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WMU Opera Presents Puccini and Ravel One-Acts, Dubbed 'Saints & Sinners"

Artform Canada, via Flickr, all creative commons

Austin McWilliams, a candidate for a master's degree in choral conducting from Western Michigan University, joins Cara Lieurance to talk about the two one-act operas he'll conduct on Feb 16 at 7 pm and Feb 17 at 5 pm in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. A production of WMU Opera Theatre, with stage direction by WMU Director of Opera Carl Ratner, the stories range from baudy and farcical to tragic, with a hint of heavenly grace at the end. The performances feature two casts of over 25 students, accompanied by an ensemble of piano, harp and percussion. 

McWilliams explains how detail-oriented the singers were in preparing their parts over months of rehearsals, and how the music has taken up so much of his time, he carries the scores with him everywhere.

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Cara Lieurance is the local host of NPR's All Things Considered on 1021 WMUK and covers local arts & culture on Let's Hear It on 89.9 Classical WMUK weekday mornings at 10 - 11 am.
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