Issac Selya, conductor and founder of Queen City Opera, is adding a new title to his resume: Producer. For the first time since founding Queen City Opera in 2012, he is not conducting, but is producing Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” Friday and Sunday at the Dunham Arts Center on the West Side. The production’s conductor is Queen City Opera’s Associate Music Director Jesse Leong, and the stage director is Jacquelyn Mouritsen, coming from Indiana University.

“Since the company’s mission is to launch the careers of emerging artists, I am glad we can feature a new accomplished emerging conductor as well,” Selya says.

While the company has often featured musicians and singers from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, this production will be in close collaboration for the first time with the CCM Opera Department and its chair, Robin Guarino. Current CCM students will take the starring roles.

The production is presented in memory of Dr. Bob Hasl – “Dr. Bob” — who was very fond of the opera’s alternative title “Bonta in trionfo,” or “Goodness triumphs.”

Three questions for Isaac Selya:

Why Cinderella? — It was actually Jesse’s idea! He has been working so hard for us behind the scenes since the first production, I wanted to give him a chance to conduct his own production. We made a short list of opera he was interested in that would be a good fit for QCO. This was right after Dr. Bob passed away, and I remember he had frequently mentioned “Cenerentola” as one of his favorites, so I thought it would be a meaningful way to commemorate a great opera lover and arts supporter. Especially because we are performing around the corner from his home!

Collaborating with CCM: The collaboration with CCM arose when we started casting the show. There are a few singers currently enrolled at CCM opera that we wanted to cast (Kayleigh Decker as Cenerentola, Benjamin Lee as Ramiro, and Samson McCrady as Alidoro). CCM presents so many performances each year that we had to be sure that the schedules would work out. None of these singers were involved in another CCM production for the fall, so the CCM opera department set up some role study classes to help them prepare for our production!

What I love most about this opera: I love how hilarious this opera is. I think that most people assume opera is very serious all the time, but both the music and staging for this production are downright silly and accessible to anyone. There is at least one moment in each rehearsal when everyone bursts out laughing. This would make a great first opera for children or adults.

The details:

What: Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” A comic masterpiece based on the Cinderella story.

Where: Arts Center at Dunham (1945 Dunham Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45238)

When: Friday October 20th 2017 at 7.30 p.m.

Sunday October 22th 2017 at 3 p.m.

Tickets: cinderellaopera.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006

Information: queencityopera.org/Cinderella.html