Shepherd School Opera to present ‘Trouble in Tahiti’ and ‘Gianni Schicchi’

Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music’s Opera Department and Chamber Orchestra will present Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, 8 and 10 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 6 at Rice’s Wortham Opera Theatre in Alice Pratt Brown Hall.

The production will be conducted by Richard Bado, director of Rice’s Opera Studies Program, and staged by Deborah Dickinson, an artist teacher of opera studies.

Both works will be set in the 1950’s. “Trouble in Tahiti” is staged in American suburbia and reflects the artificiality of life in the suburbs and the need to appear wonderful on the outside, although life inside is strained. “Gianni Schicchi” is a comedic tale of scheming members of a family, all wanting the estate of their lost “loved one.” The Rice performances will be updated to the 1950s and will include one of opera’s most famous arias, “O Mio Babbino Caro.”

The production of “Trouble in Tahiti” was made possible by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes Inc., sole agent for Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, publisher and copyright owner.

Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for students and senior citizens. For tickets, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.