The Glimmerglass Festival is thrilled to announce the world premiere of the youth opera "Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children," a captivating new work by Jens Ibsen with a libretto by Cecelia Raker. This enchanting opera, sung in English with projected English texts, unfolds the tale of a group of feral, so-called unlovable children living deep in the forest under the tyrannical care of the evil wizard Rumpelstiltskin. Tasked with endless chores, dental hygiene, and emotional sharing, these children find their mundane existence upended when Rumpelstiltskin shares a story that challenges their self-perceptions and unveils hidden truths about their identities.

Set against a backdrop of mystery and self-discovery, the opera follows Goldie, the eldest of the children, as she grapples with a life-altering revelation. Learning she is the long-lost daughter of a queen forced into marriage by the king, Goldie must choose between embracing a life of royalty she had only imagined or remaining with the unconventional family that has shown her unconditional acceptance.

This production, generously sponsored by Van Broughton Ramsey and Robert Nelson, with youth tickets sponsored by the Zambello Gay Tribute Fund, promises an hour of mesmerizing music, compelling narrative, and profound themes of identity and belonging. Directed by Joshua R. Horowitz, with choreography by Amanda Testini, costume design by Erik Teague, and set design by James Rotondo, the opera is a testament to the creative spirit of the Glimmerglass Festival.

Performances are scheduled for August 6, 8, and 11, 2024, offering a unique opportunity for audiences of all ages to engage with contemporary opera. Tickets are priced at $20, with free admission for youth 12 and under, making it an accessible cultural experience for families.

Join us at the Glimmerglass Festival for "Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children" and immerse yourself in a world of myth, mystery, and adventure. This summer, let your imagination soar and discover the power of stories to transform our understanding of ourselves and each other.

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Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children

Alice Busch Opera Theater

In Kínēma Esa-Pekka Salonen’s lyrical imagination takes flight via five cinematic scenes for solo clarinet and chamber orchestra. Emerging Black Composers Project winner Jens Ibsen grew up in the Bay Area, where he soaked up samba, soul, R&B, and progressive metal along with the music of Ghana and the African diaspora—all influences you might detect in Drowned in Light, a world premiere. Igor Stravinsky’s turbulent Symphony in Three Movements, which he called his “war symphony,” reflects the rampant destruction in Europe and Asia.

California Festival: To the Edge

Davies Symphony Hall

The dynamic and versatile San Francisco Symphony returns to Berkeley with music director Esa-Pekka Salonen in a one-of-a-kind program showcasing the unique musical chemistry between this orchestra and conductor. The SF Symphony plays the world premiere of a new work by Jens Ibsen, the most recent winner of the Emerging Black Composers Project, a collaboration with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to foster the creation and performance of new music from early-career Black American composers. Ibsen focuses a wide range of life experience and influences into his music—he’s a classically trained, Ghana-born metalhead who sang as a principal soloist in the Vienna Boys Choir—and the panel that selected him praised his music for its “enthralling balance of rhythmic drive, elegant tonality, and beautiful settings of words.” Salonen also conducts his own Kínēma, a showcase for principal clarinetist Carey Bell; and Stravinsky’s cinematic and propulsive Symphony in Three Movements.

Jens Ibsen

Events

Past events

6 - 11 Aug, 2024

Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children · Glimmerglass Festival

11 - 12 Nov, 2023

California Festival: To the Edge · San Francisco Symphony

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