An epic tale of lust and betrayal takes the stage as the opera "The Rape of Lucretia" enters its final weekend of performances at ASU's Evelyn Smith Music Theatre.
"The show is very intense dramatically and historically true," said William Reber, a professor in the School of Music and the musical director of the performance.
The opera tells the story of Lucretia, the wife of a Roman general, Collatinus, who left for war. Of all the women left behind, Lucretia was the only one who remained faithful to her husband.
Upon returning from war, Tarquinius, the Etruscan prince whose people were controlling Rome, raped Lucretia in a jealous rage.
Lucretia, ashamed of her impurity, committed suicide, sparking the Romans to overthrow their Etruscan rulers and take back Rome.
Reber said many people expect an opera to be all about the singing, but in this performance, "the drama is well served by the music," and the performance is a "total theatrical experience. You're not just lost in the music."
The show is also a good challenge and learning experience for the performers.
"It's the first experience for many of the students with such a difficult 20th century piece," Reber said.
Davida Karanas, a first-year graduate student studying opera performance, plays the lead role of Lucretia.
"The performance is very picturesque and the singing is absolutely amazing. It's almost like a professional cast," she said.
Karanas said the response to the opening performances of the opera was overwhelmingly positive.
"Many people were surprised at the performance after seeing the title, which is kind of a turnoff," she said, but after the first show, "the audience said it was one of the best productions put on in some time."
As for the rape, Karanas said, "It is handled with words by the chorus, not graphically."
The theater, located in the Music Building, hosts the show's final performances today and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $13-$20, with student tickets selling for $5.
Reach the reporter at charles.obrien@asu.edu.
