Opera tonight, this weekend

The UGA Opera Ensemble, in collaboration with the Department of Theatre and Film Studies and the Department of Dance, presents Strauss' comic operetta Die Fledermaus tonight a 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre on Baldwin Street.

Instead of its traditional Vienna setting, this "Die Fledermaus" takes place in New Orleans in the early 1900s. The Mardi Gras setting lends itself to creativity and collaboration, Burchinal said.

It's still a love story, blended with comedy and public spectacle. The Prince Orlofsky character is performed by Kristin Blanton, a voice graduate student in the school of music. Two more grad students - Joseph Brent and Josephina Delledera - play the lead roles of Eisenstein and Rosalinda. The opera orchestra, conducted by Mark Cedel, will accompany the singers and actors.

Congratulations to all of the students and faculty involved. The production also runs on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.