The comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance will be performed by Opera Quad Cities on Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 at 3:00 p.m. at the Galvin Fine Arts Center on the St. Ambrose University campus.
Summer opera has long been a part of life in the Quad Cities, bringing us the emotion and magic that is unique to this type of production. However, it is an expensive endeavor that requires an enormous amount of work to produce. Thanks to the collaboration between Genesius Guild, Opera at Augustana, the St. Ambrose University Music Department, and Opera Quad Cities, we can continue to be delighted by high-quality live opera. Since 2018, this event is now being held indoors in a climate-controlled environment with improved acoustics.
Listen to our conversation here with Michelle Crouch, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Augustana College and the stage director for this local production, about the challenges of putting on a production like this, why opera as an art form has remained relevant throughout the centuries, and the joy inherent in helping students reach a higher level of musical literacy at Augustana.
Nathan Windt, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at St. Ambrose University, will be directing the summer opera orchestra that will accompany this production.
Tickets can be purchased online. They cost $25 for the general public, $20 for seniors age 55 or older, and are free for students.
