Department of Music Presents Mozart’s First Opera in Dinner Theater at Plaza Hotel July 7, 8
The New Mexico Highlands University Department of Music presents Mozart’s first opera in a dinner theater July 7 and 8 at the historic Plaza Hotel on the Old Town Las Vegas Plaza.
The dinner theater is a benefit for the Department of Music choral program. It will be in the hotel’s elegant ballroom in the Ilfeld expansion of the hotel, which opened in 2009 after historical restoration.
The dinner theater performance features Mozart’s one-act comic opera, Bastien und Bastienne, composed in 1768.
Department of Music choral director Andre Garcia- Nuthmann is the musical director for the opera, and Robert Woods, theater professor, is the artistic director.
“You can never go wrong with Mozart,” Garcia-Nuthmann said. “This is his first full opera in one act. It’s actually a singspiel, a genre of musical theater that includes dialogue and singing. It’s great fun.
“The Plaza Hotel ballroom has beautiful ambience and is so well suited to dinner theater,” Garcia-Nuthmann added.
Music senior Karliz de Marco, a soprano, plays the character of Bastienne in the opera and Garcia-Nuthmann, a tenor, plays Bastien. Music graduate Devin Barad, at bass, plays Mr. Colas.
“We now have students in our music program like Karliz and Devin who are accomplished operatic singers, and I’m so proud of them,” Garcia-Nuthmann said.
Well-known Northern New Mexico pianist and adjunct music faculty member Linda King is the accompanist for the opera.
Tickets are $30 for the dinner theater. In addition, several front-row tables for eight are available for $500.
The dinner menu includes roasted rosemary chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and corn, bread and butter, and strawberry mousse for dessert. Iced tea and coffee are included.
There will be a cash bar from 5 — 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. Classical guitarist Roberto Cappochi will play during dinner. He tours the southwest and is also an adjunct music faculty member.
“Our generous donors helped bring the Santa Fe Symphony and other top-level professional musicians to our community to perform with our choral music students,” Garcia-Nuthmann said. “This dinner theater benefit is important because it will enhance our future programs.”
Tickets are available at the front desk of the Plaza Hotel or by calling 505-425-3591. Tickets are also available through Ida Cooney at Europa Hair Studio at 505-426-8988; local chiropractor Dr. Em Krall at 505-454-9525; or Garcia-Nuthmann at 505-425-9323.