Mark these dates down: Friday, Dec. 9; Sat., Dec. 10; and Tues., Dec. 13.
What's happening? Kentucky's new production of Rossini's gala, beautiful "Cinderella" in a sparkling, easy-to-follow translation by our own Thomson Smillie!
In the hands of Joachim Rossini, and now those of Thomson Smillie and Kentucky Opera, "Cinderella" becomes more than a fairy tale. It is an opera with a message for us today; it is a tender love story; after seeing and hearing it, you and yours will go home with happy hearts!
And that's not all! You can accomplish several good things by coming. Pledge yourself to bring a toy for Toys for Tots and you will get 50% off a ticket for a youngster 16 and under. That thoughtful gesture will help make some disadvantaged youngster get a little more out of Christmas; you could get another youngster to share this evening of music and magic. And who knows? You might introduce a youngster to the world of opera. That might just begin a lifetime of good listening and quality entertainment! We need young listeners if we are to have opera here tomorrow!
Thomson and his capable, dedicated staff tell me that this is almost an entirely new production. Combining his many-splendored knowledge of music and his love for things Italian, our General Director's translation is a labor of love. He tells us that translation is still a challenge. Many Italian words which end in "a" and "o" do not find words in English which rhyme and fit the music easily. But a close look at his translation and listening to it with Rossini's music can be a sheer delight. Listen and see for yourself what we are saying.
We can't mention all the persons whose work will delight you. But for starters, you can look for the work of set designer Craig Spain and the many original costumes by Marcia Dixcy. Three new artists highlight our cast. Watch and listen for Kathryn Cowdrick in the title role, Mark Calkins as the Prince and Thomas Woodman as the prince's valet, the unforgettable Dandini! And we just learned that the indefatigable and talented Hal France who did so well for us with "The Masked Ball," is returning to wield his baton.
A closing thought: Have you realized that to produce 21/2 hours of "Cinderella," literally hundreds of hours are necessary? Think about that -- and then let us see you in the audience!