Santa Fe Opera Presents One-Hour Opera

The Santa Fe Opera will present the American professional premiere of Nina Rota's comedy, The Timid Twosome, as this summer's one-hour opera. The popular "one-hour opera," which began in 2006 with Berlioz's Dr. Miracle and continued with Donizetti's The Night Bell in 2007, has become an anticipated Santa Fe tradition. These high-quality presentations continue this spring with the fully staged production of The Timid Twosome to be presented at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center from May 31- June 14.

The Timid Twosome (I due timidi) was given its world premiere on RAI Radio in 1950 with its stage premiere in 1952. The plot revolves around Mariuccia and Raimondo who have fallen in love at a distance but are too shy to look at each other, much less speak. Following an accident which leaves Raimondo unconscious, a series of humorous mishaps and misadventures leads to an unexpected ending.

Recognized internationally for his scores for film, composer Nina Rota created the music for movies which include The Godfather I and II, Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, and Fellini's La dolce vita, 8 ½, and La strada, among many others. He was nominated for numerous awards and earned an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy. Rota was also a skilled composer of concert music and opera. His full-length comic opera, The Italian Straw Hat, received its American premiere at The Santa Fe Opera in 1977.

The cast for The Timid Twosome includes several former Santa Fe Opera apprentices. Soprano Anya Mantanovic will sing Mariuccia, mezzo-soprano Deborah Domanski is Signora Guidotti, and tenors Aaron Pegram and Matthew Tuell sing Raimondo and Dr. Sinisgalli, respectively. Other former apprentices in the cast are soprano Sarah Hibbard as Lucia and baritone John Boehr as The Shoemaker. The music director is Kirt Pavitt and the stage director is Acushla Bastible. The scenic design is by John Malolepsy, the costume design by Cheryl Odom and the lighting by Alexandra Pontone.

All performances of The Timid Twosome will take place at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 463 Paseo de Peralta. General Admission tickets will be available at the door one hour before each performance. Main floor tickets are $10 and balcony seating is $5. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the Masonic Center. The performance schedule as follows:

Saturday, May 31 7:00 pm
Wednesday, June 4 7:00 pm
Friday, June 6 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 7 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Wednesday, June 11 7:00 pm
Friday, June 13 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 14 4:00 pm -- www.santafeopera.org

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