January 14, 2013 (Jackson) - Seymour Barab’s classic children’s story, The Pied Piper of Hamlin will premiere at Belhaven’s Concert Hall on January 18 and 19, 2013. Students in Belhaven’s Vocal Arts will present this colorful one-act opera for children.
This is the Belhaven Opera fifth production. Dr. Christopher Shelt, Professor of Voice, Church Music & Choral Activities said, “Opera is a great way to tell as story. The 1200 children that came last year to one or more of our productions of Little Red Riding Hood and The Toy Shop loved the shows. The stories came to life in the operatic genre.”
Showtimes for the Pied Piper of Hamlin include:
Friday, January 18, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 19, 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
This concert is free and open to the public. The Saturday morning family matinee is sponsored by the Mississippi Opera.
The story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin dates back to the Middle Ages and is about a piper in a pied (multicolored) outfit who has a flute endowed with magical powers. “The Pied Piper is a classic fable with lots of life lessons suitable for children. Though the story has lessons to tell, it does so in a very creative and often humorous way. It’s a delightful show that has depth and humor for every age group,” adds Dr. Shelt.
This performance will be portrayed with a cast of students from multiple academic programs like the Belhaven Dance Department who will lend their talents to perform as the dreaded infestation of rats in Hamelin. Normally, a classic full length opera is over two hours, but this performance is tailored to a younger audience and will only be an hour-long production.
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Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.
Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.