Contact: David Starkey, General and Artistic Director 828-236-0670, info@ashevillelyric.org
Asheville Lyric Opera Adapts Classic Opera to Showcase Appalachian Culture
A grandiose Appalachian soiree of trickery, moral infidelity, and disguise comes to the stage of the Asheville Lyric Opera. Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus: An Appalachian Party will be held October 3, 8pm and October 5, 3pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Asheville Lyric Opera is taking this classic Bavarian opera and infusing Appalachian scenery and culture for a one-of-a-kind adaptation. This is the first in a series where ALO will incorporate the local heritage and culture into a production.
In Strauss’s traditional opera, the pompous Baron Eisenstein skips his first day of a jail sentence to have fun at the Prince’s ball. His friend, Dr. Falke, has convinced him to attend the ball in order to amuse the Prince and seek revenge on his old pal for abandoning him in a prior time of need. After lying to his wife, Rosalinda, the Baron disguises himself and heads off to the party. The desirous Rosalinda wards off a former lover, but furious with her husband, she too accepts the Prince's invitation in disguise. Their maid, Adele, enacts her own web of trickery and deceit by feigning the illness of an aunt to her employers in order to attend the ball. With everyone at the party in disguise, the escapades begin. Rosalinda catches the Baron unknowingly flirting with Adele. She then, pretending to be a Hungarian Countess, flirts with her husband, and swipes his pocket watch as proof of his infidelity. By morning, everyone is drenched in libations, and the Baron finally reports to the jail. Rosalinda follows the lawyer to the jail to ask for a divorce, unaware that her husband has finally reported for his sentence. He confronts her about her former lover, and she counters with the stolen pocket watch. Finally, Dr. Falke unveils his master plan for revenge with the Prince in attendance at the jail.
This presentation of Die Fledermaus through the lens of Appalachian culture will be accomplished in part through a libretto written specifically for this production. Characters will be adapted to reference aspects of regional culture while honoring the legacy of the original play. Artists for set design and costumes will exercise their ability to reflect the beauty and character of the region.
Rounding out the 2014 production calendar, Die Fledermaus: An Appalachian Party, will be entertainment for all audiences. Originally written in German, Strauss's classic will be performed in English. Asheville Lyric Opera is delighted to incorporate the culture of our region. Every production of ALO is truly original. Adapting a classic opera to Appalachian roots provides one more avenue for ALO to bring a unique experience to the audiences of Western North Carolina, and this time with a familiar air.
PERFORMANCE DATES WITH ADDED SUNDAY MATINEE
Friday, October 3, 2014, 8pm
Sunday, October 5, 2014 Matinee at 3pm
Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, NC
Tickets are on sale now at the theater box office: 828-257-4530, or online at www.ashevillelyric.org.
For schools and community groups, tickets to the Die Fledermaus: An Appalachian Party October 1, 2014 Preview Dress Rehearsal at 7pm are available only through the Asheville Lyric Opera office. Call ALO at 828-236-0670 to make your reservations.
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