OCU University will present the world premiere of Thomas Pasatieri鈥檚 opera, 鈥淭he Vaudevillian,鈥� inspired by the real-life rise and fall of American diva Rosa Ponselle from Feb. 16 to 18.
鈥淭his is a great backstage backstory, an operatic melodrama, a true American tale of triumph, loss and reinvention,鈥� said David Herendeen, who will direct a cast of 18. The 37-piece opera orchestra is led by Jan McDaniel.
The music and libretto were written by Pasatieri, whose family were long-time friends with Ponselle.
鈥淗e is one of the great composers you don鈥檛 know that you already know,鈥� Herendeen said. The creator of two dozen operas, Pasatieri has orchestrated soundtracks for movies including 鈥淭he Shawshank Redemption,鈥� 鈥淟egends of the Fall,鈥� 鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥� and 鈥淪cent of a Woman.鈥�
Pasatieri grew up knowing the story of Ponselle, a daughter of Italian immigrants who played piano for silent movie screenings and sang when the projectionist changed reels. She and her sister toured the vaudeville circuit before auditioning for Enrico Caruso, who recommended her to the manager of the Metropolitan Opera.
Ponselle made her operatic debut on Nov. 15, 1918, four days after the end of World War I, performing as Verdi heroine Leonara opposite Caruso. She had little operatic knowledge or training and the Met role marked her first time before an opera audience. She was 21 years old.
鈥淭he Vaudevilian鈥� chronicles her 19 seasons at the Met and the decades that followed. Upon her death at the age of 84, The New York Times declared her 鈥渋ndisputably one of the greatest operatic talents this country has ever produced.鈥�
OCU University鈥檚 66th season of opera and music theater continues with Bed艡ich Smetana鈥檚 operatic comedy 鈥淭he Bartered Bride鈥� March 2-4; followed by Leonard Bernstein鈥檚, 鈥淥n the Town,鈥� on April 20-22, as part of the celebration of the centennial of his birth. An opening-night dinner themed to the show will be held in the Bass Music Center beginning at 6:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 405-208-5227 or online at www.okcu.edu/tickets.
