RADFORD – The Forbidden Valley, a children’s opera written by Radford University professor emerita of music Kathryn Garland Obenshain ‘67, will be presented Saturday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m., in Radford University’s Bondurant Auditorium.

The opera is the story of Caterina, young queen of Felina, who travels to Caniterra in hopes of achieving peace between two warring countries. More than 100 years earlier, a battle over the valley resulted in Felina and Caniterra building walls to protect their borders. The characters encounter several surprises during their visit with a reclusive king and his housekeeper.

RU students in the ensemble are: freshmen Cody Kesling of Pulaski, Kiersten Miller of Sterling, Natalie Green of Annapolis, Maryland, Parker Solomon of Gainesville, and Christina Miller of Buchanan; sophomore Catherine Blackburn of Goochland; junior Joshua Young of Chatham; seniors Christina Strasburg of Arlington, Clara Lee of Dinwiddie, and Jeremy McLaughlin of Triangle. Accompanist is former adjunct music faculty member Brenda Williams who continues to perform with the ensemble in special performances.

Under the direction of RU professor Clarity James, this premier event is the sixth original children’s opera written by Obenshain for the opera ensemble.  Obenshain has spent more than 10 years working with RU’s children opera series and other performance venues in the region. She has donated musical scores and rights to 15 original operas and musical plays to Radford University Foundation Inc. These include:

My Heart’s in the Highlands: A Visit to Scotland, Frej’s Secret World, St. Mary’s Roof, The Dream Maker, The First Christmas Tree, The Tree in the Wood: An Ecology Fable, Forever Friends, In Willow Wood, The Emu’s Tale, The Ice Princess, The Cat Who Walked by Himself, The Heartmender, International Mice, Jack and the Ice Princess and Hekathe’s Helper.

James said, ” Thanks to Dr. Obenshain’s wonderful writing and beautiful libretti, we always leave the children with valuable ideas, thoughts and dreams.  I can never acknowledge her enough for all the support she gives, from creating the operas to arranging the tour as well as generously donating her time, money, and even costumes, sets and props.  We are very fortunate, indeed.”

The RU children’s opera was created by James as an educational outreach to children in Southwest Virginia who had little or no experience of opera or the arts. Special performances of The Forbidden Valley are being presented in Wythe, Henry and Montgomery County elementary schools.

Admission to the play is free and open to the public. To learn more, e-mail cjames@radford.edu. More information on opera workshops and performances can be found at http://www.radford.edu/~cjames/operaworkshop.html.