The Maryland Opera Studio’s annual piano opera — a staged work with minimal costumes and sets, accompanied only by piano — puts the voices of the young performers squarely in the spotlight.

Die Zauberflöte, Mozart’s last opera, is a mysterious fairy tale of good and evil. Innocents Tamino and Pamina search for the truth in a confusing landscape full of serpents, spirits, sorcerers and priests. Who can they trust? On what can they rely? And will Papageno ever find a girl of his very own?

This lively, diverse concert provides a preview of the emerging talent of the next generation of dance artists.

The program includes original dances created and/or performed by undergraduate students majoring in Dance as they begin to find their choreographic voice and vision, plus new works developed throughout the year by guest choreographers.

Cellist Carter Brey, violinist Elena Urioste and pianist Gabriela Martinez will perform works by Beethoven, Arensky and Ravel in their first appearance at the Center.

The artists — each of whom has a wealth of musical experience and numerous accolades — formed as a chamber trio in the summer of 2011 and within days were invited to perform at the 2012 Ravinia Festival.

Lucky Plush Productions presents a dance/theatre hybrid based on — and poking fun at — the classic film Gaslight, about a villainous husband who tries to drive his wife insane.

In the hands of artistic director Julia Rhoads and director Leslie Buxbaum Danzig, this rowdy, witty dance-theatre piece transcends its sources to examine wedded (or unwedded) “bliss” from unexpected physical and emotional angles.

Join the artists for a Talk Back after the October 4 performance.   

Co-commissioned by the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Kronos Quartet’s ongoing residency at the Center includes working closely with composition students in the UMD School of Music.

Each season Kronos works with selected young student composers in creating new works, refining the pieces for maximum musical impact and presenting initial readings of the works in a public event.