School of Music presents 'The Poor Sailor' and 'Amelia Goes to the Ball'

KALAMAZOO—The School of Music at Western Michigan University presents two short operas at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The production is directed by D. Terry Williams, professor emeritus of theatre, and conducted by David Little, professor of voice.

Students will perform "The Poor Sailor" by Darius Milhuad and "Amelia Goes to the Ball" by Gian Carlo Menotti. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors/faculty and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at millerauditorium.com/som or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

"The Poor Sailor" is a short three-act opera, lasting about 35 minutes. It tells the tragic tale of a sailor returning home to a faithful wife after years at sea, and how a case of mistaken identity leads to his unfortunate demise. The original U.S. premiere of the opera in 1937 was a double bill with the world premiere of "Amelia Goes to the Ball." "Amelia" is a one-act comic opera about a young socialite juggling her jealous husband and pesky lover as she readies herself for the first ball of the season.

The all-student cast for "The Poor Sailor" includes Kyle Ball, Jack Cotaling, Levi Hamlin, and D. Giles Simmer.

The all-student cast for "Amelia Goes to the Ball" includes Bridgett Cappel, Jamal Epperson, Victoria Evans, Sam Gantt, Matthew Gifford, Chase Gray, Matt Hazel, Joseph Johnson, Renee MacDonald, Jesse Olsen, Danae Picklo, Alicia Renney, Ted Sarge, Brian Bradley Schneider, Sarah Schrems, Emilee Schulndt-Bodien, Alexandria Shiner, Marlyre Thompson, Adam Vaughn, Melanie Walker and Amos Warren.

For more information about the concert, visit wmich.edu/music or call (269) 387-4667.