HOUSTON—
When most people think of opera, "Elmer Gantry" is probably not one that comes to mind."It's a very strong story, a very American story, and I think that it's important for the future of American opera. We need operas that are part of our own culture," said Buck Ross, Director of the University of Houston's Moores Opera Center.
In 1985, Ross helped launch the opera program which was a low-budget production with none of the set designs, costumes and orchestra students have today.
The UH's opera program focuses on bringing offbeat productions people won't find in larger venues.
"The biggest attraction of the University of Houston is definitely the opera program. The fact that they do four productions a year, whereas most universities they do two or one production a year, is a huge pull," said graduate student Gabriel Preisser.
Preisser plays the title character, Elmer Gantry, a drunken and womanizing preacher with a hint of goodness.
"It's great to be doing an opera like Elmer Gantry, which is so accessible. It's about America, it's about revivalism in the U.S.," said Preisser
It will be one of his last performances before he graduates in June, and someday he may also be counted among the alums that have gone on to perform on the world's stage.
Last year, Barbara Padilla, University of Houston alum, took second on NBC's "America's Got Talent" competition.
"Every one of them has to be the performance of your life," said Padilla of her performance on the show.
She credits her success to the training and coaching she received while at UH.
"Every time I am preparing, every time I am learning a new song, trying to come up with what I am going to do with that song, I always ask myself what would Buck Ross tell me to do with this song," said Padilla.
Right now, Padilla is working on her first album set to be released this September. As for the man she credits for helping her reach the top of her profession, he is continuing to train new talent while also trying to bring opera to the masses.
"People have this misconception that they need to be highly educated in opera to enjoy it and that's really an unfortunate kind of feeling," said Ross
This year the university's opera program will celebrate 25-years on campus, and while many Americans do not know opera, the opera world certainly likes what it is hears coming from the University of Houston.
Performances of "Elmer Gantry" are 7:30 p.m., April 9-10 and April 12, and 2 p.m., April 11 in UH's Moores Opera House.
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