Opera Up Close – Soldier Songs

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum teams up with the Pittsburgh Opera for the webinar “Opera Up Close – Soldier Songs”

Pittsburgh Opera Artistic Administrator Robert Boldin has some very special guests joining him in this free, informative, and entertaining webinar which will give you an in-depth look at Soldier Songs, which opens on December 5th.

In addition to the opera’s creator David T. Little and some of the people who are bringing our production to life, Rob will be joined by three combat veterans from our friends at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.

Daniel Kysela served 15 years as an enlisted Infantryman with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he deployed twice to Iraq and once to Kosovo.

Ben Keen is a Veteran of the US Army who completed several combat deployments including being a member of the historic 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in 2003 during the initial invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Dan Telep served as an Infantry Officer with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. Assigned a Rifle Platoon in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division in Northern “I Corps”, his unit was engaged in a fierce 10-day battle with the 324th Division of North Vietnam Army. Dan spent a total of 19 months in Vietnam and received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star award with Combat V, and two crosses of Gallantry.

Hear these soldiers’ stories first-hand, and learn about the inherent challenges communicating that experience to other people.

Register Here!

A 2019 Pittsburgh Opera / Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum event for the opera Glory Denied.  Photo by David Bachman.