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'Gianni Schicchi' and Opera Scenes
Saturday, April 12, 2025
7:30 p.m., Spanos Theatre
Students from "Gianni Schicchi" rehearsal
(click image above for full-size file)
Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre will present “‘Gianni Schicchi’ and Opera Scenes” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Spanos Theatre on campus.
“Gianni Schicchi,” Giacomo Puccini’s one-act comedy, will be performed with orchestra and will feature two professional opera singers alongside Cal Poly students. Grammy award-winning baritone Gabriel Manro plays the title role of Schicchi, who cons his way into the Donati family’s inheritance; and recent Metropolitan Opera Competition national semifinalist, tenor Dominic Salvati, plays the star-crossed lover, Rinuccio.
Set in the roaring 1920s, the production will be performed in the classic and hilarious Grossman English translation.
The other part of the program will have a delightful array of scenes from opera choruses, arias and duets, including from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte,” W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s “Patience” and more. Students will perform in English, French, German and Italian with English supertitles, accompanied by Paul Woodring on piano.
More than 50 Cal Poly students are participating in the production onstage, behind the scenes and in the orchestra pit. Cal Poly student instrumentalists will perform with professional orchestra players including Music Department Chair Alicia M. Doyle, horn; other faculty members; and musiciians in the community and from out of the area.
The Music Department’s Amy Goymerac is the director and producer, Scott Glysson is the conductor and Laina Babb of the Theatre and Dance Department is the costume designer.
The production is one of many scheduled events during Cal Poly’s 32nd annual Open House.