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University Daily Kansan
Singing Voice As Caruso, Callas No Indication of Operatic Ability
A voice student may sing like Caruso or Callas, but he doesn't always have the acting ability essential for operatic performance.
Using this principle as a guideline, the School of Fine Arts includes the Opera Workshop as part of its curriculum.
Conducted by Robert Baustian, professor of orchestra, and Lewin Goff, professor of speech and drama and director of the University Theatre, the workshop is basically an acting course for singers. Some theater majors are also enrolled in the course, Prof. Goff said.
"IT IS ESSENTIAL for a singer to act today," Prof. Baustian said. "There is also a demand for opera singers who are good looking. Both of these trends are probably a result of television and movies."
"Make-up will often compensate for lack of natural good looks," he added. "But the days of the Wagner-
ian opera star who just stood on stage and sang are gone. The opera buff today expects good production as well as great voices."
Students enrolled in the course study opera literature. They also learn how to stage opera productions and work smoothly with their partners on stage.
"ONE OF THE vital things an opera singer must learn is to produce comic or dramatic effects." Prof. Baustian said. "This is rather difficult because of the timing involved. The acting must be done within the framework of the musical score as the composer wrote it."
The students use few props or costumes and are accompanied by a piano instead of an orchestra, Prof. Goff said. He said that in teaching the students the elements of acting
he tries to capitalize on their best features.
Since the class is small, the students study scenes from selected operas rather than doing an entire opera.
IN PAST YEARS members of the workshop have performed at student recitals. Prof. Baustian said he hopes to present a few scenes again this year.
This semester the students are studying scenes from the operas "Don Giovanni," "Cosi fan Tutte," "The Magic Flute" and "Boris Godunov."
Prof. Baustian feels that the workshop is a valuable part of the music curriculum.
"Most universities with any pretensions have an opera workshop," he said.
Assistant Profs To Discuss KU
"The Assistant Professor Looks at the University" will be the subject for discussion at the first dinner meeting of the American Association of University Professors.
Participating in the panel discussion will be Aldon Bell, assistant professor of history; John Pfeffer, assistant professor of civil engineering; and Gary Maranell, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology.
The Thursday meeting will be the first meeting of the KU chapter this year.
Charles Warriner, professor of sociology and anthropology, will moderate the discussion to be at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 8, in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
Reservations may be made through Stuart Forth, Acting Director of Libraries, until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1964
Mountain Goat's Head Stolen
A stuffed mountain goat's head valued at $100 was stolen from a wall in Dyche Hall yesterday.
J. Knox Jones, assistant professor of zoology, reported the theft yesterday. The 18x18 inch head with black horns was apparently stolen Monday night.
The winner, who names the University Theatre Jayhawk, will win two season passes to the Experimental Theatre productions, plus two free tickets to A Man For All Seasons, the opening major theatre production.
Write your entry with your name, address, and phone number. Send it to the University of Kansas Theatre, Murphy Hall, Lawrence, Kansas. All entries must be sent before Oct. 12, 1964.
University Theatre