It's a great day in Knoxville for Knoxville Opera's 10th Annual Rossini Festival!
Up and down the length of Gay Street, tents are pitched and flags are flying high for a day and night of celebrating Italian culture with a lot of East Tennessee culture mixed in. Rossini is free, fun for all ages, and lasts until 9 p.m. Here are some highlights for your festival agenda:
• Cricket and Snail: If you've never heard (or heard of) a violin and accordion duo, this is your chance. Cricket and Snail are Jim and Lucie Carlson, two of the most musically inventive people you could ever hope to meet and hear play. Their unique sound blends a lot of influences, including French cabaret, classical, Celtic and klezmer tunes—perfect for the international atmosphere of Rossini. They perform at the Opera stage from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
• Circle Modern Dance: Knoxville's best modern dance troupe has been a part of Rossini since the festival's inception. In fact, dance is such a strong tradition of the fest, that it's taken over the Market Square stage. Drop by any time to see swing, bellydance, African dance, and more. Circle performs from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.
• Food! Rossini is as much a food festival as a cultural exhibition, so make sure to arrive hungry and pace yourself in order to enjoy a wide variety of treats. Italian ice is one of my favorites, and there are at least three ice vendors on site. Taste test, anyone? If you plan to eat at Rossini, make your first stop on site one of the several food ticket booths, as food vendors will only accept tickets, not cash.
• Opera: It's good to remember why this festival was launched in the first place. The Opera stage in front of the Tennessee Theatre hosts singing sopranos, tenors and their musical brethren all day, which is an easy way to experience delectable previews of this weekend's productions of Bellini's I Puritani by Knoxville Opera and Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring by UT Opera Theatre. Tickets for the productions frequently sell out in advance, but you can check for ticket availability of by calling Knoxville Tickets at 865-656-4444 or visiting the Tennessee Theatre box office.
Comments