The International School of the Algarve in Lagoa, Ideias do Levante cultural association and the Municipality of Silves present The Little Mermaid, an opera by Gita Nasta, inspired by the fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen.
The opera was performed in the Lagoa Auditorium last May to packed houses and it returns by public demand.
This year, performances will be held at the historic Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório in Silves on Saturday, March 9, at 8pm and on Sunday, March 10 at 3pm.
The Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório, a miniature opera house, has been fully restored and provides a delightful setting for this touching fairytale.
The music, which moves between the styles of light classical and musical comedy, is constantly melodic.
After its highly successful Brussels premiere, The Little Mermaid opened the Waterford International Opera Festival in Ireland.
 Last year’s production of The Little Mermaid was performed to full houses in Lagoa |
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The Little Mermaid is one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved characters and will enchant audiences from six to 106!
The auditorium has a capacity of 150 seats and organisers inform that no children under six will be admitted.
The opera will be performed by 40 talented singers between the ages of seven and 70. The cast includes 15 adults drawn from Ideias do Levante, who will be joined by 25 talented younger singers from the International School of the Algarve.
The opera, in three acts, composed and directed by Gita Nasta, is accompanied by an ensemble of piano, violin, cello and flute.
Principal roles are played by Francisco Brazão andAnicee de France from Portugal joined by Owen Davies and Lazina Gheyselinck from London and Ellie Bready from Dublin.
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||The story line
Mermaids, guppies, exotic fish and sea plants, crabs, sea snail, octopus and seals attend ceremonies at the Underwater Palace of the Merking.
The Little Mermaid is fascinated by life above the sea. She rescues a Human Prince when his ship founders in a storm. She falls in love with him and sells her voice to a wicked Witch in exchange for human legs and dancing feet.
Life above sea in the Royal Palace, where spoilt, sophisticated nobles attend balls and dancesevery evening, is confusing andcomplex. However, the Little Mermaid persists with her plan to make the Prince fall in love with her.
In vain do her Father the Merking and his whole family beg her to return to the Sea. The Little Mermaidfollows her Prince to the Orient and it is there that she meets her final destiny.
