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3 Operas, 4 Days, 10 Performances, 500 Costumes: NEC Graduate Opera Photo Recap

May 19, 2022

Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”

See photos from the April 2022 performances of Perla’s “An American Dream,” Ravel’s “L’enfant et les sortilèges,” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” under the direction of Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies.

April 2022 saw a remarkable and ambitious run of three operas over the course of four days, presented by NEC Opera’s graduate students under the direction of Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies, with music conducted by Robert Tweten, Opera Studies’ Music Director. NEC’s production of “Dido and Aeneas” also featured the stage direction of Joshua’s father, opera director Leon Major.

In an interview at OperaWire, Major discussed how the idea for these productions was initially conceived due to the COVID restrictions of having to present 90-minute shows with no intermission, combined with a large enrollment in the program that allowed for a great diversity of singers and repertoire. The result was a remarkable staging of three dynamic productions.

We hope you enjoy seeing a selection of visuals by NEC’s Andrew Hurlbut from these wonderful operas.

Jack Perla’s “An American Dream”

Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of An American Dream by Jack Perla, 19 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Joshua Major, Stage Director, Robert Tweten, conductor.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of An American Dream by Jack Perla, 19 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Joshua Major, Stage Director, Robert Tweten, conductor.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of An American Dream by Jack Perla, 19 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Joshua Major, Stage Director, Robert Tweten, conductor.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of An American Dream by Jack Perla, 19 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Joshua Major, Stage Director, Robert Tweten, conductor.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of An American Dream by Jack Perla, 19 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Joshua Major, Stage Director, Robert Tweten, conductor.

Maurice Ravel’s “L’enfant et les sortilèges”

Final dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges -- with libretto by Colette. 20 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Directed by Joshua Major; conducted by Robert Tweten.
Final dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges -- with libretto by Colette. 20 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Directed by Joshua Major; conducted by Robert Tweten.
Final dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges -- with libretto by Colette. 20 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Directed by Joshua Major; conducted by Robert Tweten.
Final dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges -- with libretto by Colette. 20 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Directed by Joshua Major; conducted by Robert Tweten.
Final dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges -- with libretto by Colette. 20 April 2022, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Directed by Joshua Major; conducted by Robert Tweten.

Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”

Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Dido and Aeneas, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre, 18 April 2022. Directed by Leon Major, conducted by Robert Tweten.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Dido and Aeneas, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre, 18 April 2022. Directed by Leon Major, conducted by Robert Tweten.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Dido and Aeneas, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre, 18 April 2022. Directed by Leon Major, conducted by Robert Tweten.
Dress rehearsal for NEC Opera production of Dido and Aeneas, Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre, 18 April 2022. Directed by Leon Major, conducted by Robert Tweten.
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