Newswise — What do San Francisco and Kentucky have in common? A love of opera, of course. It is this love of opera that became the impetus of a new collaboration between the San Francisco Opera (SFO) Merola Program and University of Kentucky Opera Theatre (UKOT), which joined forces to bring to the stage a new work, "The Hotel Casablanca," by composer Thomas Pasatieri. The new comedic opera, which follows a wealthy Texan couple in their attempts to " toughen up" a nephew visiting from New York in 1948, is the product of a rare collaborative effort between a large metropolitan opera company and a university opera program.
Based on Georges Feydeau's classic play "A Flea in Her Ear," known for its choreographed chaos, "The Hotel Casablanca" takes audiences to Texas' mythical Double-T Ranch and the seedy Hotel Casablanca with its similar raucous cast of characters. Composed by the prolific composer Pasatieri, the comedic opera is packed with an assortment of eccentric guests and the rich Texan couple, who can't accept the wimpy 25-year-old New Yorker nephew who landed at their door. In a story teeming with misinformation, faulty assumptions, sexual innuendo and delicate egos, it is not surprising that characters erupt with jealousy, vengeance, and passionate responses, all voiced through the opera's high-volume singing performances.
The opportunity for UKOT to work with a prestigious metropolitan opera company and a master composer and librettist of a new opera has been exciting for UK students and faculty alike. "When I learned that Pasatieri was looking for a university to partner with on the premiere of his new opera "The Hotel Casablanca," I was thrilled," said Everett McCorvey, director of UKOT. "I knew of him through his numerous art song compositions and work in the film industry."
McCorvey made his interest in partnering known immediately to Pasatieri and SFO. In less than a week of conversations, UKOT had signed on as a partner in the innovative project and started to work on bringing the composer's new opera to the stage. "The Hotel Casablanca" marks the first time UKOT has partnered with a major opera to co-produce a multi-city world premiere in two states.
The opera, which began its multi-city world premiere in August in San Francisco, is being performed this month in Lexington, Ky., by two casts of nine principal singers and an orchestra of 25 students from the UK School of Music. Taking part in this premiere is a tremendous real world experience for the UK opera students who are performing the new work. The students have enjoyed meeting and working with SFO, a leading metropolitan opera company in their future career field. Likewise, the UK cast has been excited with the unique opportunity to collaborate with and learn from a living composer as they craft his production for the stage.
Directing all the premiere performances is Richard Kagey. Kagey also designed the opera's set, which was constructed by faculty and staff at UK. Conducting for the opera's Lexington performances is John Nardolillo, music director and conductor of UK Symphony Orchestra. Rounding out the crew for "The Hotel Casablanca" is costumer Kirsty McLean, a visiting artist in residence at UK from England's Art Institute at Bournemouth.
Even though the last premiere performance of "The Hotel Casablanca" will draw to an end on the Lexington Opera House stage this month, UKOT will continue to reap the rewards of their collaboration for years to come. The university opera program will work on the opera's CD for Albany Records, which will be available for worldwide distribution in the coming months, and UKOT will also be home to "The Hotel Casablanca" set and costumes, which will be made available to opera companies interested in presenting the new opera in the future.
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