Kentucky Opera is excited to announce their 2021-2022 live and in-person season that includes mainstage operas of Orfeo and An American Dream with add-on performances to include Holiday Celebration and Robin Hood: a youth opera. After an entire season away from the stage, KO is thrilled to invite you to subscribe to the full season and seeing their longtime supporters as well as new ones back to their home stage in the Brown Theatre to celebrate and gather with our community.
The season includes the following performances and season subscriptions can be found at KYOpera.org.
Orfeo
February 11 & 13, 2022
Music by Christoph Willibald Gluck; Produced in collaboration with Louisville Ballet; Sung in Italian with English captions
A Timeless Story of Sacrificial Love — With One of Opera’s Most Beautiful Scores. The Greek myth of Orfeo represents the love, missed opportunities and joy we experience in life — and what we would sacrifice to keep that love alive. Praised by The Washington Post for her “gorgeous, warm voice that you want to keep listening to,” celebrated mezzo-soprano Catherine Martin stars in the title role under the direction of Kelly Kitchens, who provides a moving, contemporary approach to the classic tale. Produced in collaboration with Louisville Ballet and featuring the period instruments of Bourbon Baroque Orchestra, Orfeo features thrilling choreography by Robert Curran, who will bring Gluck’s famous ballet sequences to life.
An American Dream
April 8 & 10, 2022
Music by Jack Perla; Libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo; Sung in English with English captions
Treasured Possessions Become Symbols of Home in this Opera Inspired by True American Stories. Set during WWII, An American Dream centers on two women: a Japanese-American girl forced to leave her home and a Jewish German immigrant determined to bring her family safely to America. This poetic and gripping opera carries timely themes of belonging, justice, and the struggle to maintain a sense of place. In its Seattle Opera world premiere, An American Dream was called “a heart-wrenching opera…eloquent and moving” by the Seattle Times, with Opera News describing the music and libretto as “touching…sentimental…lyrical.”
Holiday Celebration (Add-on Perfromance)
December 16, 2021
Holiday spirits glow in a program featuring winter vignettes from operas and other popular holiday favorites. A perfect family outing just in time for the holidays, featuring Kentucky Opera Chorus and soloists.
Robin Hood: a youth opera (Add-on Performance)
June 10 & 11, 2022 (Bomhard Theater)
By Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke
We All Have the Power to Do Good in This World – If We Choose. The culmination of our Youth Opera Program, this production is a fresh take on the classic childhood tale performed by youth for youth and their families. Faced with corruption from the tyrannical sheriff, Robin follows the voice of his heart and leads a merry band of ordinary citizens to change their world. Starring members of Kentucky Opera’s Youth Opera Project.
For more information and season subscriptions, visit KYOpera.org
