Elgin OPERA presents “Love and Fairy Tales,” a program of staged and costumed excerpts, from Friday through Sunday, May 1 to 3.

Members of the Elgin OPERA Training Ensemble will join professional singers in highlights from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” (“The Magic Flute”) and Act II from Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus,” a rollicking masquerade party at the home of Prince Orlofsky.

The cast includes Kimberly Albrecht (Barrington), Katherine Dalin (Elgin), Susan Dennis (Bartlett), Laura Fredrickson (Bartlett), Heather Giebel (Shaumburg), Matthew Giebel (Schaumburg), Jeorge Holmes (Elgin), Ingrid Israel (Roselle), Kristen Johnston (Chicago), Teppei Kono (Chicago), Valerie Meachum (Elgin), Paula Mrazek (Cary), Paul Scavone (Chicago), Solange Sior (Elgin), Brianne Sura (Elkhorn, Wis.), Meghan Smeenge (Elgin), Colleen Mitchell (Elgin), and Elizabeth Hadley (Carpentersville), with Chiayi Lee (Batavia) at the piano.
 
“The Magic Flute” is an ideal introduction to opera, says Sior, artistic director.

Join the young prince, Tamino (Matthew Giebel), as he sets off to rescue the princess, Pamina (Heather Giebel), with a little help from his new friend, Papageno (Teppei Kono), the bird man. The Queen of the Night (Kristen Johnston) and her Three Ladies (Ingrid Israel, Paula Mrazek, and Brianne Sura) pull the strings and give them a magical instrument: for Papageno a set of magical bells and for Tamino a magic flute. They are off on an adventure with three Spirits (Kimberly Albrecht, Valerie Meachum, and Laura Fredrickson) to guide them to save Pamina, and perhaps find a bird lady for Papageno to love.

Filled with famous waltzes, the second act of the comic “Die Fledermaus” or “The Revenge of the Bat” will be performed in English, including dialogue.

It is the waning days of the great Hapsburg Empire, the Romanovs still rule Russia, and the upper crust is in love with “La Vie de Boheme.” The influence of Paris and French culture is at its peak in 1890s Europe, and in the farcical operetta, Strauss pokes fun at the foibles of the ruling elite in Vienna and those living the bohemian lifestyle.

Into this historical backdrop, place a tenor-crazed young wife, Rosalinda, played by Sior, her scheming maid Adele, played by Susan Dennis, and Rosalinda’s lecherous husband Eisenstein played by Paul Scavone. Mix them all with a plotting Falke played by Teppei Kono and a Russian count Orlofsky played by Paula Mrazek for the makings of an evening full of hilarious twists and turns.

The performances will take place in the Kimball Street Theatre in the Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. To make reservations, call the OPERA office at (847) 695-5014 or e-mail office@elginopera.org.

A dinner/performance package (lunch on Sunday) will be available through Al’s Café in Elgin. Cost will be $25 for adults without alcohol, $29 for adults with a glass of wine/sangria, $9.50 for children. Space is limited to 50 patrons. Call OPERA for reservations. Visit www.elginopera.org for more information.

The Elgin OPERA receives financial support from the City of Elgin, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Florence B. & Cornelia A. Palmer Trust, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council; the e3 design group provided promotional graphic design services and Web site assistance.