Fond du Lac Chamber Singers present Arias and Candlelight

The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers present Arias and Candlelight, an elegant evening of music and cuisine served by candlelight, at their annual spring concert performances April 25 and 26 in the UW-Fond du Lac University Center Commons, 400 University Dr.

The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers are under the direction of Patricia Eby, UW-Fond du Lac associate dean and assistant professor of music. This year’s show includes compositions by some all-time favorite composers including Gershwin, Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart, Puccini, Offenbach, Weil, Copland and Barber.

“The elaborately accompanied melodies are all from opera literature, but our guess is that you will be familiar with most of them and never knew you were listening to opera,” said Eby. “For example, one of the songs in the show is the traditional bridal march ‘Here Comes the Bride’ which is from the opera ‘Lohengrin’ by Richard Wagner.”

A few of the other featured songs to be performed include “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy and Bess” and “Can-Can” from the overture to “Orpheus and the Underworld” by Jacques Offenbach.

“It’s a bet that the audience will recognize ‘Barcarole’ from ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ and the ‘Overture to the Barber of Seville’,” said Eby. “I am betting this not because I’ve seen so many from Fond du Lac at the opera, but because of where and how in society that opera music is utilized.”

Eby explains that the “Overture to the Barber of Seville” has been famously parodied in several animated cartoons including Woody Woodpecker in “The Barber of Seville,” Bugs Bunny in “Rabbit of Seville” and “Long Haired Hare,” Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in “You Ought to Be in Pictures,” Tom and Jerry in “The Cat Above and the Mouse Below,” and the Simpsons in “The Homer of Seville.”

“The Chamber Singers concert promises to bring you the best in vocal music, vocal talent and assuage your fears about listening to opera arias,” said Eby.

The Friday night show at 7:30 p.m. on April 25 features a concert with dessert and the cost is $10 or $6 for UW-Fond du Lac students.

Those attending the dessert show will be served an assortment of sweets prepared by Linstrom’s Catering served at their table. Coffee, specialty drinks and specialty coffee will be available for purchase at the cash bar.

The Saturday dinner show performance at 6 p.m. on April 26 includes a seven-course meal and the cost is $30 or $25 for UW-Fond du Lac students.

The dinner show includes a seven-course candlelight meal featuring some of Chef Linstrom’s favorites. A cash bar serving champagne cocktails and other beverages will be available.

The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers are an auditioned ensemble of twenty singers which includes both UW-Fond du Lac students and community members. Solo arias will be sung by Jennifer Bell, Eva Thelen, Katherine Thompson and Paul Thompson, students of Grace Jones, applied teacher of voice and accompanied by Cara Davis, instructor of music at UW-Fond du Lac.

Husband and wife, Teresa and John Emery, will add to the program with solos from “Porgy and Bess” and “The Magic Flute” respectively.

Mother and daughter duo, Patricia Eby and Katherine Thompson, will sing Rossini’s “The Cat Duet.” Eby will join Paul Thompson, Grace Jones, Chad Kraus, Paul Thelen and John Emery portraying European immigrants singing about ice cream.

Tickets for both performances must be purchased in advance by Wednesday, April 23 either in person at the UW-Fond du Lac Business Office (M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) or by phone at (920) 906-6350. All seating is reserved.

These performances are part of the UW-Fond du Lac Performing Arts Series sponsored by CitizensFirst Credit Union, UW-Fond du Lac Student Life and Interest Committee and UW-Fond du Lac Foundation.

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