The Toledo Opera on Wheels will perform “Beauty and the Beast” at the Wood County District Library in Bowling Green on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m.
Based on the original French fairytale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and featuring music inspired by the operas of André Ernest Modeste Grétry, this adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
The story underscores the timeless message that true beauty often lies within, challenging our perceptions and encouraging a deeper understanding of others. Joshua Borths of James Madison University School of Music adapted the score and wrote the libretto, and Toledo Opera General Director James M. Norman directed the production.
The story begins when a wealthy merchant’s ship is destroyed in a storm. The merchant sets off to recover the wreckage, but his journey leads him to a castle ruled by a Beast and sustained by a magical rose.
Belle, the merchant’s daughter, ventures into the woods to find her father and embarks on an adventure that transforms her understanding of the world.
“Beauty and the Beast”features the Toledo Opera Resident Artists; chosen from a national pool of over 150 applicants, for a one-year residency in Toledo.
Toledo Opera’s 2024-25 Resident Artists are Sarah Rachel Bacani (soprano), Emily Cotten (mezzo soprano); Brady DelVecchio (tenor), Robbie Raso (baritone), and Alessandro “Alex” Rotundo (pianist).
No registration is required. This event is supported by the Estate of Marjorie Conrad. For more information, call (419) 352-8253 or email woodkids@wcdpl.org.
