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For the Neil Gaiman short story of the same name see Smoke and Mirrors (story collection)

Queen of Knives is an opera in English in two acts composed by the American composer Eric Stern. Eric Stern also wrote the libretto . The opera premiered in Portland Oregon May 7, 2010 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. Noah Mickens directed the premiere and the opera was produced by Vagabond Opera and Wanderlust Circus.

Plot

The opera takes place in a traveling carnival and tells the story of a brother and sister knife-throwing act in the midst of the student protests in Birmingham in the early 1960s. The story revolves around the relationship of the siblings and a femme fatale (Katrina the belly dancer) who eventually comes between them by challenging their superstitious beliefs in the volatile alchemy of a magic knife and a mysterious ritual. All of this transpires within the whimsical, colorful and often somber backdrop of a carnival landscape littered with barkers, a fire dancer, a belly dancer and vagabond arias.

Production History

Queen of Knives premiered at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center In Portland Oregon May 7, 2010 and ran for two week-ends for a total of eight sold out shows.

Original Cast

Esmerelda: Catherine Olson, Henry: Scott Crandal, Chaim Meyer: Eric Stern, Promethia: Nagasita, Alfred: Robin Jackson, The Blackbird Katrina: Ashia Grzesik, The Belly Dancer: Ruby Beh/Tiffany Slottke, Roustabouts: Xander Almeida, Rale Sidebottom, Hioka Musical Ensemble: Musical Director: Eric Stern, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet: Robin Jackson, Trumpet: Kate Presley, Percussion: Mark Burdon, Piano, Accordion: Eric Stern, Violin: Griff Bear, Cello: Skip Von Kuske, Bass: Matthew Rotchford

References:

1. http://www.ifccarts.org/performance/calendar/2010/queen-knives-knife-throwing-bullseye-opera/

2. http://oregonmusicnews.com/blog/2010/03/03/vagabond-opera-announces-theyre-really-doing-an-opera/

3. http://oregonmusicnews.com/blog/2010/05/05/vagabond-operas-opera-eric-stern-on-queen-of-knives/

4. http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2010/05/portlands_vagabond_operas_quee.html