Opera Omaha Presents "Medea"


Opera Omaha Presents “Medea”
By Corbin Hirschhorn, KVNO News
April 19th, 2018

Omaha NE—Baritone Weston Hurt has played many of the principal roles in popular operas by Verdi, Puccini, and Donizetti, and now he’s taking on Creonte in Cherubini’s Medea, Opera Omaha’s next performance as part of the ONE Festival.

Hurt’s music education began with his mother’s decision, a choral director herself. His early life was split between music and sports, but after success in choirs landed him a position in the Texas All-State choir, the importance of music changed. Cherubini originally wrote his version of the Greek tragedy in French, having spent most of his time in France, but Opera Omaha will present a seldom performed Italian version. Medea is one of the most brutal stories in classical literature, the aftermath of her sacrifice and marriage to Jason, and his eventual betrayal with another woman. In the end, though perhaps reluctantly, Medea exacts revenge.

This performance is a coproduction with the Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland, but Opera Omaha’s cast and artistic direction has changed a bit since last year, leading to some innovative artistic decisions. Opera Omaha will perform Medea at the Orpheum Theatre this Friday, April 20th at 7:30pm and Sunday the 22nd at 2:00pm. For more information, visit OperaOmaha.org.