Tulsa World: Youth groups to put on biblical production

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Youth groups to put on biblical production
The musical performance is based on the story of Noah and the ark.

By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
Published: 11/13/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/13/2009 4:39 AM

Two of the city's leading performance organizations for young artists — the Tulsa Youth Opera and the Tulsa Youth Symphony — join forces for a special performance of Benjamin Britten's one-act about the biblical story of Noah and the ark.

"Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood)" will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, at Harvard Avenue Christian Church, 5502 S. Harvard Ave. The production will also feature the chorus from Riverfield Country Day School.

Britten, best known for grand operas such as "Peter Grimes," "The Turn of the Screw" and "Billy Budd," wrote "Noye's Fludde" in 1958, intending it to be performed in a church setting by children working with professional and amateur musicians.

Richard Sutliff, director of opera theater at Oral Roberts University who has performed with Tulsa Opera and Houston Grand Opera, will sing the role of Noah, with Debra Hillabrand as Noah's Wife. Stanley M. Garner, who directed Tulsa Opera's recent production of "Lucia di Lammermoor," will portray the Voice of God.

"We are thrilled to present this beautiful, witty and moving work," said Kostis Protopapas, artistic director of Tulsa Opera. "It is also very exciting that we could bring together the Tulsa Youth Opera with the Tulsa Youth Symphony. 'Noye's Fludde' is an ideal vehicle for all three groups to showcase their talents."

The Riverfield Country Day School chorus will perform as the chorus of animals, and the Tulsa Youth Symphony will be joined by members of the Tulsa Opera Orchestra. The audience is invited to sing along on three hymns during the performance.

The production is directed by Houston-based stage director Tara Faircloth, who was the stage director for Tulsa Opera's most recent presentations of "Hansel and Gretel" and "The Magic Flute." Her production "Noye's Fludde" was created for St. Philip's Presbyterian Church in Houston and premiered in 2006.

James D. Watts Jr. 581-8478
james.watts@tulsaworld.com By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer

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