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Show Utah Opera Performs "Cinderella" By Rossini For Spring by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer Utah Opera celebrates Rossinis 200th birthday by presenting Cinderella (La Cenerentola). Performances of this light melodrama in two acts will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Capitol Theatre on May 16, 18, 20, 22 and at 2 p.m. on May 24. Stewart Robinson will conduct Cinderella. Robinson has conducted regularly at the opera houses of Cologne, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, as well as other major European and American orchestras and opera companies. He currently serves as music directorprincipal conductor of the Santa Fe Symphony, music director of Long Beach Ballet and associate conductor of the Des Moines Metro Opera Festival. Besides The Barber of Seville, perhaps no other opera by Rossini has been performed more constantly than Cinderella. Many critics even prefer the score of Cinderella to The Barber of Seville. However, audiences familiar with the classic fairy tale or the famous Disney Film are surprised that the Rossini opera is more earthly and sophisticated. In Rossinis hilariously funny Cinderella there are no magic wands or pumpkins. Instead of the glass slipper, Cinderella presents the prince with one of her matching bracelets; the fairy godmother is replaced by a phiis a blustering losopher, the step-fathbuffoon and the prince changes places with his valet. And a twist in Utah Operas version of Cinderella is that the setting will be the 1920s aboard an ocean liner. The set designers (John Michael Deegan and Sarah G. Conley) describe their creation as an era close enough to us to be recognizable but distant enough to be glazed by the glasses of nostalgia, surely not an inappropriate setting for the classic Cinderella fairy tale. In the first act, the Prince of Salerno (tenor), disguising himself as his male servant, pays a personal visit to a wealthy baron (bass) to see his available daughters with his own eyes. The baron has two daughters, Clorinda (soprano) and Thisbe fT vss-- (mezzo-soprano- ). His step-daught- f S'V t " i Cv' F trr 7 , by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer photo 'O n rf vr th I 1 f f -- On April 24 and 25, the Utah Symphony will perform the world premiere of Violin Concerto by composer Joan Tower. The program will also include Symphony No. 92 by Haydn, Symphony No. 5 by Sibelius and Poeme by Chausson. Joseph Silverstein will conduct, and violinist Elmar Oliveira will be the guest artist. Oliveira became the first American to win the coveted Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal in 1978 and the first violinist ever to win the Avery Fisher Award. Oliveira will play the Chausson piece and solo on world premiere by Tower. Joan Tower is one of the most gifted and colorful composers of our generation. Her SINGLES DANCE Dance Centre Every Friday & Saturday at The No smoking, no drinking, same location each week. Two large dance floors. 4880 South one street West of State 266-5066,269-14- is nicknamed ) Angelina Cinderella and is little more than a servant to the others. The prince falls in love with Cinderella at first sight. Her sisters have planned to attend the princes ball, but they will not permit Cinderella to go with them since she is an underling. A philosopher, (mezzo-soprano- Alidoro (bass), comes to her aid. Cinder- - compositions have been performed by over 25 prestigious orchestras, including those of New York, Tokyo, St. Louis, San Francisco, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. Tower is currently a professor of music at Bard College in New York. The performance will give Utah audiences the opportunity to be part of a first in the music world. The commissioning of the Tower Violin Concerto was made possible by a grant from the Meet the ComposerReaders Digest Commissioning Program. This program is in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lila Wallace-Reader- s Digest Fund. Silverstein will give a preconcert lecture at 7:15 p.m. on both nights. The compositions on the program will be discussed to help concert patrons understand them better. The actual concerts will begin at 8 p.m. Student tickets are $5, others range from $10 to $30. All tickets can be purchased at the Utah Symphony box office, a ella prepares to attend the ball as an unknown lady. In the second act, the princes male servant, named Dandini (bass) dresses up as the prince and falls in love with Cinderella also; she politely rejects his courtship saying she loves his servant (who is really the disguised prince). She identifies herself to him by giving him one of a pair of bracelets. Later at home, the sisters voice their suspicions. The philosopher conjures a storm to drive the prince to their quarters. During this uncomfortable visit, the prince notices the matching bracelet on Cinderellas arm. They recognize each other and much to the amazement of the snobbish sisters, Cinderella goes off to the palace with the prince to be married. The Disney film was based very closely on the folk tale of Charles Perrault. Rossinis text (libretto) is by Jacopo Fer-rett- i. Ferretti explained his version and said, If Cinderella does not appear in the company of a wizard, and does not lose a slipper, it should not be considered a sign of disrespect, but rather a necessity of the staging at the Teatro Valle and a gesture of respect for the delicacy of Roman taste. The overture is one of Rossinis best and thoroughly typical, complete with crescendos, dancy and melodic tunes and a perky piccolo. The title role will be performed by mezzo-sopran- o Kathryn Cowdrick, who is widely known for her elegant portrayal of Continued on Page 15 Stumped by a term paper? Need help or ideas in doing your research? The Library has many resources available to you including two computerized databases that will help you with your research. Stop by the library any time or make an appointment to see the Reference Librarian. Library hours are: Monday-Thursda- 7:30 y 00 Dance instruction Tuesday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. A' Houston Grand Opera 533-NOT- E. THE DANCE CENTRE in Murray f Utah Opera's "Cinderella." Violinist Elmar Oliveira To Perform With Utah Symphony Elmar Oliveira, Utah Symphony guest Fite performer .7 '"i ed er, . f ik . . 5 S C er rose-color- - . Friday 7:30 a.m.-- 5 p.m. a.m.-l- O p.m. Saturday Sunday 10 1 a.m.-- 4 p.m.-- 5 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 1992-Forum-P- age 11 |