MAC season includes students, faculty

“L’Italiana en Algeri.” “Romeo et Juliette.” “Die Zauberflote.” A Diaghilev Tribute.

All are included in the 2009-10 fall schedule for the IU Jacobs School of Music.
“We try to do the most interesting and varied season possible,” Jacobs spokesman Alain Barker said.

Tickets for all shows are on sale at the Musical Arts Center, with the exception of the annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

The first big event of the season is “L’Italiana en Algeri,” which will be conducted by Jacobs professor Arthur Fagen.  “We have a pretty phenomenal faculty,” Barker said.

The Diaghilev ballet tribute comes after “L’Italiana en Algeri,” which is followed by a performance from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Many Jacobs alumni have gone on to work with the ISO.

“There’s a natural synergy and we thought it’d be nice to bring them down,” Barker said.

“Romeo et Juliette,” is expected to have a large student audience.

“I want to see more Shakespeare,” freshman Sam Park said. “I haven’t had lots of experience with him, and I haven’t seen a performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet.’”

Next is “Die Zauberflote,” which is also called “The Magic Flute,” will take the stage as the Jacobs School of Music co-produces the opera with the Atlanta Opera Company.

“We’re equivalent to the best of the professional opera companies in the country,” Barker said.

All productions at the MAC have student involvement, from performance to stage crews.

“We have students involved with every aspect except directing,” Jacobs spokeswoman Linda Cajigas said. “We have a professional crew, but students are heavily involved.”

Many students take advantage of the opportunities to see shows at the MAC each year, Barker and Cajigas said. They added that students make up about 40 percent of all audiences at the performances.

Park said he looks forward to seeing the operas.

“They tell stories while singing, which is something you don’t see often,” he said.
Students said one concern they have is the cost of tickets.

While there is interest in seeing performances, students, such as sophomore Rachel Irvine, are unsure of paying for tickets.

“I don’t know if I have enough money,” Irvine said.

But Barker said the performances are a once in a lifetime opportunity for students.

“They will probably remember this experience for the rest of their lives,” he said.