DAILY NEBRASKAN
PAGE 13
The Consul'
Brings Back
College Opera
In 1955 the revival of opera came
to -the University of Nebraska
campus with the production of
Gian-Carlo Menotti's "The Consul,"
a contemporary opera depicting the
struggle waged by men and wom
en who seek to break through the
maze of red tape and official pa
pers which keeps freedom forever
beyond their reach. This produc
tion, the first performance of the
drama by a university cast, was
presented in the new Howell Me
morial Theater. Dr. David Foltz,
Chairman of the Department of
Music, acted as musical director
and conductor; and the dramatics
director was - Dallas Williams of
the Speech Department.
The opera takes place some
where in Europe, probably in an
Iron Curtain country. The scenes
are alternately in the shabby Cat
of a workman and the reception
room of the consulate, obviously
that of a free country. The work
man, John Sorel and his wife,
Magda, are the subject of espion
age and are hounded by fear. Sorel
manages to excape to a neutral
country, to wait for his wife and
baby. Hoping to join him, Magda
calls daily at the consulate in an
effort to get the visa which will
permit her to leave the country
for freedom and a peaceful life
with her husband.
Magda 's attempts to get her pa
pers are thwarted at every turn,
and she begins even to doubt the
existence of the "consul" until she
catches a brief glimpse of him
through the door to his office
through which walks a member
of the secret police. Life takes on
a hopeless aspect for Magda; her
baby dies, her mother cannot bear
the strain of such life, and she
herself is entagled in ever-increasing
red tape and endless papers
which are soon filed and forgotten.
In her daily trips to the consulate,
Magda gains the sympathy of oth
ers waiting there. Torn with an
xiety, her husband returns, only
to be captured by the secret po
lice. Magda commits suicide, see
ing in her gas-filled room her last
attempt to join her husband, her
mother and all the tortured people
in another and freer world.
Menotti, hafled by Newsweek
magazine as . . possibly the
greatest living American opera
composer," was born in Italy and
came to America for the most im
portant phase of his education. He
has written several other contem
porary operas, including "Amahl
and the Night Visitors," which has
become an annual Christmas tele
vision presentation, and "The Saint
of Eleeker Street," which was pro
duced in January of 19S5. Dr. Foltz
received a telegram on opening
night from Mr. Menotti express
ing regret that he would be un
able to attend the performance.
Dr. Foltz said that the opera was
perhaps one of the finest works
given by University people.
The cast, made up of both grad
uate and undergraduate students,
was headed by Nancy Norman of
Shenandoah, la., as Magda, and
John Poctre of Wymore, as John
SoreL Mrs. Marilee Admunson of
Omaha played the part of the
mother, and Shirley Alpuerto of
Lincoln was seen in the part of
the secretary of the consulate.
The University orchestra, under
the direction of Emanuel Wishnow,
provided accompaniment. Weeks
of preparation went into the pro
duction of "The Consul, which is
unusual in that it has no chorus
parts. The music is both unusual
and difficult, and, according to Dr.
Foltz, quite above college caliber.
The combined efforts of the Depart
ments of Speech and Music will
continue in the production of as
other opera next year, in hopes of
continuing the tradition of opera
far many years. ,
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PRACTICE for the contemporary opera, The Consul, is under way
here. Dr. David Foltz directed the music and Dallas Williams
directed the dramatics.
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Vocal Music Groups
Present NU Concerts
Two of the busiest musical
groups on the campus are the
University Singers and the Univer
sity Madrigal Singers, whose high
performing caliber is known
throughout Nebraska and sections
of the United States. The Uni
versity Singers, under the direc
tion of Dr. Arthur Westbrook, have
presented concerts On the campus
as well as in towns over the state.
The Madrigal Singers, a special
project of Dr. David Foltz, have
been beard over national broad
casting systems and throughout
the state. Each group is composed
of both music majors and non
music majors, singers being a
group of approximately 90 voices,
and Madrigal numbering 31.
