UNL Opera is heading on the road this February with performances of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Boheme” in Friend and Ord, Nebraska.
“This caps off my deepest conviction that we, the flagship University, have the obligation to serve rural Nebraska by sharing quality opera with rural communities,” said William Shomos, the Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music (Voice) and Director of Opera in the Glenn Korff School of Music.
UNL Opera will perform in both Friend and Ord, Nebraska, as follows:
• Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. at the San Carlo Room on the ground floor of the Warren Opera House in Friend, Nebraska. The event is free and open to the public. Daytime student performances will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 24 for area school children. Visit https://www.friendnehistoricalsociety.org/upcoming-events for more information on the public performance.
• Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. at The Golden Husk in Ord, Nebraska. The event is free and open to the public. Daytime student performances will take place on Friday, Feb. 27 for area school children. Visit https://www.goldenhuskarts.org/upcoming-events.html for more information on the public performance.
“La Boheme” will be presented with piano and minimal scenery.
The performances are sponsored by the James C. and Rhonda Seacrest Tour Nebraska Opera Fund.
“Taking ‘La Boheme' on tour, especially to communities like Ord and Friend, is a powerful experiential learning opportunity for our students,” said Glenn Korff School of Music Director Felix Olschofka. “They gain first-hand insight into the artistry, logistics and professionalism required to bring opera beyond campus.”
Olschofka said the tour reflects the university’s land-grant mission to serve communities across the state while giving students meaningful professional experience.
“As a land-grant institution, UNL has a responsibility to expand access to the arts across Nebraska,” he said. “This tour helps us share world-class cultural experience with rural communities and strengthens the connections that matter most. Students learn what it means to serve audiences, collaborate at a high level and represent UNL with excellence across the state. We are deeply grateful to Rhonda Seacrest, a long-standing supporter of UNL Opera, whose generous underwriting makes this tour possible. Her commitment creates transformational opportunities for our students and for the communities we serve.”
“La Boheme” is about the passionate, but tragic love between a poor poet Rodolfo and a consumptive seamstress Mimi, set against the backdrop of bohemian life in 1830s Paris.
“With soaring melodies and poignant storytelling, be prepared to smile, laugh and shed a few tears as six young Bohemian artists navigate life’s trials of romance and friendship,” Shomos said. “UNL Opera’s finest singing actors will sweep you away in an unforgettable performance you’re sure to love—up close and personal—in the Warren Opera House in Friend and The Golden Husk Theatre in Ord.”
Molly Wanless, a graduate voice performance major, plays Mimi.
“Mimi is a hopeful, honest character. Even though she has a terminal illness, she dreams, laughs and loves as if she were not,” she said. “Mimi has taught me a lot about appreciating all of the beautiful simplicity of life.”
Wanless said the opera has some of the best operatic music.
“Not only is the music beautiful, but the storytelling is some of the best written in music,” she said. “Puccini expertly weaves motifs throughout the work connecting with specific characters and important moments. And when the motifs reappear, you know exactly what the characters are thinking/remembering.”
Wanless is excited to participate in her first UNL opera tour.
“I have participated in ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ for the past two years, and I’ve really enjoyed bringing opera to a population that might not normally have access,” she said. “I love when outreach surprises people and exposes them to a new art form. I am really excited to share this story with others. It has so much heart, and I think it is relatable in many ways. I’m excited to see audience members become attached to the different characters.”
Wanless said this kind of outreach is critical for artists.
“It’s crucial that we, as artists, seek out communities that may not have access to the arts. I want to help others discover opera and debunk some of its common misconceptions,” Wanless said. “Opera is not a boring, inaccessible, outdated genre. It is lively, engaging and exciting storytelling. At its core, opera tells a story through drama and music. I like to imagine the characters cannot express their feelings completely with words alone, so they turn to music to amplify their experiences.”
She encourages audiences in Friend and Ord to attend.
“Audiences should expect a charming story of friendship, true love and loss,” Wanless said. “’La Boheme’ is an incredible introduction to opera. I would highly recommend experiencing this show.”