Date: Jan 26, 2012

Hofstra Opera Theater Presents Handel’s Magical "Alcina"

January 27-29, John Cranford Adams Playhouse

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … Hofstra Opera Theater, featuring the vocal talents of students in Hofstra’s Department of Music, will present Handel’s romantic and magical opera Alcina at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The production features direction by Isabel Milenski and musical direction by David Ramael.

Performances are 8 p.m. on Friday, January 27, and Saturday, January 28, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2012.  Tickets are $15, $12 for senior citizens (over 65 with ID)and non-matriculated Hofstra students with ID. Members of the Hofstra community may receive one free ticket upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.

Alcina has its roots in the epic poem Orlando Furioso by the Italian writer Ludovico Ariosto. Handel’s opera is about the beautiful sorceress Alcina and is set on her enchanted island where she has assembled quite a collection of lovers. When she tires of her current fling, she turns him into an animal, rock or tree and moves on to her next affair. The opera finds Alcina with her current love, a knight named Ruggiero, whose fiancée Bradamante is on her way to the island to win him back. To access the island, Bradamante must disguise herself as her own brother Ricciardo. From there ensues a series of mistaken identities, characters falling in and out of love, and a struggle to end Alcina’s destructive powers.

For tickets and more information call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution of higher education where more than 12,000 full and part-time students choose from undergraduate and graduate offerings in liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, communication, education, health and human services, honors studies, a School of Law and the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.
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Photo: Two lovers reconcile after a time of separation. Chris Remkus plays the role of Oronte, and Kaitlyn Davis plays the role of Morgana.

On the Hofstra homepage:
Ruggiero, played by Natalie Fabian, sings of the beauty of Alcina's kingdom which he must leave behind. Other singers include Taryn Sandkuhl as Oberto, Alex Schirling as Melisso and Chelsea Laggan as Bradamante.

Both Photos by David Salazar