Bard Conservatory Graduate Vocal Arts Program
Operas by Gian Carlo Menotti and Giacomo Puccini
Directed by Doug Fitch
Bard Conservatory Orchestra
James Bagwell, Conductor
Vocalists from the Graduate Vocal Arts program
Artwork: Doug Fitch, 2025
March 6–8
Get a double dose of operatic comedy as Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi come to life in full production with the Bard College Vocal Arts Program in the Fisher Center’s Sosnoff Theater.
Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball—his first staged opera—sparkles with comic invention and lyrical wit. Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi transforms a Dantean tale of fraud into a masterclass of operatic irony and memorable motifs. Both one-acts showcase composers at the height of craft, blending human folly, clever plotting, and musical sophistication. From Amelia’s scheming to Schicchi’s trickster brilliance, the evening rewards close attention and sharp ears alike. A double bill to delight, provoke thought, and remind even the most discerning minds why opera remains a rigorous, endlessly inventive art form.
James Bagwell (conductor) maintains an active schedule as a conductor of choral, orchestral, and opera repertoire. He is professor of music and director of performance studies at Bard College, and co-director of the Bard Conservatory Graduate Program in Conducting. Bagwell also serves as director of choruses for the Bard Music Festival and as associate conductor of The Orchestra Now. His extensive performance history includes appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center with ensembles such as the American Symphony Orchestra, The Collegiate Chorale, and numerous international orchestras.
Doug Fitch (director) is an internationally acclaimed director and designer whose work spans opera, theater, architecture, and visual art. His productions have been seen at the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, and Santa Fe Opera, among others. Known for his inventive, interdisciplinary approach to performance, Fitch co-founded the production company Giants Are Small, through which he has created genre-defying collaborations that merge live music, design, and storytelling.
Nearby villages and towns in the Hudson Valley boast a large selection of restaurants, as well as a variety of hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts.
Bard College’s main campus is located in Annandale-on-Hudson (a hamlet of Red Hook), New York, on the east bank of the Hudson River, about 90 miles north of New York City and 220 miles southwest of Boston. The Taconic State Parkway and the New York State Thruway provide the most direct routes to our campus. Click the Google map below, or get directions by entering the following address into your GPS: 60 Manor Avenue, Red Hook, NY 12571.
From the East
If you are traveling from east of the Hudson River in New York State, take the Taconic State Parkway to the Red Hook / Route 199 exit, drive west on Route 199 through the village of Red Hook to Route 9G, turn right onto Route 9G, drive north 1.9 miles, turn left onto Annandale Road, then turn right onto Manor Ave.
From the West
If you are traveling from west of the Hudson River, take the New York State Thruway (I-87) to exit 19 (Kingston), take Route 209 (changes to Route 199 at the Hudson River) over the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge to Route 9G, turn left onto Route 9G, drive north 3.5 miles, turn left onto Annandale Road, then turn right onto Manor Ave.
Sosnoff Theater
Accessible Seating
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in all seating areas for patrons in wheelchairs and their companions. There is an elevator to all levels of the Sosnoff Theater and a wheelchair lift is used to access front-row wheelchair seating.
Wheelchair-Accessible Restrooms
Restrooms at all locations are wheelchair accessible. Single-use restrooms are available at most locations.
All-Gender Restrooms
Bard College and the Fisher Center support guests of any gender identity/expression in using the restroom of their choice. Additionally, all-gender restrooms are available at all venues.
Find answers to some of the most common questions patrons have regarding our venues and performances. If you have a question not answered in our FAQs, please call 845-758-7900 or email [email protected] during regular Box Office hours.
Our “Know Before You Go” guide answers all of your pre-show accessibility and navigation questions for your next performance at the Fisher Center!
