The Central City Opera on Thursday and Friday unveils “How Green Was My Valley,” a new production in Colorado Springs telling the story of a Welsh family’s struggles as mining transforms its hometown.
Composer Roger Ames, who collaborated with librettist Elizabeth Bassine to adapt Richard Llewelyn’s 1939 novel of the same name, told CPR Classical he fell in love with the intense drama of the story.
“It's about men in a mine and the women above who support them and take care of them," Ames said. "It's particularly about a very dark period ... when miners were so misused that they had trouble staying alive with their families."
Click the audio above to hear more from Ames’ discussion with Charley Samson on the creation of the project, and whether he thinks the piece should be labeled musical theater or opera.
Musicians from the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Chamber Orchestra of the Springs are also participating in the production.
Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 420 N. Nevada Ave. in Colorado Springs. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and military.
Check out music from "How Green Was My Valley," recorded Aug. 12 in the CPR Performance Studio:
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Featured musicians: Jennifer DeDominici, mezzo-soprano (Angharad Morgan); Jonathan Hays, baritone (Mr. Gruffydd); Tim Jerome, bass (Gwilym Morgan); Deborah Schmit-Lobis, piano.
