WCSU Opera to present Strauss’ ‘Die Fledermaus’

Operetta performances to portray playful exuberance of 19th century Vienna

DANBURY, CONN. — The playful exuberance, social elegance and courtly intrigues of late 19th century Vienna will provide the setting for the Western Connecticut State University Opera presentation of the operetta “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss Jr. in two performances on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Both performances will be at 8 p.m. in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. General admission will be $15, with ticket prices of $10 for seniors and children 12 and under. Admission will be free for WCSU students with a valid ID.  For reservations, visit the WCSU box office online at www.wcsu.edu/tickets or call (203) 837-TIXX.

“Die Fledermaus,” a three-act operatic farce that premiered in Austria in 1874, presents the tale of Gabriel von Eisenstein, whose attempt to escape an eight-day jail term for a petty offense to a bureaucrat provides the prelude to an evening of mistaken indentities, seductions, champagne indulgence and rousing song at Prince Orlofsky’s ball. The light-hearted resolution in the final act of the resentments and confusion among the principal players leaves Eisenstein in jail to serve his sentence and sing the operetta’s finale.  

WCSU Professor of Music Dr. Margaret Astrup is the director of the production and Associate Professor of Music Dr. Fernando Jimenez will lead the WCSU Orchestra. Western students performing leading roles in the operetta will include Benedetta Cordaro, of Trumbull, as Rosalinda Eisenstein, and Erick Sanchez, of Stamford, as her husband Gabriel von Eisenstein.

Other members of the student cast are Charles Widmer, of Oxford, as Alfred; Stephen Wynn, of Cos Cob, as Dr. Falke; Rachel Armour, of Waterbury, as Adele; Megan Kellogg, of Stamford, as Prince Orlofsky; Steve Valenzuela, of Waterbury, as Frank; Matthew Johnson, of Trumbull, as Dr. Blind; Ryan Reynolds, of New Fairfield, as Frosch; Jilian Saber, of Redding, as Sally; and Connor Thompson, of Ledyard, as Ivan. 

The WCSU Office of Alumni Relations will offer “A Night at the Opera” dinner and theatre package for opening night on March 28 at a price of $35 per person. The package will include a buffet dinner with complimentary wine at 5:30 p.m. in Warner Hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, and one ticket to the 8 p.m. Friday performance. For reservation information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 837-8298.

For more information about the WCSU Opera performance, contact Astrup at astrupm@wcsu.edu or the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.         

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.