
Tchaikovsky: Iolanta
Queen City Opera
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DateAug 23 - 24, 2025
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VenueAronoff Center
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LocationJarson-Kaplan Theater
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Ticket Prices$32.00 +
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AvailabilityOn Sale Now
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Seating ChartView Seating Chart
Event Details
Tchaikovsky’s fairy tale opera Iolanta premiered in 1892 as a double bill alongside his famous Nutcracker.
It tells the story of a blind princess who is unaware of her blindness. Iolanta lives in a secluded garden, sheltered from the outside world, until the arrival of a young knight, Count Vaudémont, who stumbles upon her garden. He is smitten with her, and inadvertently reveals her condition to her when he asks her for a red rose, to which she replies, “What does ‘red’ mean?”
Vaudémont immediately grasps that she is blind, and proceeds to tell her about light and vision, concepts that she has never encountered. She is eager to learn more about the world and about these new concepts, but she decides that she does not actually need them in order to experience beauty or to survive, as she has developed her own ways of interacting with the world. The opera concludes with a hymn praising love and truth.
Presented in collaboration with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Sung in Russian, with English supertitles. Accompanied by full orchestra.
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AGE RECOMMENDATION
While this fairy tale opera’s content is appropriate for all ages, it’s highly recommended that adults who are considering attending with children use their best judgement as the performance is sung completely in Russian while English supertitles play above the action happening on stage. Due to the reading comprehension and focus needed to fully enjoy a 90-minute performance of this nature, we suggest that any child audience members be at least 8 years old.
RUNTIME
Approximately 90 minutes without an intermission.
PURCHASE POLICIES
No refunds, unless otherwise specified.
If your performance is postponed or rescheduled, we will automatically move your tickets to the new performance date(s). If you are unable to attend the new dates, we will work with you to find a solution, which may include, without limitation, an exchange into an alternate performance or a credit for a future performance.
THEATER ETIQUETTE
For the comfort and enjoyment of your fellow audience members, and to not distract those around you and the actors onstage:
- Turn OFF your cell phone. Even silent calls can be distracting, and the light from your phone can be as disruptive as a cell phone ring. Turn OFF your cell phone.
- Be sure your cell phone is turned off again after intermission.
- Refrain from talking or allowing children to kick seats ahead of them during the performance.
- Photos and recording during the performance are strictly prohibited.
Note that guests who are disturbing those around them may be asked to leave the theater.