The Washington University Opera, led by director Jolly Stewart, will present Kirke Mechem’s highly acclaimed operatic setting of Molière’s classic comedy Tartuffe at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24.
Performances are presented by the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences and take place in the university’s Edison Theatre, located in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $18; $12 for seniors and Washington University faculty and staff; and $7 for students.

For more information or to order tickets, call the Edison Theatre Box Office, (314) 935-6543.
Written in 1664, Tartuffe is set in the house of Orgon, a wealthy Parisian who befriends the titular character, a corrupt and hypocritical “holy man.” Though Orgon’s family — wife Elmire, son Damis and daughter Mariane — are not impressed by Tartuffe’s pious charades, Orgon himself trusts the man absolutely and orders Mariane to break with her fiancé, Valere, and marry Tartuffe. After a series of farcical intrigues, events come to a head when Tartuffe’s lust for Elmire finally reveals him as a scoundrel. Unfortunately by that time Orgon has already entrusted Tartuffe with the deed to his home and Tartuffe, in a traitorous rage, orders the family out.
Mechem’s setting of Tartuffe — for which he also wrote the English libretto — was premiered in 1980 by the San Francisco Opera’s American Opera Project. It has since become one of the most popular works of contemporary American opera, receiving more than 70 productions across Europe and the United States. The San Francisco Chronicle described it as “a brilliant jewel, a delicious hit, right on the mark,” while the Salzburger Nachrichten praised it as “a witty contemporary opera, carried out with such finely honed irony.”
Molière (1622-1673) is considered the finest writer of French comedy. He began his career as an actor touring the provinces but later owned a Paris theater, where he both acted and worked as a playwright, and subsequently moved to the Theatre du Palais Royal. Though Tartuffe remains one of his most enduring works, it was twice held back from production because of its perceived satire of the clergy.
Indeed, Mechem, in his notes about the plays, explains that, “There are really two Taruffes by Molière—the three-act comedy he originally wrote, and the five-act comic morality play he was forced to make of it in order to get it past the censors. Unfortunately, we have only the latter, but evidence suggests that the first version was a straight satire of human character.
Mechem (b. 1925), a native of Topeka, Kansas, studied at Stanford and Harvard universities and spent several years in Vienna before settling in San Francisco, where he still resides. He has written numerous choral works as well as two additional operas: John Brown, which will premiere at Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2008; and The Newport Rivals (based on Sheridan’s play The Rivals), which will premiere this year at Lyric Opera San Diego. His many honors include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Opera Association.
John Stewart, director of vocal activities in the Department of Music, conducts the Washington University Opera performance, which also features the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. Sets and lighting are by Patrick Huber, with costumes by Teresa Doggett.
The cast of 12 is led by Scott Levin as Tartuffe; Nathan Ruggles as Orgon and Debra Hillabrand as Elmire. Also starring are Clark Sturdevant as Damis; Rachelle Shields as Mariane; and Adam Cromer as Valere. Elise LaBarge is Dorine, Mariane’s maid. Jade lin Hornbaker is Mme. Pernelle, Orgon’s mother. Allyson Ditchey is Flipote, Mme. Pernelle’s maid.
WHO: Washington University Opera WHAT: Tartuffe by Kirke Mechem, based on the comedy by Molière WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24 WHERE: Edison Theatre, Washington University, Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. COST: $18; $12 for seniors and Washington University faculty and staff; and $7 for students. For more information, call the Edison Theatre Box Office,(314) 935-6543
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