs for opera at ULM.

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