What happens when a scandalous love affair, a larger-than-life personality, and imprisonment all mix together? No, it’s not the latest blockbuster headed to the theaters…it’s much better. It’s the wild life of one of literature’s most flamboyant figures, Oscar Wilde. Known for his stories that often explored the dark side of art and humanity, his most interesting tale was his own, and now you can watch his life unfold on stage. Come experience everything from Wilde’s taboo love affair to the public frenzy that surrounded him, as it unfolds at the East Coast premiere of the opera Oscar presented by Opera Philadelphia, at the Academy of Music on Friday, February 6 at 8 p.m. Looking to be the first to make curtain call? Advanced Student Rush tickets through Open Arts are only $10!
The Man and the Opera
Oscar explores the life of Oscar Wilde, one of the most daring and unapologetic authors of the Victorian era. Wilde was a 19th Century Irish writer best known for his numerous plays and his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. His life spans a rise to literary fame, a trial and imprisonment for engaging in a relationship with a man, and an eventual fall into obscurity. Wilde has since come to be remembered as one of the most celebrated, albeit infamous, literary personalities of his time. Bold voices and classic musical accompaniment will bring Wilde’s story to the stage; Oscar takes on the tall task of dramatizing the life of a man who penned tales about the human condition, suffered backlash for his romantic choices, and ultimately succumbed to an ear infection.
The Experience
The lights dim, the music rises, and sopranos sing out melodic notes — you don’t have to know your libretto from your arioso in order to enjoy Oscar. It offers something for both the opera lover and the bookworm. Unlike many traditional operas performed in Italian, Oscar is performed in English and offers an eclectic experience that is unique all on its own. It is a sensory art form that immerses the viewer in music and story, sound and action, all while the exploration of humanity and drama unfolds. When was the last time Netflix did that?
If you’re nervous about your first night at the opera or just need a little more convincing, check out what some local college students said about their time spent at the opera through the Open Arts program: Danielle Nanni, who attended Opera Philadelphia’s performance of the biblical tale Nabucco, said, “…it was incredible!” It was her first time at the opera, through Opera Philadelphia and Open Arts, and she “would definitely go again.” Several other students who were surveyed offered feedback about their experiences and said that it was “an exciting and interesting experience,” and that the Academy of Music was “a nice space, with great performances.” You won’t know what you’re missing out on until you give it a try!
Ticket to a Wilde Ride
Don’t spend another Friday night glued to Netflix; come take part in the arts and experience the opera at a discounted price. Save the ten bucks you would have spent on pizza and grab your friends or a date and watch a performance based on the life of one the most scandalous authors of the nineteenth century. Claim your ticket here through our Open Arts website. Not an Open Arts Member yet? Sign up for free here.
