White's Chapel UMC
White’s Chapel UMC is converting into an opera house for one night only this weekend. The Apex Arts League is teaming up with the American Baroque Opera Company and the Avant Chamber Ballet for a production of “The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld,” a two-act opera written by French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier around 1686. According to an Apex media release, the opera tells the story of Orpheus, a musician and poet who plunges into the depths of the underworld to save his deceased wife Euridice.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this,” Apex Arts League chairman Terri Messing says. “It’s a little hard to do because we don’t have a theater. We’re having to take this opera and be creative in how we use the White Chapel sanctuary to present it. It’s kind of like a hybrid.”
Terri says the production will feature a small chamber orchestra, Avant Chamber dancers and American Baroque Opera Company singers in costume on a partially staged sanctuary. The opera will also be performed in French with English subtitles displayed on the auditorium screens throughout the production.
Terri says it’s the League’s goal to provide a variety of art experiences to the Metroplex, and its showing of “The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld” is a great way to introduce residents to the appeal of opera.
“It’s a little bit different for us,” Terri remarks. “We’re all about pushing the envelope and bringing different things to our community that is interesting, entertaining and cultural. It is certainly not in everyone’s tastes, but I think this kind of presentation will be able to be enjoyed by people who have never been to an opera before. It’s kind of a tasting – a sampling – of what opera is like.”
The show will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 3 at White’s Chapel UMC, located at 185 S. White Chapel Blvd. Ticket prices are $10 for children, $15 for seniors and Apex members and $20 for adults.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the show, call the ticket office at 817-665-6000 or visit ApexArtsLeague.com.