In Spring 2007, UCF Opera produced two great one act operas:
Click on a title for further information about each project.

GALLANTRY

Douglas Moore
 

March 3 and 4

AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL

Gian Carlo Menotti
 

March 3 and 4

... and visited several Orlando area schools with:

CARMENELLA

Denise Paige Caraher, adapted from music of Georges Bizet

GALLANTRY

An episode of a daily soap opera telecast, brought to you by Lochinvar Soap and Billy Boy Wax. Dr. Gregg, a respected surgeon, expresses his long-suppressed love for his anesthetist, Lola, just as he prepares to operate. The patient is Lola's boyfriend, Donald. As the anesthetic is being administered, Donald inquires about Dr. Gregg's wife. Shocked to learn that he is married, Lola indignantly rejects the doctor's advances, which continue as he positions the scalpel to make an incision. In a desperate move, he threatens to harm the unconscious Donald, but Lola forces him to drop the scalpel at the last second. Dr. Gregg runs out. Lola revives Donald and sends for another surgeon.

 Music and Libretto by Douglas Moore

World premiere:   Columbia University - March 15, 1958

Our cast:

AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL

Amelia is dressing to go to a ball as her friend waits impatiently. As she prepares to leave, her husband enters. He has discovered a love letter addressed to her and accuses her of infidelity. He reads the letter aloud and demands an explanation. She promises to tell everything if he consents to take her to the ball. He agrees, but when she reveals that her lover is the neighbor upstairs, the husband rushes out to get a pistol. Amelia calls her lover down to warn him, but her husband returns sooner than expected and the lover attempts to hide. The husband discovers him and takes aim with the pistol, but it doesn't fire. The two begin to argue. During the argument, the frustrated Amelia hits her husband over the head with a vase and he falls lifeless on the floor. Terrified, she runs outside calling for help. Neighbors and the police arrive. She accuses the lover of being a thief and has him arrested, sees that her husband is taken to a hospital, and then leaves for the ball on the arm of the Chief of Police.

Music and Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti

World premiere:   Opera Company of Philadelphia - April 1, 1937

CARMENELLA

The Cinderella Story set to musical excerpts from Bizet’s CARMEN, but with a bullfighting twist.  The stepsisters, who are gang members, figure out that violence is a no-win proposition and everyone realizes that being yourself and trying to make a positive difference for others makes for a happy ending. The duration of the performance is about 45 minutes.

Our cast: