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U.T.'s Butler Opera Center to Close Season With Die Fledermaus

Updated: Thursday, April 12 2012, 04:28 PM CDT
By Rob Faubion, AustinOnStage.com

The Butler Opera Center at the University of Texas will close its 2011–12 Season with the popular opera Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss.  Performances will be staged on April 20th, 22nd, 25th and 27th at 7:30 p.m. in McCullough Theatre.

Die Fledermaus will be guest conducted by Bob Spillman, professor emeritus of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Spillman was co-director of Aspen Music Festival’s Opera Theatre Center for many years and has travels extensively in the United States and Europe as a soloist, accompanist, adjudicator and guest teacher. 

Die Fledermaus tells the tale of Gabriel von Eisenstein, who decides to attend his friend’s costume ball despite being sentenced to eight days in jail.  His wife Rosalinde, believing her husband to be incarcerated, seizes the opportunity to partake in the festivities - and chaos ensues before a Viennese backdrop of glittering waltzes and spirited drinking songs.

The popular German operetta - which combines a funny, dark story with memorable music - will feature a cast of Butler Opera Center student singers and remains Strauss’ most famous and favorite theatrical work.  The overture itself is one of Strauss’ most famous orchestral works, and the opera as a whole has been translated into almost every language.

Advance tickets are $20 for general admission, $17 for seniors and U.T. faculty and staff, and $10 for students.   Free tickets will be available on a "first-come, first-served" basis to all U.T. students, faculty and staff with a valid UT ID for the Wednesday, April 25th performance.

McCullough Theatre is located in the Performing Arts Center building at 2350 Robert Dedman Drive on the University of Texas campus.   For more information and reservations, call the Butler School of Music at (512) 471-5401 or visit www.TexasPerformingArts.org.

(Image courtesy Susquehanna University)U.T.'s Butler Opera Center to Close Season With Die Fledermaus