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Q & A: Shepherd School of Music on Staging Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’ and Supporting the Future of Opera

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Q & A: Shepherd School of Music on Staging Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’ and Supporting the Future of Opera By Logan MartellOn April 17, 2026, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University raised the curtain on their mainstage production of Verdi’s comedic opus, “Falstaff.” Celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, the school has grown from its inception as Rice’s music department through the support of community...
The Shepherd School of Music’s profile in this piece aligns with a broader narrative of elite arts institutions leveraging prestige, resources, and selective admissions to cultivate the next generation of performers. The article’s focus on the school’s 50th anniversary and its production of *Falstaff* serves as a case study in how institutional focus—avoiding "mission drift"—can yield measurable success in competitive fields like opera. The emphasis on faculty expertise, state-of-the-art facilit...