Ohio State School of Music's Opera Theatre Program to Present THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, 4/17-19

The Ohio State School of Music will perform an Easter-weekend production of Benjamin Britten's two-act chamber opera The Rape of Lucretia at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, and Saturday, April 19, in Roy Bowen Theatre, Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Dr. on campus. The production is directed by A. Scott Parry, director of Ohio State Opera Theatre; conductor is Russel C. Mikkelson.

The production features a cast of eight undergraduate and graduate student vocalists and a pit orchestra of student musicians along with members of the well-known Columbus ensemble the Carpe Diem String Quartet, including Charles Wetherbee, Amy Galluzzo, Korine Fujiwara and Carol Ou.

"The Rape of Lucretia is both a powerful and troubling piece," said Parry. "It presents a horrific, historical act and tries to come to terms with its purpose and ramifications, both on the personal and communal levels."

The opera, with music by Britten and libretto by Ronald Duncan, revolves around a story first described in "History of Rome," when in 509 BC, Sextus Tarquinius, the son of the Etruscan king of Rome, raped Lucretia, a noble woman and wife of one of the king's aristocratic retainers. Because of the rape by the prince, Lucrietia committed suicide and her body was carried through the Roman Forum, inciting a revolt that led to the eviction of the royal family and the founding of the Roman Republic.

A male and female "chorus" provide background and narration for the story, revealing their view of events to be that of a later, Christian era.

Parry said the musical style of Britton's opera is diverse -- intimate and lyrical, yet not tuneful per se. "The orchestra is expressive of both the emotionality of the characters' experiences and also of the scenic environment," he said. "Crickets and bullfrogs and horse gallops and whip cracks are all presented at opportune moments to evoke mood and action."

He added, "The Rape of Lucretia presents a struggle to make peace with our own mixed natures, a way of trying to understand the darker aspect of our human existences and to seek a purpose in it. Each audience member will come away with a different experience, a unique answer to the questions brought forth in the piece. It is a highly individual experience for all those involved."

All seating is reserved. Advance ticket sales available by calling (614) 292-2295. $20/general public; $10/ConcertCard holders, senior citizens, Alumni Association members, non-OSU students. Free to all Ohio State students, faculty and staff (one ticket per BuckID presented in person).

To post a comment, you must register and login.