Music in the Museum

Schubert Song Cycle, Opera Showcase Featured

Professor Joseph Levitt Director of Opera Theater Ball State University

The winter months will be brightened by the sounds of Music in the Museum when the David Owsley Museum of Art hosts two separate events in the Sculpture Court.

On February 14, tenor Joseph Levitt will perform Franz Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise. He will be accompanied by pianist Robert Palmer.

Levitt says his preparation includes thinking about the emotional arc of each song and the emotions with which he hopes to leave his listeners.

“When we speak our native language, emotions go with the words,” he says. “But the song-cycle is performed in a foreign language. While average listeners might not understand the words, they would notice if I didn’t offer those emotional variances.”

At 7 p.m. Heather Platt, Ball State University professor of music history and musicology, will offer a preconcert talk, “Schubert and the Wanderer.”

On March 14, the museum will host an Opera Showcase featuring music from L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Levitt will direct the student production of the opera in Emens Auditorium on April 5 and 7.

“This is an opportunity not only to have music in the museum, but to give people a taste of what is coming up and give the performers a chance to perform in front of an audience,” Levitt says.

Soloists for the Opera Showcase are Hongteak Lim, Keisha Dwan Cook, Julian Vera, Brent Maher, and Barbara Briner-Jones.

Levitt hopes the Music in the Museum experiences expose the musical arts to a new audience.

“I’m interested in reaching those who might not have come to an event in Sursa, but who are patrons of the arts,” he says. “It’s a great way to expand our audience.”

Both events, which are free and open to the public, will be preceded by 6:30 p.m. welcoming receptions in the Brown Study Room with cash bars. The concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m.