The LSU OPERA was one of the first major university workshops in the United States. Dating from the 1930's under the leadership of Pasquale Amato, an ambitious program produced outstanding performances that toured to other southern cities. Historically, the program has produced exceptional singers including tenor James King, mezzo soprano Frances Greer, and baritone Michael Devlin, all of whom have sung at the MET and on world opera stages. More recent students who have distinguished themselves internationally include tenor Paul Groves and bass-baritone Jeffrey Wells of the MET and major European houses. Other recent generations include, baritone Shon Sims of New York City Opera, baritone Edward Scott Hendricks and tenor Chad Shelton from Houston Grand Opera, Central City and Wolftrap. In 2009, two vocal music performance students recently won Metropolitan Opera Auditions that qualify them to compete in New York City for Met contracts. Graduate tenor Chauncey Packer won the Memphis Regionals, and senior soprano Lisette Oropesa won the National Finals in New York City.

LSU OPERA offers two annual main stage opera productions in the newly renovated Claude L. Shaver Theatre. These productions are fully staged and costumed and are accompanied by the outstanding LSU Symphony Orchestra. Most performances are sung in the original languages with supertitles.

Future and recent repertoire includes. . .
2011-2012 La bohème | La Cenerentola
2010-2011 Vanessa | Le nozze di Figaro
2009-2010 A Little Night Music | Roméo et Juliette
2008-2009 Orfeo ed Euridice |The Rape of Lucretia
2007-2008 Candide | La Traviata
2006-2007 Cosi fan tutte | Willie Stark
2005-2006 La Bohème | Dialogues of the Carmelites
2004-2005 Little Women | Werther
2003-2004 La Rondine | Susannah
2002-2003 The Barber of Seville | The Marriage of Figaro
2001-2002 The Magic Flute | A Midsummer Night's Dream
2000-2001 Die Fledermaus | Carmen
1999-2000 La Bohème | Cosi fan tutte
1998-1999 Albert Herring | La Traviata*
1997-1998 Dido and Aeneas | The Marriage of Figaro
1996-1997 The Ballad of Baby Doe | Falstaff
1995-1996 Trouble in Tahiti | The Bartered Bride
* La Traviata toured to the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette, Louisiana


Performance opportunities are not limited to our main stage productions.
LSU OPERA Outreach Program - LOOP presents one-act operas and scenes in elementary and secondary schools throughout the greater Baton Rouge area. Scenes programs and occasional premieres of new works provide additional performance opportunities.

Other Opera Links
→ Opera Staff
→ Opera Schedule
→ LOOP
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→ Release Form
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