Handel's Serse is a tale of cleverness and bravery, as imagined in the ancient imperial court of King Xerxes. Schemes are hatched, letters go astray, servants and nobles collude in deception, and a mysterious visitor in disguise takes treacherous action -- all for the sake of justice and honor.
Like our beloved Alcina (Seattle 2014 and Boston 2015), this year's opera adaptation is an hour-long spoken play interspersed with the best musical numbers from the original work, all acted and sung by our student cast aged 6 to teen.
SHAK students bring to life the glories of the Baroque age, with costume, dance, and fencing from the time, accompanied by an all-star period-instrument chamber orchestra. Stage direction by Carmen Mettler, vocal coaching by Nancy Zylstra and Rebekah Gilmore, choreography & dance instruction by Jamia Hansen-Murray, duels and fencing instruction by Cecil Longino. Concept, script, and music direction by Shulamit Kleinerman, with Tekla Cunningham, violin; Joanna Blendulf, cello; and John Lenti, theorbo.
This year for the first time we offer TWO multi-generational performances, at 3pm and 7pm, appropriate for all ages -- presented with the Early Music Guild.
These performances celebrate Early Music America's Early Music Month.
