Considering Matthew Shepard Tickets

The nature and content of this choral piece is very emotional, and therefore the artistic direction is extremely important. Dr. Kym Scott and her choral students achieved the necessary level of musicality to make the performance well worth our 1.5 hour drive to see it. The staging, lighting, and sound technology enhanced the performance by being "not too much" and yet "not too little." The students were clearly well rehearsed vocally and well prepared emotionally. The soloist voices were perfectly matched with the solos, which spanned many genres. I would not be surprised to hear many of them in a few years as professional singers on a bigger stage. The poetic libretto was included as part of the printed program, and this was a great help even though the diction of the singers was very good. Hearing and reading together gave us the chance to absorb the impact of the words and music. I know it would be very difficult logistically to perform again in another city, but the message of the poetry and music is well worth sharing.

Well staged, music was superb,vocal and instrumental. The music styles set the "spirit" beautifully. Oratorio was so well written and produced. I wasn't looking forward to it, lived in Casper at the time, but the sensitivity and lenses used to view this horrific event, gave my spirit hope.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and this blew me away! The music is spectacular, the words and narration are moving, and the whole audio-visual effect is stirring - the experience takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. When the local choruses joined in at the end - seated behind the audience - you were surrounded with a perfectly blended sound that was packed with energy. We have been listening to the CD nonstop since the performance. The timing was perfect with Easter and the stories of Jesus' last days, yet in a way of embracing all of humanity and the power of love. It was sad to see that Centennial Hall was less than half capacity for such an amazing concert. I was perplexed by Ticketmaster showing that most of the hall was sold out when I bought, but then we were the only ones on the whole row. Lots of empty seats for what should have been a must-see, so I don't know that the advertising or strange way open seats were displayed had an impact. I hope Conspirare continues this next season, and that the word gets out better - it's worth any journey to have this phenomenal experience!

Superb production, with modest but highly professional orchestra and fine and well-rehearsed choir. We may ask where life ends and commercial production begin but there must be a connection between art and reality and the Cast worked long and with dedication to bring this off. None of it shall bring back the lives destroyed.

Everything was amazing...and shattering. Loved the work and the staging elements. Voices were lovely, and the inclusion of local choirs was very well done. I just wish more people had been there.

Although one might quibble with the writing of the piece, i.e. the overall way in which Shepard's live and eventual death took place, the overall impact of this piece is spot-on. The performance was flawlessly performed by exceptionally gifted singers and the emotional tug was evident in the tears flowing freely in the audience. It's a gut-wrenching story, but the basic message is that human beings can be inordinately cruel and that love is love is love. And in the end, that message must prevail. I found the piece deeply moving and was enormously impressed with Conspirare as a choral group and as individual soloists. The standing ovation that went on for several minutes was a testament to the impact the show had on all of us. Go see it.