Seattle Opera Young Artists Program presents 'King for a Day' at WWU Nov. 1

[ Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note the true language in which this opera will be performed. ]

The Seattle Opera Young Artists Program will perform Giuseppe Verdi’s “King for a Day (Un giorno di regno),” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall on the Western Washington University campus.

The performance will be in Italian with English captions.

Verdi’s first comedy tells the story of a Cavaliere Belfiore, a wily rogue who has been roped into impersonating the King of Poland. Serving as the royal’s decoy, Belfiore finds himself the guest of honor at a double wedding at the home of Baron Kelbar. Exercising his newfound power, he adopts the role of matchmaker, confounding the plans for arranged marriages and assisting in the triumph of true love (including his own!). Once all the loose ends are tied up, he reveals his true identity and all is forgiven.

Sponsored by Western’s Department of Music and the WWU Opera Studio, the opera is part of the Seattle Opera’s yearlong celebration of Verdi’s bicentennial. The evening will feature a chamber version of this rarely produced work performed by six singers and one pianist from the Seattle Opera Young Artists Program.

“King for a Day (Un giorno di regno)” is directed by Artistic Director Peter Kazaras, with musical preparation overseen by Music Director Brian Garman and Design Coordination by Victor Steeb.

Tickets for the performance are $16 general; $13 for seniors, Western faculty and staff; and $10 for students. Tickets are available through the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6146 or online at http://www.tickets.wwu.edu.

Box Office hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour prior to performances. For tickets or disability accommodations call (360) 650-6146.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Young Artists Program trains promising singers for a career in opera, with a curriculum that includes public performances. For more details, please visit the Seattle Opera website.