Story By: Matthew Thomas
Recently, UM held its annual performance of Opera Scenes.
Opera Scenes is a long-running, vocal performance show created and directed by Dr. Charles Wood, UM voice and opera professor, that showcases scenes from several different operas.
“I have to choose the particular scenes based on the personnel that we have. Sometimes we may not have but one tenor, so that affects the total number of scenes and what I do because I can’t use them in every scene, so there are a lot of factors that go into it,” said Dr. Wood.
Wood explained that the main goal of Opera Scenes is to help the students involved improve vocally and to give them confidence in their musical abilities.
“The idea of coming outside of your shell and putting yourself in another circumstance is really appealing to me. When we’re actually performing it seems like we’re just all on the same page and we all have this one goal,” said Jahleel Walker, UM senior and vocal performance major.
Wood also uses the show as way to spotlight opera composers and to introduce a variety of operas to the audience.
“There’s so much going on and so many different kinds of opera, they find something they really like, and that’s the best part, is seeing the audience respond to those students, and to know those students just did some great music,” said Wood.
Anyone interested in participating in the next Opera Scenes can visit but who missed the show, can still attend the Spring Opera, next semester.
For more information about Opera Scenes and the UM music department’s other events visit its Facebook page here.
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