Love and Marriage (Opera Up Close)

The "Love and Marriage" Opera: An Early Valentine’s Day Option for Couples with a Sense of Humor

Passion. Tumult. Joy. …ahhh Marriage. Some singles dream of it. Some couples miss the carefree single days. Opera singers and couples, The Richardsons and The Shirleys, tell it like it is through songs and arias for one special night at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University in "Love and Marriage" on February 9th at 4:00 p.m.

"Love and Marriage" is part of the popular Opera Up Close series sponsored by First Midwest Bank, offering a unique experience for audience members. Rather than experiencing the music from the perspective of the auditorium, patrons at Opera Up Close shows are seated onstage for an unforgettable vantage point as superb artists perform some of the world’s most beautiful and passionate music.

This celebrated quartet of singers – sopranos Diana Stoic and Caitlin Shirley, bass-baritone Dan Richardson, and tenor Daniel Shirley – married couples in real life, will be singing arias of love including "The Merry Widow Waltz", "If I Ever Would Leave You", and "Some Enchanted Evening."

Only 200 fortunate audience members will be in for a delicious mix of humor, vocal talent, and theatrics…oh and there will be wedding cake too. A special thank you to Sweet Annie’s Bakery in Flossmoor who will be providing a complimentary sweet treat to all in attendance to make the experience even sweeter.

All four singers have been actively performing and getting rave reviews…

Ms. Stoic performed with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre where she was described as "utterly luminous" in her portrayal of Cunegonde in their production of "Candide".

Last season Mr. Richardson debuted a number of roles with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, including La Voce in Mozart's "Idomeneo", Elder Ott in Floyd's "Susannah", and Il Mandarino in Puccini's "Turandot".

Daniel Shirley who made a recent Carnegie Hall debut with Distinguished Concerts International-New York, was recognized by the New York Concert Review who noted his tenor "soared over the large forces with strength and clarity."

Caitlin Shirley is delighted to be returning to the Opera Up Close series, last seen as Adina in "The Elixir of Love".  She will be heard this season in the Chicago area with Music of the Baroque, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and Soli Deo Gloria’s Chicago Bach Project.

Host and narrator John Concepcion will provide insight into each opera and its highlights, taking the audience on a musical journey across Europe and through the centuries.

The final performance in the Opera Up Close series will be "An Afternoon of One Acts" on March 30th featuring three complete operettas by Gian Carlo Menotti and Samuel Barber.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.centertickets.net or by calling the Center for Performing Arts box office at (708) 235-2222.

Governors State University is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois. The box office is open 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday and two hours prior to performances.

Multibuy/Megabuy packages are available at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University. Patrons can choose any three shows and receive the Multibuy discount or choose any four or more shows and receive the Megabuy discount. Packages are available for purchase through the box office only and are not currently available online.