The fine art of combining an engrossing drama with a stirring musical score gave the world opera. Now, Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College will feature some of the greatest opera music ever written with “A Night at the Opera,” 7:30 p.m., January 27 at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education on the TCC Southeast Campus. “In this concert, we will showcase some of the world’s most beloved opera overtures, arias, and ensembles. The first half of the performance follows the development of opera from the 17^th through the 20^th centuries, while the second half will be devoted to the work of Tobias Picker, one of today’s preeminent composers,” said Andrés Franco, Signature Symphony at TCC Music Director.

The evening begins with music from one of the first operas ever written, “L’Orfeo” by Monteverdi, and continues with music from Handel’s “Orlando,” Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” Rossini’s “Barber of Seville,” Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Wagner’s “The Valkyrie,” Bizet’s “Carmen,” and Puccini’s “Turandot.”

The second half of the performance is devoted to music by Tobias Picker, who is the Tulsa Opera Artistic Director and a well-known composer. His works have been performed by some of the world’s best orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, L’Orchestre de Paris, Munich Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Vienna RSO, and Zurich Tonhalle.

“I am excited to present arias from my five operas as part of the ongoing collaboration between Signature Symphony and Tulsa Opera,” said Picker. “This concert will give both of our audiences a chance to become more familiar with my life’s work and with the exemplary work of conductor Andres Franco. We look forward to making more music together in future seasons.”

The Tulsa Opera Young Artists Program, consisting of rising stars in the opera world, selected by national audition, as well as members of the Tulsa Opera Chorus will perform with Signature Symphony at TCC.

“A Night at the Opera” is part of the 2017-2018 season, “From the Heartland: Tulsa Music Connections,” a year-long celebration of music with Tulsa ties. Tickets are available at www.signaturesymphony.org or by calling 918-595-7777.

This season, Signature Symphony at TCC expanded rush tickets to include teachers and educators. Students and teachers can now buy rush tickets for $5 one-hour prior to show time for any Signature Symphony performance with a valid student or employee ID from their educational institution. This offer is limited to two tickets per student or educator and subject to the availability of open seats.

This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.