The University of Redlands School of Music and Crafton Hills College are pleased to announce a collaborative effort to present a full production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata from April 3-6. The production will feature musicians and faculty from the University of Redlands with sets, costumes and lighting created by students and faculty at Crafton Hills College.

According to Andrew Glendening, the director of the University of Redlands School of Music, “We have an excellent opera program but lack an appropriate performance space to produce a grand opera. The theater at Crafton has a good combination of size and flexibility to accommodate the production.”

Crafton Hills College’s Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Science, Judith Ashton, called the collaboration a rare experience for the college to collaborate with a university. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for our Crafton students to work with university students on a magnificent opera,” she said.

La Traviata or “The Woman who Strayed” recounts the tale of a Parisian courtesan and a young man from the provinces who discover that love conquers all but the social intolerance of the bourgeoisie. Premiered in 1853, Verdi’s tragic masterpiece is based on the novel La Dame aux caméllias by Alexandre Dumas and is one of the most popular operas of all time.

The opera is directed by Marco Schindelmann, University of Redlands Artist Professor of Voice and director of the University Opera. Assistant Professor Co Boi Nguyen will conduct the University of Redlands Orchestra. Snezana Petrovic is the costume and set designer and lighting design is by Kevin Palkki.

Four performances will be held at the Finkelstein Performing Arts Center at Crafton Hills College on April 3, 4, and 5 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available from the University of Redlands Campus Events at (909) 748-8881.

For more information contact the School of Music at (909) 748-8700.

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