Looking for something a little different at Halloween weekend this year?
Why sit at home watching old horror flicks you have seen countless times
when you can meet a vampyre in the flesh? On November 1st and 3rd, you can
do just that, by seeing Scenes from Nosferatu at the UTC Fine Arts Center.

Newlyweds Eric and Ellen live in near poverty in 19th Century Germany. Eric
travels to Hungary to the home of Count Orlock, of an ancient ruling
family. Eric is unaware that Count Orlock is an ancient monarch, hundreds
of years old, undead, nosferatu. The prince of darkness is unleashed upon
an unsuspecting world. Orlock sails to Eric and Ellen’s home of Wisborg,
where he begins
to drain the city of life. While everyone else believes the strange malady
to be a plague, Ellen alone understands the truth, that a vampire has come
to Wisborg, and that she is his ultimate prey. Only the faith and
self-sacrifice of this brave woman can hope to save the city from
annihilation by this evil incarnate.

Nosferatu, based upon the 1922 film by F. W. Murnau, resets the classic
Dracula story in Germany. Composer Alva Henderson and poet-lyricist Dana
Gioia, moved by the poignancy of the story and the strength of the central
character, Ellen, crafted a modern romantic opera around a subject not
previously treated by the genre. Coloratura soprano Susan Gundunas (Ellen)
is joined by baritone John Kramar (Orlock) and tenor Robert McPherson
(tenor) in this production mounted by the UTC Fine Arts Center. Local
artists Rebecca St. Goar, Kim Thompson and Michael Kull also sing
supporting roles. Choral selections will be performed by members of the UTC
Opera Chorus, under the direction of Jan Cochrane, and UTC Chamber Singers,
directed by Holmberg professor Roland Carter. Musical accompaniment is
provided by UTC Music Departmen and Cadek Conservatory faculty and members
of Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association.

Composer Henderson conducts, and lyricist Gioia offers selective narration.
Henderson, composer of such operas as Medea, The Last Leaf, Achilles and
West of Washington Square, and Gioia, renowned poet and critical essayist:
Daily Horoscope and The Gods of Winter, began work on Nosferatu in the
mid-Nineties. The piece has showcased at several locations, including
Mercer University and the 1998 Western Slope Music Festival.

Come experience this time-honored tale of self-sacrifice and salvation,
meet the performers and the creators. For tickets, call 423-425-4269 or
visit the Fine Arts Center website at www.utc.edu/finearts.

Student, senior, UTC staff, alumni and group discounts are available.

As Bela Lugosi would say, "Your vill is strong...come...here." And don't
forget your Transylvanian accent.


Kim Edward Renz
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Fine Arts Center, Department 1351
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
423-425-4379    Office
423-425-5249    Facsimile
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