COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Giuseppe Verdi
LA TRAVIATA
Fancy. Free.
May 19, 25, 30; June 2 (m), 7, 10, 20 (m), 23*
Violetta has one important rule: Never fall in love. As a Parisian courtesan, her life is full of
parties, admirers, and - most importantly - freedom. Then she meets Alfredo. His naïve sincerity
sweeps her off her feet. Just when Violetta thinks she has escaped her past, she is asked to make
an unthinkable sacrifice. Will pride, love or honor prevail? Embrace the romance of this Verdi
masterpiece, featuring the directing debut of famed soprano Patricia Racette.
Marc Blitzstein
REGINA
Greed is their inheritance.
May 26, 31; June 6 (m), 8, 16 (m), 20, 24*
Theft. Blackmail. Murder. Is there nothing that Regina Giddens won’t do to satisfy her
ambition? Based on Lillian Hellman’s play, “The Little Foxes,” and set against a Southern
backdrop of spirituals, jazz and ragtime, this deliciously twisted opera pits siblings and spouses
against each other in a battle for the family business. Prepare to be scandalized - and entertained
- as the renowned Susan Graham returns to Opera Theatre to portray one of the American
stage’s most fascinating characters.
Huang Ruo & David Henry Hwang
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Out of many, one.
June 3, 6, 9 (m), 14, 16, 22*
Opera Theatre presents the world premiere of this new, two-act opera. Danny Chen is the son
of Chinese immigrants, and a proud American. He enlists in the U.S. Army after 9/11, eager to
serve his country. In boot camp, Danny is welcomed by his band of brothers. But in Afghanistan,
his own base becomes enemy territory as military hazing turns deadly. Based on a true story,
this opera asks powerful questions about what it means to be American.
Christoph Willibald Gluck
ORFEO & EURIDICE
Never look back.
June 9, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23 (m)*
What would you do if you lost your soulmate? For Orfeo, the answer is simple: Get her back
- even if it means traveling to the underworld. He braves every challenge, armed with nothing
more than his music and his devotion. Little does he realize that his greatest obstacle will
ultimately be his own passion. As a myth, it’s a celebration of love and music’s transcendent
power. As an opera, it’s a ravishing masterpiece.
*Performances begin at 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; 7 p.m., Sunday; and 1 p.m. for matinees (m)
All performances are held in the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road, St. Louis, MO 63119.
For tickets, call (314) 961-0644 or visit experienceopera.org.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY
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