News

Portland State University's award-winning opera program will present Puccini's La Bohème for its annual spring production. Joined by internationally renowned stage director Tito Capobianco, students will perform one of the world's most loved operas in honor of Puccini's 150th birthday.

Presented by the School of Fine and Performing Art's Department of Music, the tragedy is set in the bohemian culture of 1830s Paris, and centers around an optimistic group of friends surviving on very limited means. Rodolfo, a poet, shares his garret with an artist. Mimi is a seamstress living in a neighboring apartment. They fall instantly and madly in love, but Mimi is desperately ill and not long for this world. La Bohème will be performed in Italian with surtitles.

To direct the opera, Tito Capobianco returns to Portland State as the 2008 Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professor in Residence. Last spring, the combination of young talent and Capobianco's direction produced Così fan Tutte, which won a second-place award in Division I of the National Opera Association's collegiate opera competition. Capobianco will also give a master class that is open to the public on Monday, April 14, from 4-6 p.m. in the Lincoln Recital Hall (1620 SW Park). For more information contact Christine Meadows at 503-725-5463.

The five showings of La Bohème include evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, Wednesday, April 30, Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, and one matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2008, in the Lincoln Performance Hall (1620 SW Park Avenue). Tickets for the opera are $25 for the general public, $23 for seniors, and $12 for children and PSU students, faculty and staff; and are available through the PSU Box Office (1825 SW Broadway), by calling 503-725-3307 or through any TicketMaster outlet (service charge may apply). Media interested in attending should contact Angela Abel, University Communications, at 503-725-8794.

Tito Capobianco is renowned for his ingenious and versatile treatment of repertoire classics, from baroque to romantic, verismo and contemporary operatic repertoire. He has staged over 250 productions in Europe, Australia and the American continents for major opera houses such as New York City, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona along with the festivals of Spoleto, Caramoor, Las Palmas, Buenos Aires and Mexico City.

Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professorship
In 2002, Jeannine B. Cowles, a local business woman and longtime supporter of Portland State University, presented the Department of Music with an endowment to bring an internationally recognized opera artist to Portland State University each spring to work with PSU students as they prepare the opera production. These artists bring an understanding of the highest levels of the professional world of opera to our students through coaching, directing, advising and Master classes. Tito Capobianco is this year's Distinguished Professor in Residence.

Jeannine B. Cowles Production Challenge for Opera Endowment
Longtime opera program supporter Jeannine B. Cowles announced a $500,000 endowment challenge gift that will be matched by $1 million raised by the School of Fine and Performing Arts. As increments of $200,000 are raised for the opera endowment, Cowles will match the funds with $100,000. The Jeannine B. Cowles Opera Endowment Challenge extends for five years until December 31, 2011. The resulting $1.5 million "PSU Opera Production Endowment" will assure the future of the Department of Music's annual opera by funding it in perpetuity. For more information contact Trish Trout at 503-725-3396.

School of Fine and Performing Arts
The mission of Portland State University's School of Fine and Performing Arts is to strengthen Portland's extended cultural community by providing outstanding professional training and education in the performing and visual arts in partnership with the region's working artists and cultural institutions. With strong ties to community, culture and business, the School of Fine and Performing Arts at PSU is the region's primary institution for preparing talented young people for leadership in creative careers. Located in the heart of Portland, the school's faculty and students provide a significant cultural trust for the Northwest, with scores of concerts, workshops, lectures and exhibitions throughout the year. The School consists of the Departments of Art, Architecture, Music and Theater Arts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#08-011)

Source: Christine Meadows (503-725-5463)
School of Fine and Performing Arts

Portland State University's award-winning opera program will present Puccini's La Bohème for its annual spring production. Joined by internationally renowned stage director Tito Capobianco, students will perform one of the world's most loved operas in honor of Puccini's 150th birthday.

Presented by the School of Fine and Performing Art's Department of Music, the tragedy is set in the bohemian culture of 1830s Paris, and centers around an optimistic group of friends surviving on very limited means. Rodolfo, a poet, shares his garret with an artist. Mimi is a seamstress living in a neighboring apartment. They fall instantly and madly in love, but Mimi is desperately ill and not long for this world. La Bohème will be performed in Italian with surtitles.

To direct the opera, Tito Capobianco returns to Portland State as the 2008 Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professor in Residence. Last spring, the combination of young talent and Capobianco's direction produced Così fan Tutte, which won a second-place award in Division I of the National Opera Association's collegiate opera competition. Capobianco will also give a master class that is open to the public on Monday, April 14, from 4-6 p.m. in the Lincoln Recital Hall (1620 SW Park). For more information contact Christine Meadows at 503-725-5463.

The five showings of La Bohème include evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, Wednesday, April 30, Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, and one matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2008, in the Lincoln Performance Hall (1620 SW Park Avenue). Tickets for the opera are $25 for the general public, $23 for seniors, and $12 for children and PSU students, faculty and staff; and are available through the PSU Box Office (1825 SW Broadway), by calling 503-725-3307 or through any TicketMaster outlet (service charge may apply). Media interested in attending should contact Angela Abel, University Communications, at 503-725-8794.

Tito Capobianco is renowned for his ingenious and versatile treatment of repertoire classics, from baroque to romantic, verismo and contemporary operatic repertoire. He has staged over 250 productions in Europe, Australia and the American continents for major opera houses such as New York City, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona along with the festivals of Spoleto, Caramoor, Las Palmas, Buenos Aires and Mexico City.

Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professorship
In 2002, Jeannine B. Cowles, a local business woman and longtime supporter of Portland State University, presented the Department of Music with an endowment to bring an internationally recognized opera artist to Portland State University each spring to work with PSU students as they prepare the opera production. These artists bring an understanding of the highest levels of the professional world of opera to our students through coaching, directing, advising and Master classes. Tito Capobianco is this year's Distinguished Professor in Residence.

Jeannine B. Cowles Production Challenge for Opera Endowment
Longtime opera program supporter Jeannine B. Cowles announced a $500,000 endowment challenge gift that will be matched by $1 million raised by the School of Fine and Performing Arts. As increments of $200,000 are raised for the opera endowment, Cowles will match the funds with $100,000. The Jeannine B. Cowles Opera Endowment Challenge extends for five years until December 31, 2011. The resulting $1.5 million "PSU Opera Production Endowment" will assure the future of the Department of Music's annual opera by funding it in perpetuity. For more information contact Trish Trout at 503-725-3396.

School of Fine and Performing Arts
The mission of Portland State University's School of Fine and Performing Arts is to strengthen Portland's extended cultural community by providing outstanding professional training and education in the performing and visual arts in partnership with the region's working artists and cultural institutions. With strong ties to community, culture and business, the School of Fine and Performing Arts at PSU is the region's primary institution for preparing talented young people for leadership in creative careers. Located in the heart of Portland, the school's faculty and students provide a significant cultural trust for the Northwest, with scores of concerts, workshops, lectures and exhibitions throughout the year. The School consists of the Departments of Art, Architecture, Music and Theater Arts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#08-011)

Source: Christine Meadows (503-725-5463)
School of Fine and Performing Arts