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Thursday, February 21,2002
POLITICAL OPERA
■The University will showcase a classic
opera blended with social commentary
By Lisa Toth
Oregon Daily Emerald
Adultery and U.S. political commentary will
add a modem twist to an upcoming presen
tation of the mythological 1744 opera
“Semele.”
The University Opera Ensemble, under the di
I rection of Assistant Professor of Voice Mark Kacz
marczyk, will present an updated production of
the George Frederic Handel opera. The two per
formances, held in the atrium of Willamette Hall,
will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and at 3 p.m. Feb. 24.
Handel had political motives in composing
“Semele,” and Kaczmarczyk said he has tried to
modernize this element. Handel wrote the opera
as a warning to King George not to elevate the
king’s mistress to the throne. Kaczmarczyk said
he chose to update the University production as a
political commentary on Washington, D.C., the
Clinton administration, Enron, government scan
dal and the “abuse of power and manipulation.”
The performers will wear modern costumes,
brealdng the stereotypical expectations of “stuffy
and inaccessible” opera productions.
The story of “Semele,” written in 1744 by Han
del at the age of 60, is rooted in classical mytholo
gy. Semele, a mortal played by soprano Kim Rad
datz, is in search of immortality from the god
Jupiter. Tenors Andrew Brock and Brandon Finch
alternate in this role. Kaczmarczyk said Semele’s
quest aqd “the meddling of gods with mortals”
makes for both high drama and hysterical antics.
Following last season’s production of Benjamin
Britten’s “The Turn of The Screw,” Kaczmarczyk
said he chose to present the baroque opera, sung
in English, to highlight the young, talented,
emerging voices in the School of Music. While the
University is challenged with “a limited amount
of performing space,” Kaczmarczyk said
Willamette Hall’s atrium provides a functional
and user-friendly space.
Turn to Opera, page 8
Photos by Adam Jones Emerald
Above:Brandon
Finch (right) and
Conrad Frank
sing a duet in the
Willamette Hall
Atrium, which
will be the stage
for the opera
opening Saturday
at8p.m.
Left: Director
Mark
Kaczmarczyk
listens closely to
Kim Raddatz’s
solo in their
rehearsal of
“Semele” on
Wednesday
evening.
Promoters confirm Ice-T will appear at Mac Court with Nelly
■ Despite recent reports, Ice-T
will open the concert Sunday
By Jen West
Oregon Daily Emerald
Ice-T is back. Or maybe he never
left.
UO Cultural Forum members
heard from promoters Tuesday
night who said the old school staple
had canceled his Sunday show with
Nelly. But on Wednesday, word
spread just as fast that the news was
wrong and Ice-T would take the
stage as scheduled.
“Ice-T is back on,” said Kurt
Catlin, heritage music coordinator
at the UO Cultural Forum.
Catlin said he received a call late
Tuesday from concert promoter Lie
Tan and producer Dwight Wood, who
reported that Ice-T had canceled.
Catlin said Tan and Wood had cited a
variety of problems ranging from
“physical problems” to contract prob
lems, and he said they also asked the
Cultural Forum not to say anything
about the cancellation for a few days.
Tan said Ice-T’s cancellation had
not been “a sure thing,” and she
wanted the Cultural Forum to “hold
off on telling people” until she
coulfi j acmffrm
might have had other engagements.
But Catlin said the Cultural Forum
was under the impression that the
cancellation was confirmed.
Fearing there would be a “riot”
when ticket holders found out, Catlin
said he chose to release the informa
tion to avoid upsetting the public.
He said he received a call from
Tan on Wednesday morning saying
that Ice-T was still going to perform
at the concert.
“Nelly is the main act,” with Ice-T
as the opening act, Tan said. She
added that she believes most people
will be coming to see Nelly.
The 7 p,m. McArthur Court show
•vVii i cr;{)» vj o'‘0u
will also feature St. Lunatics, SMG,
Underground Lighthouse and Kid.
Ticket prices have been reduced for a
special “week of concert” sale. Tickets
are offered for both seated and stand
ing room only areas, and they are $30
to $35 for students and $35 to $40 for
the general public. Tickets are avail
able through Fastixx, the EMU Ticket
Office, Face the Music and at the door.
Senior Crissy Carson, who
bought her ticket the first day it
went on sale, said she would be dis
appointed if Ice-T didn’t perform,
but she would not be “crushed” be
cause she is more interested in see
ingNelly, who has newer music.
. v« Au'VoV.Art T 'i‘ot .V
“It will be interesting to see what
(Ice-T) does,” she said. She said she
thought it was weird that Ice-T is
“taking a back seat to Nelly,” when a
few years ago, he would have been
the headliner.
Concert promoter Tony Gilbert
said his original thought was “let’s
bring Ice-T to the valley.” He said he
had scheduled a December concert
in Medford but had to cancel it. He
said he wanted to attempt another
concert, but this time with Nelly
added to the roster.
He said he liked Eugene because
the city can act as a halfway point for
Turn to Nelly, page 7