'Die Fledermaus' to mark Oswego Opera's 40th anniversary

SUNY Oswego's Waterman Theatre will host Oswego Opera's 40th anniversary production, "Die Fledermaus" -- an operetta with a funny storyline and lively melodies -- sung in English on Oct. 13 and 14.

The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct 13, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. An orchestra under the baton of SUNY Oswego faculty member Juan F. La Manna, Oswego Opera's artistic director, will support the cast.

Other college faculty and staff taking part in the production will include choral activities director Mihoko Tsutsumi, tenor Todd Graber, lighting designer Patrick Mathis and technical director Cole Sostak. Many students will join the choir, gaining invaluable experience singing with Oswego Opera professionals, La Manna said.

"Die Fledermaus" ("The Bat"), an operetta by Johann Strauss II, with libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, premiered in Vienna in 1874.

"'Die Fledermaus' has endured as a favorite since that time because it blended all the established elements of traditional light opera and took it to another realm of sophistication," according to a recent Opera in the Ozarks review. "Strauss elevated the genre by adding elegance and complexity to the music. So even though it falls back on singing about champagne more than once, it is not all about intoxication, and yet not all fun and games either. Performers have to maneuver vocal challenges, some fancy footwork, and pull off dramatically credible spoken dialogue."

La Manna said Oswego is fortunate to support an opera company. "No other city of our size can boast having its own well-established opera company," he said. "For over 40 years, Oswego Opera Theater has been an opera haven for singers young and not so young, and student and professional singers alike."

Tickets are $30 ($25 for those 62 and older; $10 for students) and are available at all SUNY Oswego box offices, online at tickets.oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-3073.

Parking is included in the price of a ticket and is available in the employee lot in front of Culkin Hall and the employee and commuter lots behind Hart and Funnelle residence halls.