KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's a beautiful art form that may be difficult to grasp. That's why, for the eighth consecutive year, the Knoxville Opera is traveling to dozens of schools to present an opera in an easy-to-digest format.
Thursday's performance was at Seymour High School.
This season's production is a 40-minute English-language version of Donizetti's 1835 opera Lucia di Lammermoor.
Knoxville Opera's Executive and Artistic Director, Brian Salesky, is pleased to present this cultural experience in an accessible form.
Teachers received a Teacher Guide to help prepare students for the performances.
At the Tennessee Theatre in February, the complete opera will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage.
All of the students who see the short version in English are invited to check out the real thing. They can go to the final dress rehearsal of the opera at the Tennessee Theatre next month... for free.
Knoxville Opera's January schedule for Education & Community Engagement programs:
Jan. 8 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 9 10:10 a.m. Farragut Middle School, Farragut Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 9 2:10 p.m. Farragut Middle School, Farragut Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 10 10:00 a.m. Seymour High School, Seymour Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 10 2:00 p.m. Eagleton Middle School, Maryville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 11 9:45 a.m. West Hills Elementary School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 11 1:00 p.m. Episcopal School of Knoxville, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 14 9:45 a.m. Brickey-McCloud Elementary, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 14 1:30 p.m. Gresham Middle School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 15 10:00 a.m. Northwest Middle School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 15 1:15 p.m. Powell Elementary School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 16 10:30 a.m. William Blount High School, Maryville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 16 2:00 p.m. Alcoa Middle School, Alcoa Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 17 10:30 a.m. Sweetwater High School, Sweetwater African-American Voices
Jan. 17 1:00 p.m. Sequoyah High School, Madisonville Opera 101
Jan. 17 7:00 p.m. Hiwassee College, Madisonville Community Concert
Jan. 18 10:30 a.m. Meadowview Middle School, Morristown Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 18 1:30 p.m. West View Middle School, Morristown Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 21 11:45 a.m. Overcoming Believers Church, Knoxville MLK Jr. Day Celebration
Jan. 22 10:00 a.m. Austin-East High School, Knoxville African-American Voices
Jan. 22 1:30 p.m. Spring Hill Elementary School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 23 10:30 a.m. Holston Middle School, Knoxville African-American Voices
Jan. 23 2:00 p.m. Central High School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 24 10:00 a.m. Austin-East High School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 24 1:30 p.m. Carter Middle School, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor
Jan. 24 7:00 a.m. Knox High Senior Center, Knoxville Lucia of Lammermoor