The Madeleine Choir School and Utah Opera will collaborate in the Utah premiere of the children’s opera Shoes for the Santo Niño. The performances take place April 28-29 at 8 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Madeleine and are free of charge.
Stephen Paulus
The Santo Niño (Holy Child) has been adored since the 8th century and is an important part of both Native American and Hispanic traditions. In 1930, New Mexico poet and author Peggy Pond Church wrote a story about the Santo Niño which was lost for some 70 years after its publication. A few years ago it was rediscovered. Andrea Fellows Walters reworked the story into a libretto for composer Stephen Paulus, and the 35-minute opera received its world premiere at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque in 2011, with subsequent performances in Santa Fe the following year.
Utah Symphony associate conductor Vladimir Kulenovic will conduct the Madeleine Festival performances. The children’s leads will be sung by members of the Madeleine Choir School. Adult roles will be sung by members of the Utah Opera resident artist program. Kathleen Clawson, who directed the world premiere, will be directing this production.
The Utah Opera resident artists will also be featured in a recital of Spanish art songs in the first half of the program.