CPCC Opera Theatre to perform Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem”

last modified Mar 17, 2011 08:39 AM

Alan Yamamoto

Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) Opera Theatre is pleased to welcome Alan Yamamoto, former resident conductor of the Charlotte Symphony, back to its Central Campus to conduct the CPCC Opera Theatre Chorus, CPCC Chorus and North Mecklenburg Community Chorus during the CPCC Opera Theatre’s upcoming performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem,” on the College’s Halton Theater stage. The performances are being underwritten by CPCC’s arts benefactors.

The soloists for Verdi's “Requiem” will be Rebecca Cook-Carter, Loretta Crosthwaite, Todd Geer and Steven Jepsen.

Yamamoto served as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony for six seasons; he was appointed to the post by former Music Director Christof Perick. During his time with the Symphony, he collaborated with CPCC, the Mint Museum of Fine Art, Davidson College and film entrepreneurs George Cochran and Hobart Bell in 2008 to bring the production “Warhol on the Waterfront” to life for audience members. The piece featured video images of Andy Warhol works in interactive presentation with Philip Glass’s “Third Symphony.” The collaboration brought together the minimalist conceptions of both artists. The project was the inspiration for the symphony's ongoing "Orchestra on Campus" project at CPCC.

Next month Yamamoto will turn his attention from conducting a traditional symphony score to overseeing the musical interpretation of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem,” a production that is often referred to as Verdi’s greatest opera. The piece is based on the Roman Catholic funeral Mass and is a magnificent work that is powerful, sublime, joyous, dramatic and terrorizing.

“Requiem” will be performed April 8 and 9 at 8 p.m., and April 10 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 and $18. To reserve your seat(s), please call CPCC’s SunTrust Box Office at 704.330.6534 or order your tickets online at tix.cpcc.edu. For more information on CPCC Opera Theatre or its productions, please call 704.330.6571 or e-mail Becky Cook-Carter at becky.cook-carter@cpcc.edu.

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CPCC Opera Theatre promotes the innovative and comprehensive development and training of regional operatic talent, in an academically, geographically and financially accessible institution; as well as building and educating present and future audiences and enriching the economic, social, and cultural life in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region of North Carolina.

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local <span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">