Opera Workshop to present evening of one-acts

Peoria, Illinois . . . March 3, 2003 . . . The Bradley University Opera Workshop, under the direction of Dr. Kerry Walters, will present an evening of one-acts and scenes from the world of opera on Friday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Dingeldine Music Center, located at 1417 W. Barker Avenue.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for students. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information call 677-2601.

American composer Seymour BarabÕs A Game of Chance and scenes from RossiniÕs La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and MozartÕs early opera Bastien & Bastienne will be included in the program.

Commissioned by Dr. Anton Mesmer (the inventor of ÒmesmerismÓ) in 1768, Mozart wrote Bastien & Bastienne when he was only twelve. The story of this delightful little one-act opera is very simple. Bastienne is a shepherdess in love with Bastien, a shepherd. But Bastien has traveled to the city to seek his fortune and has met a rich lady of the town. The local fortuneteller/philosopher Colas educates Bastienne in the ways of love guiding her through the steps she must take to win back the heart of her true love.

Gioachino Rossini was only twenty-five at the time he wrote La Cenerentola in 1817. Although there are similarities to the Disney version, this tale of Cinderella has no fairy godmother and no wicked stepmother. But, there are two tiresome stepsisters, a money grubbing stepfather and a handsome prince in RossiniÕs version. Scenes from Act I of the opera introduce the audience to Angelina (Cinderella) and her stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe, and to Don Magnifico the stepfather and Don Ramiro, the handsome prince.

Born in 1921, American composer Seymour Barab has written more than thirty one-act operas. Composed in 1957 and premiered in Rock Island Illinois, the story of A Game of Chance revolves around the hopes and dreams of three women who spend their days knitting on the front porch. Their hum-drum boring lives take a turn when each gets exactly what she has been dreaming ofÑfortune, fame, and love. But they also find out how complex life becomes when their dreams come true.

The performance will be sung in English translation. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Ramona Carlyle and Molly Sloter.