CUA Media Advisory

Opera: CUA to Stage The Magic Flute Blind Doctoral Student to Play Queen of the Night President John Garvey Appears in Walk-on Role Oct. 29

The Catholic University of America Hartke Theatre 620 Michigan Ave., N.E. Washington, D.C.

Blind doctoral candidate Jessica Bachicha will perform the role of the Queen of the Night in the Oct. 29 and 31 performances. To read a story about Bachicha, click here .

On Oct. 29, Catholic University President John Garvey will appear in a walk-on role in CUA's production of The Magic Flute, an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Sung in German with English dialogue, the production is directed by Jay D. Brock, lecturer in the drama department and artistic director of Opera Alterna based in Washington, D.C. David Searle, assistant professor and director of orchestral activities and conducting studies, will lead the CUA Orchestra.

The opera, with libretto by Emanuel Shikaneder, chronicles the rescue of Pamina - daughter of the Queen of the Night - from Sarastro by the hero Tamino, who is armed with a magic flute. Mozart's final masterpiece is filled with enigmatic references to the Freemasons. The composer and librettist were friends and members of the fraternal organization.

Rife with ritual and symbolism, the fairy-tale opera is a playful but profound look at man's search for love and his struggle to attain wisdom and virtue. The opera features the virtuosic arias of the Queen of the Night and the folksong-like melodies of the bird catcher Papageno.

Tickets for the Oct. 28 performance are $10 for general admission and $5 for students, seniors and CUA alumni, faculty and staff. Tickets for the other performances are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, seniors and CUA alumni, faculty and staff.

For more information, contact the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at 202-319-5414.