Developing an opera department of substance and quality has been “priority one” for Joseph Levitt since he assumed leadership of the BSU Opera Theatre in 2006. The Opera Theatre’s success is due in no small part to his devotion to the operatic art form. The BSU Opera Theatre presents two full productions per season: the spring main stage production is performed in the original language and the fall Pocket Opera, christened in 2009, is a chamber opera performed either in the original English or in translation.
His productions include: Mozart’s
Die Zauberflöte, Puccini’s
Madama Butterfly, Händel’s
Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Mozart’s
Don Giovanni, Menotti’s
The Medium, Mascagni’s
L’amico Fritz, Puccini’s
Suor Angelica, and Mozart’s
Così fan tutte. Mr. Levitt has written and directed his own version of Mozart’s
The Magic Flute; a children’s version entitled:
Papageno plays the Magic Flute. This opera was commissioned by Opera Illinois. He is also a sought-after guest director. Next spring he will direct Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore with The Mississippi Opera.
Related Link
BSU Opera Theatre Web site