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New Mexico State University will host the world premiere of “Burden of Love,” a one-act opera by NMSU Music Department professor Lon W. Chaffin, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at Atkinson Recital Hall in the NMSU Music Building, 1075 N. Horseshoe St. on campus.
Tickets are $5 general admission; students admitted free.
“Burden of Love is a timeless tale about how an individual can touch, heal, rescue, and restore people who are in desperate need,” Chaffin said about. “It's also about the conflict between love and hate, trust and betrayal, lies versus truth, and selfishness versus sacrifice.”
“It has been an incredible journey as a first-time director to explore the nuances and depths of these characters with the talented students and community members in the opera,” said director Sarah Neely, who is also in the cast, as Haras.
In addition to Neely, the cast includes Stephen Miller as Goel, Kristan Hodgkins as Abused, Grace Garcia as Lonely, Carmen Herrera as Abandoned, Karlten Friedrich as Alone and Raul Juarez as Proud.
Friedrich, Juarez, Herrera, Miller and Garcia are also featured in the chorus, which features members of the NMSU University Singers and also includes Amara Barton, Dylan Carter, Tara Chadwick, Olivia Chavez, Paloma Chavez, Austin Clay, Sophia Diven, Nicolas Gallegos, Grace Garcia, DeeDee Harvey, Kailee Howard, Lenora Lare, Alexis Lowe, Angel Muñoz, Amy Orozco, Noah Smith, Julianne Thomas, Jeremy Townsend, Paige Whisler and Clarivel Wong.
Cast members are from Las Cruces, El Paso, Albuquerque and Milan, New Mexico.
The orchestra comprises Lisa Van Winkle, flute; Holly Dalager, oboe; Pete Podruchny, clarinet; Kathleen Lestone, bassoon; Kristin Major, horn; Matthew Holguin, Ethan Moore, percussion; Beverly Rhodes, piano; Fernando Rodriguez (concertmaster), Javier Garcia, Kevin Wilson, Adriel Mendez, violin I; Albert Yoshimoto, Shia Deale, April Gurrola, Zephyr Simmons, violin II; Francisco Arias, Leah Welsh, Zoey Dodson, Arianna Prieto, viola; Emma de la Rosa, Kateri Blunting, Danielle Slough, cello; Will Scholten, Nico O’Hara, bass.
The chorus is directed by Jake Taylor, an assistant professor in the NMSU Music Department and director of NMSU Choirs. The orchestra is directed by Jorge Martinez-Rios, an associate professor in the music department and director of the NMSU Philharmonic Orchestra. Jeff Lee of the NMSU Music Department is stage manager.
Visit music.nmsu.edu/news-events/2023/02/burden-of-love.html?feature
