The Dana Opera Ensemble will perform George Frideric Handel’s “Alcina” this weekend.

Composed in 1735, Handel’s work explores themes of magic, illusion and love, and is renowned for its dramatic and expressive music. It will be directed by Susan Foster.

The Dana Opera Ensemble, led by Misook Yun, is designed to help students learn about the complex process of creating an operatic experience. Through the mastery of roles, proper diction and character development, students learn how to relate to other performers, choreograph their movements on stage and follow a conductor while acting.

Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday in Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater on the campus of Youngstown State University. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for non-YSU students and senior citizens, $10 for YSU faculty and staff, $7 for children ages 18 and younger and free for YSU students. Tickets are available online at ysu.tix.com.