Part of the mission of the Milwaukee Opera Theatre is to give composers a chance to write smaller-scale works, that might otherwise never make it to a larger company, and audiences a chance to see them.
Since Jill Anna Ponasik was named artistic director in 2008, the company has enhanced that mission, including in some upcoming performances:
- This weekend, the company produces the Eurydice Festival at Carroll University. It’s based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the underworld, and features three compositions commissioned by the company, including one by Carroll students. Another piece, "The Crawling Dove" by Milwaukee composer Joel Boyd, is 25-minute chamber opera for three performers.
Date: Friday, January 24 at 7 PM and Saturday, January 25 at 3 PM - Next month, the company collaborates with UWM in Ravel’s one-act opera, L’Enfant et les Sortileges. The piece features singers, the UWM Symphony Orchestra - and, of course, puppets. These creations, designed by UWM choreographer and puppeteer Edward Winslow, are made of recycled materials to resemble animals, such as a frog named Anton (pictured above).
Date: Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15
The Milwaukee Opera Theatre began in 1998 as a way to provide professional opportunities for artists in the Milwaukee area.
