Have you heard the one about the sopranos?
Well, it seems four sopranos are trying to get into Heaven (no, that’s not the joke.) But there is only room for one. Panic! How will they get into the Heavenly Choir? Sent to Hell by St. Peter and ordered to do selfless deeds with tenors and basses who have been condemned to eternal torment (no, that isn’t the joke either.) the sopranos try desperately to win a spot above.
UWOpera presents Too Many Sopranos March 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. and March 22 at 2 p.m. at Althouse Faculty of Education Building.
Written by Edwin Penhorwood (who is married to a soprano), the riske romp skewers stereotypes of the opera world, including sopranos, overwrought plots and over-the-top staging. Sandman is lifted straight from Hansel and Gretel. Other character names reflect personalities: Madame Pompous, Dame Doleful, Enrico Carouser and tenor Nelson Deadly. The fun is excess in overdrive.
Penhorwood sharpens his pen for a Who’s Who of composers, too – Mozart, Bellini, Chopin, Debussy, Richard Strauss, Barber, Britten and Bernstein.
Students performing include several award winners, including Adam Marostica, who found time in the midst of rehearsals to compete Saturday, March 14 and win the London Music Scholarship Foundation prize.
Tickets and information
Adults, $25; seniors and students, $20
Available in advance from Orchestra London’s box office at 519-679-8778 or at the door
www.music.uwo.ca.