Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s playful opera 'Così fan tutte' will be performed by the Brigham Young University School of Music Oct. 20-27 in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. As a special feature, the Saturday, Oct. 20 matinee at 11 a.m. will be a condensed version for children and families. Tickets for the opera are available through the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or online at byuarts.com. Tickets cost between $10 and $16 depending on the night, with discounts available for children, alumni and students. There will be no performances Sunday or Monday. Director Lawrence Vincent, a former member of the Vienna State Opera Company, continues the BYU School of Music’s rich tradition of bringing the great works of the European masters to a contemporary audience. “’Così fan tutte’ is one of my favorite Mozart operas,” said Vincent. “It contains all the elements that make drama and comedy so appealing: deception, intrigue, betrayal, falling in and out of love, humor, discovery and repentance – as timeless now as they were in the time of Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte.” The theme of the opera revolves around the idea of fiancée-swapping and fidelity in love, incorporating elements from the Greek myth of Procris and Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” according to Lawrence. The opera tells the story of Don Alfonso, a philosopher and cynic, who convinces two men to trick the women to whom they are betrothed into falling in love with them again, but this time with the men in disguise as a test of their loves’ loyalty. The opera’s title is Alfonso’s philosophy and illustrates the theme of the play: all women are alike, or women are like that. The opera is double- and even triple-cast for some roles, and includes Davis Hansen and Brandtley Henderson as Don Alfonso; Zach Wetzel and Ross Coughanour as Guglielmo; Mason Neipp and Jubal Joslyn as Ferrando; Emily Workman, Melissa James and Rebecca Pederson as Fiordiligi; Sarah Maxwell, Carli Downs and Tara Austin as Dorabella; and Katherine Henly, Keri Lynee Costello and Eliza Lyons as Despina. Others on production team for “Cosi fan tutte” include Kory Katseanes, conductor; Barbara Allen, vocal coach; Joseph Olson, chorus master; Lisa Elzey, production stage manager; Kylie Mostart Valentine, assistant stage manager; Alecia Holmes, assistant stage manager; Michael Handley, lighting designer; Karl Pope, scenic designer; Hannah Kroff, set dressing; Aileen McIntosh, props designer; Julie Adams, co-makeup designer; Jeanne Burnett, co-makeup designer; and Tara Austin, supertitle translation. The costumes for the production have been rented from the Utah Opera Company. Costumes were designed for the Utah Symphony and Opera by Susan Memmott Allred. For more information, contact Lawrence Vincent at (801) 422-3165 or lawrence_vincent @byu.edu or contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu. Source: BYU News

This past summer, Jacob Wyatt’s short animated film Metro became the latest product of the BYU animation program to win significant critical praise.

The life of Lloyd Alexander, a popular children’s author, will be illuminated in a mini- documentary made by Brigham Young University student Jared Crossley Thursday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium.

BYU graduate Rachel Willis-SÁ¸rensen (BM ’08, MM ’09) launched her international career in February 2012. After winning an international singing competition the year before, Willis-SÁ¸rensen was recruited by one of the judges to perform in a lead role with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. Willis-SÁ¸rensen is excited to finally have found her niche in music, and she will continue to impress audiences with her clear soprano voice in the future. Read all about her experience in the BYU Magazine.

For the 2012 Honored Alumni Lecture next week, Brigham Young University's College of Fine Arts and Communications welcomes the famed Jerold Ottley. On Thursday, Oct. 11, the former music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will give a lecture entitled You Want Me to Do What? at 11:00 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Brigham Young University’s colleges and the David M. Kennedy Center each selected an outstanding graduate to recognize with the Alumni Achievement Award. The honorees will give a lecture as part of the honor during Homecoming 2012. Jerold Ottley was selected for the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Click here for a complete list of honorees. During his tenure with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Jerold D. Ottley, the choice for the College of Fine Arts and Communications, was responsible for nearly 1,300 broadcasts of “Music and the Spoken Word” while participating in more than 30 commercial recordings and more than 20 major tours. In addition, the Salt Lake City musician put together programs for General Conference and concerts as well as keeping the 320-plus member choir ready to perform. Source: BYU News

Group for New Music, the Brigham Young University School of Music’s avant-garde and new music ensemble, will present a recital featuring the works of composer David Rakowski Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center.

Brigham Young University’s Young Company will present a performance tailored toward young audiences of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Tuesday through Saturday, Oct. 17-20 and 23-27 in the Margetts Theatre. The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday’s performances will include matinees at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Brigham Young University School of Music will offer faculty and guest artists in three free recitals Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13, in the Madsen Recital Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Due to the high demand for tickets to the sold out performance by Beijing Dance Academy tomorrow night, tickets will now be sold for the Beijing Dance Academy and BYU Philharmonic final dress rehearsal tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 2) at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall balcony. These general admission balcony seats will be sold for $5 each.

Traveling from China to perform with the Brigham Young University Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Performing Arts Series, the Beijing Dance Academy will present an encore production of a joint performance presented in Beijing last year. The performance will be in the de Jong Concert Hall Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

As part of the celebration commemorating the historic, 100 year-old Karl G. Maeser Building, six of Brigham Young University’s finest performing groups will present music, dance and songs that span a century during BYU Spectacular 2012.

Looking for something fun to do this week? After the Beijing Dance Academy and BYU Philharmonic's performance this Wednesday, Oct. 3, there will be a free dance party held in the HFAC B.F. Larsen Gallery. Bring your friends to dance the night away from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and dance instruction will be provided. BYU’s own Synthesis will be providing the music.