Opera is alive and well at Shorter College! Students have the opportunity to perform in fully staged productions in both the fall and spring semesters. In the fall, Shorter Opera Theatre presents chamber operas and one-act works while the spring features the major production. Every other year operas will be performed in a foreign language and feature the use of Supertitles. Selection of the operas is made to showcase student singers and to expose them to the breadth of operatic literature from early music to contemporary, from verismo opera to operetta. In addition to leading roles at the undergraduate level and first-class vocal training from the Shorter voice faculty, the opera program includes a class in Yoga for Singers (taught by Linda Lister) and a new Opera Role Study course (taught by Brian Nedvin).

Please contact the Opera Director Dr. Linda Lister (llister@shorter.edu) for more information about Shorter Opera Theatre.

Click here to see photos from past Shorter College opera productions.

See Video from past performances

Orpheus in the Underworld/ Shorter College Opera Workshop
Orpheus in the Underworld/ Final/Shorter Opera Workshop
Shorter College Opera Workshop/ Bastien and Bastienne

See more Shorter College School of the Arts videos

aTTENTION STUDENTS!!

Opera rehearsal schedule for 2009-2010 coming soon!

Opera Classes

In addition to their voice lessons and vocal coachings, students take a number of courses geared towards operatic training:

MUS 2305      Yoga for Singers                          (taught by Linda Lister)

MUS 3241/     Opera Role Study (taught by Kirsten Kunkle and Ben Harris)
MUS 3242

2009-2010 Season

Hänsel und Gretel
October 22-25, 2009
Callaway Theatre
A Children's Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck
Sung in German with English supertitles

Directed by Linda Lister
Music Direction by Ben Harris
Chamber orchestra conducted by Sam Baltzer

Join us for the beloved operatic adaptation of the familiar fairy tale by the brothers Grimm.  Hansel and Gretel wander into the forest in search in food but get lost.  When they find a delicious gingerbread house and start to nibble, the owner (a Witch) is not pleased with them eating her happy home.

The Merry Widow
January 22-23, 2010
Rome City Auditorium
An Operetta by Franz Lehar
Presented in collaboration with Rome's Own Music Ensembles
Sung in English

Directed by Linda Lister
Music Direction by Ben Harris
Orchestra conducted by Sam Baltzer

Hanna Glawari, the "merry widow," tries to find love again in this story of romantic intrigue set at the Parisian embassy in the imaginary country Pontevedro.  Filled with lilting waltzes and dancing grisettes, this well-loved Vienesse operetta features the famous Vilja Lied.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PREVIOUS OPERA SEASONS.