Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A one-act opera by renowned Italian composer Giacomo Puccini will be presented April 22-24 in a special location at Mississippi State.
"Suor Angelica" (Sister Angelica) will involve a range of university students under the direction of veteran music education professor Linda Karen Smith. The production will take place in the historic Chapel of Memories, the campus' interdenominational house of worship.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on the 22nd and 23rd; 3 p.m. on the 24th. Tickets are
$8 general admission; $5 for MSU students with valid identification.
Generally considered the last great Italian operatic composer, Puccini (1858-1924) also is remembered for such popular creations as "La Boheme," "Tosca" and "Madame Butterfly."
First performed in 1918 at New York's Metropolitan Opera and set in a 17th-century convent, "Angelica" tells the tragic story of a nun who was cloistered following an illicit relationship that resulted in the birth of a son. Seven years after entering the nunnery, she is visited by a conniving aunt who wishes her to sign away the child's inheritance rights.
Told by the aunt that the boy has died, Angelica drinks poison. As she faces death, the star-crossed woman is visited--in a profusion of light--by the Virgin Mary and a child.
Brook Herman, a biological sciences graduate student from Starkville, is featured in the title role of the department of music education production.
Other student performers and their roles include [by hometown]:
BAILEY--Senior music education major Amy N. Poole, one of two "Le Cercatrici."
BAY SPRINGS--Senior microbiology major Leslie A. McNeil, "La Suora Infermiera."
COLUMBUS--Freshman music education major Bonnie S. Wimmer, "Suor Dolcina."
HERNANDO--Junior communication major Lauren E. Lockwood, one of two "Le Converse."
LITHIA SPRINGS, Ga.--Senior political science major Tameika L. Cooper, "Suor Osmina."
LULING, La.--Sophomore music education major Sarah L. Melohn, one of two "Le Cercatrici."
MADISON--Senior music education major Jessica D. West, "Suro Genovieffa."
OCEAN SPRINGS--Senior music education major Valencia C. Pleasant, "La Zia Pricipessa."
STARKVILLE--Junior elementary education major Tangi A. Holmes, one of two "Le Novizie"; junior music education major Elizabeth A. Jones, "La Suaro Zalatrice"; and junior physical education major Stephanie F. Wallace, one of two "Le Novizie."
STEENS--Senior civil engineering major Danielle Honnoll, one of two "Le Converse."
VANCE, Ala.--Freshman animal and dairy science major Jessica B. Martin, "La Maestra delle Novizie."
WAVELAND--Sophomore architecture major Allyson Cleaves, "La Badessa."
For more information, telephone the music education department at (662) 325-3070.