February 10, 2010
Semele. Download image.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music will present Handel's opera "Semele," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. UAB Opera is directed by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, D.M.A. Tickets are $20, $15 and $10; $10 tickets for UAB faculty, staff and students. Call 205-975-2787 for ticket information.
UAB's production of this classic opera based on Greek mythology will feature an outrageous, modern twist: It's set in 1980s New Jersey, and Semele is an ambitious gold-digger, Jupiter an adulterous ladies' man, and the God of Sleep an anesthesiologist.
The action begins at the wedding of Semele and Athamas, an all-around nice guy, although he doesn't compare to Semele's lover, the god Jupiter. Suddenly thunder from Jupiter is heard, and the wedding is abandoned. Semele's sister reveals her love for Athamas, and the sisters' father Cadmus reports that Jupiter, in the form of an eagle, swooped down and carried Semele away. Jupiter's wife Juno is incensed by his affair and breaks away from her routine of lounging in a muumuu determined to destroy Semele. She enlists the help of Somnus, the God of Sleep. Deception and death follow, but all ends well with Bacchus's help. Boring mythological stuff? Not at UAB Opera, promises Hurst-Wajszczuk.
The cast includes Shane Bloemetijie of Huntsville as Jupiter, god of the sky; Tyler Henderson of Huntsville as Cadmus, King of Thebes; Brianna Leigh Moore of Arab as Semele; Charles Daniel of Gardendale as Athamas; William Sparks of Homewood as Somnus, God of Sleep; Kuni Scissum of Huntsville as Apollo, God of the Sun; Jessica Johnson of Florence as Juno, Jupiter's wife, and as Ino, Semele's sister; and Laura Culotta of Birmingham as Iris.
The chorus is Christopher Barbee of Trussville, Rhea Reuter and Sarah Grace Stevenson of Madison, Lindsay Warner of Dothan, Brian Denton of Mount Olive, Jacob Wooten of Alabaster, Madison Holler of Helena, Lori Michele Ayler of Mobile, Hillary Miller of Decatur, Bianca Ford and Aaron Grayson of Birmingham, Tony Morse of Huntsville, Leah Eiland, Ryan Reese and Jennifer Thorpe of Hueytown and Mark Kunkel of Napa, Calif.
About the UAB Department of Music
UAB is the first all-Steinway piano school in Alabama. The UAB Department of Music presents more than 150 concerts, recitals, master classes and lectures each year - many of them free - for more than 400,000 people throughout the region. The department features 17 ensembles.