KING FOR A DAY
LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL at UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
FRIDAY | March 4 at 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY | March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Music by Giuseppe Verdi with a libretto by Felice Romani with a new English translation by Andrew Nienaber
Sung in English.
Estimated run time is two hour and 15 minutes with one intermission.
Pre-show drinks and appetizers included, as well as post-show drinks and dessert. Self-Parking included along with the option of taking a shuttle from the Opera Orlando offices to Loews Portofino Hotel for free for the performance.
Age Advisory - G
Don’t miss this wedding day gone wrong presented in the Venetian Ballroom at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel with food and drink and parking included in your ticket price. Enjoy this immersive, site-specific production of Verdi’s comedic King for a Day (Un Giorno di Regno) featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Kirsten Chambers and Grammy Award-winning baritone Gabriel Preisser with Keith Chambers returning to Opera Orlando as conductor and musical director. The setting is none other than Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando for this special adaptation of Verdi’s comedic romp, with an updated English translation by stage director Andrew Nienaber.
For the Saturday, March 5, performance enjoy a special Venetian Appetizer musical program featuring students from the University of Florida Opera program singing Neapolitan art songs and opera favorites from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This performance will also be followed by a special post show reception where you can meet the cast and keep the party going. Presented in partnership with University of Florida.
CAST
PRODUCTION TEAM
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
On the auspicious day of a double wedding, the Cavalier Belfiore, impersonating the Polish king Stanislaus, is a guest at the home of Baron Kelbar and comments to himself on his change of fortune. The Baron has recently arranged a political alliance by betrothing his daughter, Giulietta, to La Rocca, the Treasurer of Brittany. But Giulietta prefers La Rocca's nephew, Edoardo. The other undesired marriage involves Baron Kelbar's niece, the Marchesa del Poggio, a young widow who is in love with Belfiore. She has become engaged to the Count of Ivrea because Belfiore has been unable to commit himself to marrying her, in spite of the fact that he does love her.
Knowing of the Marchesa's imminent arrival and concerned that she might reveal his false identity as the King, Belfiore writes to Stanislaus and asks to be released from his commitment. Edoardo reveals his predicament to the "King" and begs to be taken to Poland with him in order to forget about the woman he loves. The Marchesa arrives and, upon being introduced to Belfiore as "the King", immediately recognizes him but pretends that she doesn’t. Likewise, he pretends not to recognize her, but she is determined to test him by proclaiming her love for the Count.
Giulietta is alone with her attendants and expresses unhappiness in having to marry an old man. When Baron Kelbar and Treasurer La Rocca arrive, followed in succession by Belfiore and Edoardo and then the Marchesa (who was planning to help the lovers), Belfiore draws the Baron and Treasurer La Rocca away on the pretext of discussing state business, leaving the young lovers alone with the Marchesa.
Maintaining his role as the King, Belfiore makes the Treasurer an offer of advancement which would include a place in court, a castle, and marriage to a princess. By accepting, he agrees not to marry Giulietta. When the Treasurer tells Baron Kelbar that he refuses to marry his daughter, the Baron is affronted and challenges him to a duel. The Marchesa proposes that Giulietta and Edoardo be married immediately as compensation. However, the false King returns and decrees that he will decide on a solution that will satisfy everyone.
ACT 2
The servants are mystified by the "King's" pronouncement, and they sing a carefree song about the fickleness of the rich. Eduardo joins them, ecstatic about his abrupt change in fortune and finally getting to marry Giulietta.
Belfiore, the Treasurer, and Giulietta enter discussing the reasons for Baron Kelbar's opposition to his daughter's marriage to Eduardo. Giulietta explains that the young man's poverty is the main objection and so Belfiore rules that the Treasurer must give up one of his castles and give over a sum of money to the young man, and then all will be well. The latter is somewhat reluctant to disobey his sovereign, but seeks a way out of his duel with Baron Kelbar.
Belfiore and the Marchesa meet, the former still unable to reveal who he really is. This incenses the lady, who boldly states that it is her intention to marry the Count of Ivrea. However, she cannot understand why Belfiore is taking so long to reveal himself and still hopes for his change of heart. When Count Ivrea is announced, she takes a defiant stand. Since Eduardo has pledged himself to the "King", he is honor-bound to follow him back to Poland. Giulietta is determined to get the King to rescind the commitment. The Count enters and the Marchesa once again states that she will marry the Count. However, Belfiore forbids the marriage for 'reasons of state' and announces that he and the Count must leave for Poland at once to deal with state business.
All express their feelings, but things come to a halt when a letter arrives for Belfiore. It is from King Stanislaus announcing his safe arrival in Warsaw and releasing Belfiore from the task of impersonating him. In return, the King has granted him the title of Marshal. Before dropping the disguise, the "King" proclaims that Giulietta and Eduardo are to be married and, having received Baron Kelbar's consent, reads the true king's letter and reveals his true rank. He expresses his love for the Marchesa and all ends happily with the prospect of two weddings.
