Award-Winning Conductor Brings Expertise to UM Opera Workshop Spring Concert

Internationally acclaimed conductor Donato Cabrera, a Vienna Philharmonic’s Karajan Conducting Fellow and associate conductor of San Francisco Opera, will lead an orchestra of University of Mobile students and professionals for “Love and Laughter at the Opera,” in the UM Opera Workshop’s spring production.

The University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts Opera Workshop will present the double-bill of one-act operas including Puccini’s ‘Gianni Schicchi’ and Menotti’s ‘The Telephone.’ Both operas will be performed in English.

The performances will be Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m. at the Chickasaw Civic Theatre located at 801 Iroquois Street in Chickasaw, Ala.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Group rates are available. Call 251-442-2554 for ticket information, group rates and reserved seating. Tickets are also available at the door.

The operas will feature University of Mobile students performing all vocal parts.

Dr. Mihaela Buhaiciuc, UM assistant professor of music, will act as stage director and Dr. Patrick Jacobs, UM assistant professor of music, will produce the opera and assist with musical preparation.

Vienna Philharmonic’s Karajan Conducting Fellow, Donato Cabrera, is in the vanguard among young American conductors. Since his 1998 critically acclaimed European debut with the Zwei-Groschen Kammer Oper München, he has pursued a multi-faceted career. Cabrera is currently the associate conductor of the San Francisco Opera.

Since his association began with the San Francisco Opera in the fall of 2005, Cabrera has been involved with the world premiere of John Adams’ opera, “Doctor Atomic,” as well as productions of “La Forza del Destino,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “Fidelio,” “Madama Butterfly,” “Manon Lescaut,” and “Tristan und Isolde.”

He made his debut with the company in October 2006, conducting “Die Fledermaus,” and conducted “Don Giovanni,” “Tannhäuser,” and “Die Zauberflöte” during the 2007-08 season. Due to the unprecedented success he has achieved, Music Director Donald Runnicles has offered a third season to Cabrera as associate conductor with the San Francisco Opera.

In December 2005, he also made his debut with the Portland Opera, conducting Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia,” receiving unanimous praise for the level of achievement reached by the cast and orchestra.

Cabrera has been an assistant conductor at many prestigious summer festivals including the Salzburg, Ravinia, Spoleto (Italy), and Aspen Music Festivals. For two summers he served as resident conductor at the Music Academy of the West. As an assistant conductor, he has worked with many of the world’s leading maestros, including James Conlon, Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Nicola Luisotti, Zdenek Macal, Kurt Masur, Julius Rudel, Donald Runnicles, and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski.

For more information about the University of Mobile Opera Workshop or the Center for Performing Arts, visit www.umobile.edu or call 251-442-2420.