Originally commissioned by the Yocum Institute for Arts Education
Chris Heslop – Composer & Musical Director, Vicki Haller Graff – Librettist
Briefly, it’s the story of a poor woodcutter who allows a bear to marry his younger daughter, Nina, in exchange for sparing his life. She discovers that the bear is really an enchanted prince who only appears as a human being at night. When she breaks a promise to him, she must try to find him at the Castle of Faith; on her way she encounters a witch, the sun and moon, wizards and the wind. After many trials, the two are reunited.
Performed by four opera singers, and a three-piece jazz pit (piano – bass – drums)