Hear four seasons expressed through song at NIU

For its opening program of the year, Northern Illinois University Opera Workshop will present "Seasons," an evening of songs from musical theater, opera, film and cabaret. The program is scheduled for two performances, at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m., Thursday in the Recital Hall in the Music Building on Lucinda Avenue on the NIU campus in DeKalb

"These songs explore not only the seasons of the year, but also the seasons of life," said Opera Workshop director James Tucker. "We're experimenting to create a kind of mini-musical that shows the passing of time from January to December, from youth to maturity, and from love and heartache to forgiveness and falling in love again."

Featured composers include Vernon Duke, Burton Lane, Jonathan Larson, Michel Legrand and Richard Rodgers.

Well-known musical theater tunes like "June is Bustin' Out All Over," "September Song" and "If Ever I Would Leave You" are heard alongside such popular standards as "April in Paris" and "Autumn Leaves," plus opera selections from Samuel Barber's "Vanessa" and Kurt Weill's "Street Scene."

Each year, Opera Workshop gives graduate and undergraduate voice majors at the NIU School of Music the opportunity to gain dramatic experience performing a variety of vocal literature.

Scene programs are offered in the fall, with a full stage production, with orchestra, each spring.

Lee R. Kesselman, Opera Workshop's guest conductor in 2004-05, returns to lead the ensemble again this season, with NIU faculty pianist William Koehler as music coach and accompanist.

The performances are free and open to the public, and the building is accessible to all. For more information, contact Lynn Slater at (815) 753-1546.