Alexander Henderson
  • Music
  • Evansville, IN

Alexander Henderson to Perform in University of Evansville Opera Production

2011 Nov 16

University of Evansville student Alexander Henderson of Evansville will perform this weekend in Die Fledermaus, a UE Schmidt Opera Series production. Henderson, majoring in Music Performance, will play the role of Gabriel von Eisenstein.

Mistaken identity, love, betrayal, social climbing, and practical jokes are just a few of the elements that create Johann Strauss' beloved operatic comedy Die Fledermaus, running November 18-19 in UE's Wheeler Concert Hall.

Sung in English with occasional German (translated for the audience above the stage), Die Fledermaus includes spoken dialogue like a musical and - like all UE Schmidt Opera Series productions - features full costumes, sets, and lighting.

The lighthearted operetta follows Gabriel von Eisenstein, a wealthy gentleman who must serve an eight-day jail term after committing a petty crime. He tells his wife, Rosalinde, he is going to jail, but instead decides to postpone his surrender one day in order to attend a formal ball. With her husband out of the house, Rosalinde is visited by her former lover, Alfredo. Madcap chaos ensues when the prison warden arrives, mistakes Alfredo for the master of the house, and takes him to jail. Later, at the ball, Eisenstein falls for the guest of honor - his own wife disguised as a Hungarian countess. Finally, all comes to a happy end when the intrigues are revealed at the prison later that evening.

The 37-member cast of Die Fledermaus will perform under the direction of Jon Truitt, associate professor in UE's Department of Music, who serves as head of the voice area and director of opera.

"What audiences will love about this piece is its infectious fun. You can't help but laugh at the situations and get caught up in the beautiful music," Truitt said. "Students such as Alexander Henderson have really put a lot of time and effort into both singing and acting these difficult roles."

The UE Schmidt Opera Series is supported by a generous grant from the William E. Schmidt Foundation, which encourages and nurtures the pursuits of young people in the arts.