During the past season, the Mad
rigal Singers presented two con
certs for the campus, one at
Christmastime, the other in the
spring. The spring concert cli
maxed a tour which included Au
rora and Central City. On Christ
mas Day, the Madrigal was beard
over the Columbia Broadcasting
System on a coast to coast broad
cast. Civic orgnizations, such as the
Chamber of Commerce and the
Altrusa Club, as well as the Ne
braska Music Educators Associa
tion and the State Music Masters
convention were entertained by
Dr. Foltz and his group. Several
years ago the group sang for a
music teachers association in Mil
waukee, Wisconsin. For the 1955-56
season, Dr. Foltz plans a tour of
neighboring states. Excellence of
performance and practiced infor
mality are the keynotes of this
musical group, which stems from
the old English tradition of madri
gal singing, wherein members of
several families would get together
for a dinner which would be fol
whkh would be followed by inform
lowed by informal singing. True
to this custom, the Madrigal Sing
ers always perform seated at
tables. c
Well known to University stu
dents is the Christmas carol
concert presented each Decem
ber by the University Singers. Dur
ing Easter season, the Singers
present a program of religious
music, in which several soloists
are featured. Last year, Singers
journeyed to Grand Island for a
concert in the public schools. This
part of the University Choral Un
ion which participates in the pro
duction of the "Messiah" and the
spring oratorio.
Rhythm 'n Blues
University
Mas Three
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Two musical aggregations, which
are an important part of the Uni
versity are the renowned Corn
husker Band and the University
Symphony Orchestra. These organ
izations perform at a variety of
campus functions and also for var
ious community activities.
The Cornhusker Band, composed
of over 100 musicians, is actually
divided into three separate organ
izations. The ROTC Marching
Band, which performs at football
games, parades and ROTC retreats,
is made up solely of male musi
cians. National acclaim went to the
marching band on New Years Day
when it gave an "outstanding per
formance" at the Orange Bowl
game in Miami, Florida. The Sym
phonic Band, which includes both
spring concert at the Coliseum,
makes a concert tour of various
Nebraska towns, and plays for such
events as Ivy Day and Com
mencement. Donald Lentz conducts
the two bands. The third band,
directed by Jack Snider, performs
during concert season at Ivy Day
and presents its own spring con
cert. Under the direction of Emanuel
Wishnow, the University Sym
phony assists with many produc
tions of the School of Fine Arts,
as well as performing in several
concerts during the year. During
the last year, the orchestra fur
nished accompaniment for the Mes
siah and the Elijah, the opera
"The Consul," and for the seniors
elected as soloists by their class
and Music School faculty. It also
played concerts in Lincoln, Be
atrice with Sigurd Rascher, not
ed saxophonist, Omaha, and Norfolk.
Lrrru man on campus
by Dick fiibler
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Annual Coed Follies
Presented by AWS
DELTA GAMMAS present Tued on First" for Coed Follies, 1955.
SINCE 1907
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LINCOLN'S DEPARTMENT STORE
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women of the University present
the Coed Follies show under the
en Students organization.
Organized bouses on campus pre
pare an idea for a skit and pre
sent it to AWS. If the idea is ap
proved, practice for the try-outs be
gins. At the try-outs skits are judged
on originality, suitability to the
theme chosen for the annual show,
audience appeal, participation, and
so on. Several large skits are se
lected along with some "curtain
acts" of smaller, shorter skits,
and some "traveling acts" of indi
vidual or small group talent.
Another feature of Coed Follies
is the presentation of the 12 final
ists for Cornhusker Beauty Queens.
And at this show the results of the
Typical Nebraska Coed are an
nounced and the new TNC is pre
sented. Sell-out audiences attend the two
night show at the Nebraska Thea
ter. Until two years ago only wom
en were admitted, but male atten
dance is now allowed since so many
of them sneaked in anyway.
The acts are judged by a com-,
mi t tee of faculty members. Long
hours of work, planning, and prac
ticing go into every production, and
costumes and stage sets are color
ful. The theme chosen by AWS for
this year's Coed Follies was "Main
Street, USA." Pi Beta Phi and
Delta Gamma sororities tied for
fird place honors.
The Delta Gamma skit, "Feud
on First," concerned two feuding
groups who decided to settle their
differences by singing and dancing.
Lynn Holland and Carole Unter
seher were featured in the produc
tion. "Fifi's Mane on Main Street
was the title of the winning Pi
Phi act. The part of Fifi was
played by Ceclia TeSelle. In a
French beauty salon, she prevailed
upon the Pi Phis to adopt the
pony-tail hair-do.
Winners of the curtain acts, the
Delta Delta Delta group presented
"Red Shoes," which concerned a
congressional investigation of the
wearing of red shoes on campus.
Doing a record pantomime,
Joyce Strattoa se 3s wiiiner of
the traveling acts. Joyce panto
mimed a Betty Hutton record.