RICHARDSON, Texas (Sept. 17, 2004 ) — Music, Myth, & Mysticism, which features the UTD Chamber Singers and is produced by graduate student Maryann Burnside-Young and directed by Kathryn Evans, associate dean of the School of Arts & Humanities, will be presented at the Jonsson Performance Hall at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.
The first half of the program will feature choruses and solos from Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo Favola in Musica, the famous composer’s first opera in 1607. Hoyt Neal, the choir director of UTD’s Community Chorale, will perform the role of Orfeo. Monteverdi’s deliberate use of fundamental discords infuses L’Orfeo with a mystic, ethereal quality, which sets the tone for the performance.
Selections from Philip Glass’ Akhnaten comprise the second half of the program. First conceived as an independent study project, Burnside-Young’s version of Akhnaten reflects her interpretation of both Glass’ work and the history of Egypt’s first monotheistic pharaoh. The Houston Grand Opera and the Stuttgart Opera Company both have performed vastly different depictions of Akhnaten. For her version, Burnside-Young draws more heavily from the work of the Stuttgart Opera.
For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UTD, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787), e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu, or visit the School of Arts and Humanities’ Web site at http://ah.utdallas.edu/. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s web site at www.utdallas.edu.