​
The World Premiere co-production with Opéra Louisiane Presented in Knoxville on January 6th, 2024
On a bitterly cold Christmas Eve, two poor children named Dymtro and Zoya play games together while they wait for their father, Federov, to return home from selling firewood. Their impatient landlady, Olha Petrina, comes to remind them that their rent is due, and she means to collect it. Federov returns, having sold hardly anything, and with nothing for Christmas dinner but dark bread. When Zoya cries over this, Federov reminds her that "We don't have much, but each other. Each other is so much." Although they have no gifts, the children convince their father to cut down a small tree to decorate their cottage. Federov brings in a sapling, which turns out to be home to a large spider. Although the children are afraid at first, the spider becomes their friend and takes part in a special Christmas miracle that reminds them all of the power of kindness and giving.
​
"The Christmas Spider was developed by The American Opera Project in their First Chance program."
Janessa
​
Zoya at 2:30pm
Charles Eaton
​
FEDOROV
Andrew
​
Dmytro at 2:30pm
Kathryn Frady
​
OLHA
Amadea
​
Zoya at 5:00pm
Oscar
​
Dmytro at 5:00pm
Brandon Coffer
​
CONDUCTOR
Ivan Griffin
​
STAGE DIRECTOR
Clint Borzoni
​
COMPOSER
John de los Santos
​
LIBRETTIST
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
