2024 Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival: Power Africa and Byzantium & The Magic Flute
Event Information
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Dates: July 21, 2024 Tickets Available
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Who: Africa and Byzantium Exhibition Now thru July 21
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Venue: Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH
Event Dates and Tickets
Sunday, July 21, 2024 12:00AM
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The exhibition will be available from April 14 - July 21, 2024 at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the Event
Three centuries after ancient Egypt’s pharaohs ended their rule, new African rulers built empires in the continent’s north and east. The Byzantine Empire also participated in these artistic and cultural networks as it expanded into Northern Africa. Together, these great civilizations created unique art reflecting their heritages while also building a shared visual culture across regions linked by the Mediterranean and Red seas, and the Nile River. In The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also looked to the African past to write a new opera that reflected his present. Ancient Egypt fascinated both Mozart and the Freemason fraternal organization he belonged to. Like Nubian and later Egyptian artists whose creations interpreted pharaonic legacies, Mozart's opera considers these histories in pieces like the aria “O Isis und Osiris.”
Africa and Byzantium considers the complex artistic relationships between northern and eastern African Christian kingdoms and the Byzantine Empire from the fourth century and beyond. The first international loan exhibition to treat this subject, it includes nearly 160 artworks lent by African, European, and North American collections. Most were made by African artists or imported to the continent at the request of the powerful rulers of precolonial kingdoms and empires. The art and faith of these historical kingdoms — including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — resonate with many worldwide today.
For tickets, tour schedules, and programming visit www.clevelandart.org
About the Festival
Since its premiere in 1791, Mozart’s The Magic Flute has charmed audiences with its enchanting story and entrancing score. But beneath its magic bells, ominous serpents, vengeful queens, and mystical quests lies a carefully attuned study of power.
Reason, embodied by Enlightenment ideals that the Freemasons embraced, duals with superstition; science and wisdom vie with ignorance; and light combats darkness. Rising above them all, the power of love — for a companion, a child, a community, or humankind — has the unique ability to transcend these divides.
The second Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival delves into these competing forces — as they play out in Mozart’s beloved opera, as well as across nature, society, and within the state of humanity itself. Anchored by a new staged production of The Magic Flute featuring The Cleveland Orchestra, Music Director Franz Welser-Möst, and a cast of renowned singers, the festival will include a fascinating array of performances, conversations, and exhibitions. Over the course of two extended weekends from May 15 to May 26, 2024, community partners from across the Greater Cleveland area and luminaries from around the globe will come together to examine and debate many of the power structures embedded in our world today.
Accessibility Services
Below is a list of the features and services that The Cleveland Orchestra has made available in the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Concert Hall at Severance for this concert.
Wheelchair Access & Seating
Our venue’s seating has reserved special areas for those attending with the use of a wheelchair. These seating options are available during your seat selection across seating price levels. Ushers are available to assist, especially in the event of a General Admission concert.
There is barrier-free entry to Severance Music Center with automatic sliding doors at our garage entrance on Lower Level One in the CWRU Campus Center Garage. There is an elevator for wheelchair access in the center of the garage for traveling from Lower Level Two (the lowest level) to Lower Level One (the level of our arrival entrance). The Euclid Avenue entrance to Severance is best suited for wheelchair entry, with a convenient drop-off area designated at the curb.
Companion Wheelchair Seating
Wheelchair companion seating is available for purchase online and through Severance Ticket Services. Look for a "C" shape on the seating map when making your selection.
Assistance for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Infrared Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are available without charge for most performances in the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Concert Hall. Please request one in advance online or by calling the House Manager’s office. You will be asked to provide a driver’s license or ID card upon arrival, which will be held until the return of the device. Head Ushers can explain how to use the ALD.
Interpretive services may be available for certain events at Severance. Prior arrangements should be made four weeks in advance. Appropriate seat locations may be necessary. TTY line access is available at the public pay phone in the Security Office located at the garage entrance.
Assistance for the Blind or Persons with Low Vision
Large Print Programs are available for most Cleveland Orchestra performances in the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Concert Hall. These are available at the Coat Room locations or from Head Ushers on each level of the Concert Hall, and at Concert Previews.
For select vocal performances, Braille texts may be available on request with 2 weeks’ notice.
Service Animals
Trained guide dogs and service animals are welcome at Severance. If you have any questions, please contact the Ticket Office or the House Manager.
Restrooms
All Smith Lobby restrooms are fully accessible. In addition, private family-accessible restrooms are located in the Smith Lobby and off the Dress Circle Lobby.
Additional Information
The Cleveland Orchestra is strongly committed to making our facilities and performances accessible to all patrons. For more information regarding all of our accessibility services, please visit our Accessibility page.