The Rake's Progress

Do you have a dark side? Experience Tom Rakewell’s descent from happiness when he gives up true love for sex, money, and eventual madness. After all, "for idle hands and hearts and minds the Devil finds a work to do."

Stravinsky's The Rake’s Progress is based on a series of famous engravings by William Hogarth. The story follows Tom Rakewell during his descent from rural pleasures into the whirl of London society life, which leads him toward madness and despair. A collection of colorful characters, including the devil himself, illustrate life's temptations and pitfalls on this eclectic journey. CU Opera's extraordinary production is presented in a steampunk style and sung in English.

DAILY CAMERA 10/25 - 'CU Opera is a tour de force'

CU will be presenting an interdisciplinary Rake's Progress collaboration that also includes an exhibition at the CU Art Museum and a conference hosted by the Center for British and Irish Studies.

FEATURED CAST:
Tom Rakewell - Christian Sanders
Anne Trulove - Chelsea Lewis
Nick Shadow - Michael Aiello
Baba the Turk - Anna Engländer
Father Trulove - Luke Williams
Sellem - Max Hosmer
Mother Goose - MaryBeth Verchot
Keeper of the Madhouse - Zac Garcia

PREPERFORMANCE LECTURES:
One hour before curtain in the balcony of Macky
Friday - Paul Miller, Instructor of Music Theory
Sunday - Professor Matthew Carlson from High Point University, an expert on Auden and the author of “Opera Addict: W. H. Auden’s Operatic Theory and Its Influence on The Rake’s Progress”