Persistence pays off! Opera Seme will perform La clemenza di Tito July 9-10

Wichita, KS – Friends University’s Opera Seme (“Say-may” which means “seed” in Italian) is proud to present La clemenza di Tito by W.A. Mozart, July 9-10, 2021.


This performance is a victory after two years in the making! “We have been planning to launch a new summer opera program through Friends University in Arezzo, Italy for collegiate singers but we have been unable to travel due to the pandemic,” said Program Director and Associate Professor of Voice, Dr. Matthew Schloneger. “Our students really wanted to have an opera experience this summer, so we decided to hold a modified version of the program here in Wichita.”

Leading up to the performance, students have attended virtual coaching sessions with Italian partners to work on Italian pronunciation, operatic style and technique. 

A story of political power and blind ambition, La clemenza di Tito will be performed in Italian with supertitles and recitatives spoken in English. In his famous last opera, Mozart asks the question: who is the leader we want in times of crisis?

Free performances will take place July 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium in the Davis Administration building on the Friends University campus at 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, Kan.


La clemenza di Tito’s libretto was written by Caterino Mazzolà (after Pietro Metastasio). Dr. Matthew Schloneger is the stage director and producer for the show and Dr. Christina Liu is the music director & pianist. Opera Seme is a summer young artist training program sponsored by Friends University in Arezzo, Italy. More info at friends.edu/OperaSeme

Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.

La Clemenza