TV Standard: NTSC
Color: Colour

Credits:

Joyce DiDonato

Description:

Fatima is a brave and clever girl. She lives with her brother Hassan and her sick mother. The family is very poor and lacks food. In order to help her family, Hassan is hired by the lord of the castle (who is actually a demon) on the promise that he will give her one gold coin a week on the condition that she never gets angry. Hassan works hard and accumulates gold coins by taking care of the cows and horses, but the demon's cunning provocation makes him angry, and not only does he not receive the gold coins, but his "dream" is also stolen. The dream was the demon's favorite food. Hassan returns home devastated. Seeing this, his sister Fatima rides alone to the castle to defeat the demon, and they fight a battle of wits and defeat the demon. Then, not only her brother, but also many other "dreams" that had been captured were released and returned to their owners' children. Based on the story by Syrian writer Rafik Shami and composed by Austrian composer Johanna Doderer, known for her collaboration with violinist Kopatchinskaja, this new work was created with the intention of inviting children into a "magical world full of joy, sorrow and excitement.The opera is a new children's story that beautifully combines the exotic atmosphere of the Arabian Nights with elements of Grimm's and Perrault's fairy tales, which are based on European folklore. Andrea Carroll (title role) and Carlos Osuna (Hassan), both members of the Vienna State Opera, give youthful vocal performances, and internationally acclaimed baritone Sorin Colvin (The Lord) provides a strong supporting role. Backing them is the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, conducted by Benjamin Vail, who is active on the European opera scene. Naxos Japan