Ashley Pearson, librettist/staff director

OperaUpClose marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with a performance of songs, operatic arias and ensembles inspired by his plays and poetry, performed in the company’s engaging, intimate and theatrical style.

Spectacular show-stoppers from Verdi’s Macbeth and the quick-witted wordplay of Much Ado About Nothing and Falstaff rub shoulders with well-loved songs like Schubert’s Who is Sylvia? and lesser known operas inspired by the Bard.

These bite-sized jewels of music theatre were performed by a quartet of singers accompanied by a virtuosic pianist, in semi-staged scenes of romance, comedy and drama.