UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Opera Theatre will present Mark Adamo's "Little Women" at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the School of Music's Esber Recital Hall. Tickets are available at the door for the general public at $4.99 and $2.00 for students. The production is directed by Penn State faculty member Ted Christopher. Orchestral conducting graduate student Santiago E. Osorio will serve as guest music director and orchestra conductor.
Based on Louisa May Alcott's novel about four sisters coming of age shortly after the Civil War, "Little Women" was American composer Mark Adamo's first opera. The two-act opera was composed for the studio of Houston Grand Opera in 1998 and was revived for the Houston main stage in 2000. It was then telecast as part of the PBS series "Great Performances" during 2001.
Exploring the three central themes of the book, Adamo's opera focuses upon Jo March's resistance to the passage of time. The libretto, written by Adamo, includes texts by John Bunyan (Beth's setting of "The Pilgrim's Progress"), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Dr. Bhaer sings "Kennst du das Land"), and Louisa May Alcott herself.
Powerfully theatrical and musically sophisticated, "Little Women" contains a wealth of memorable melodies and tuneful arias, sung by talented Penn State student performers.