The opera was commissioned by
Opera North with
Sadler's Wells Theatre, and the original production opened at the
Grand Theatre in
Leeds on December 21, 2007. It starred
Victoria Simmonds as
Pinocchio,
Mary Plazas as the
Blue Fairy and
Jonathan Summers as
Mister Geppetto. It was directed by Martin Duncan, conducted by
David Parry, designed by Francis O'Connor and choreographed by
Nick Winston. The production included some ingenious technical stage effects, and used a full symphony orchestra including two accordions (which appear briefly on stage), a piano, and assorted percussion. The opera received its German premiere in Chemnitz in 2008 with Inga Lampert in the title role; the North American premiere was by the
Minnesota Opera at the
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2009, with mezzo-soprano
Adriana Zabala as Pinocchio; and the Russian premiere was at Teatr Sats, Moscow on November 18, 2011 with Giulia Macariants as Pinocchio.
The work was recorded live at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, on 29 February & 1 March 2008, and was released on the Opus Arte label on Feb.1, 2009 in both DVD and Blu-ray formats.
Puppet show audience, puppet policemen, fantasy rich people, lawyers, labourers, pupils, teachers, Funland vendors, circus troupe, Echoes, villagers, townsfolk (chorus)
List of scenes
Act One
Scene 1: The wood In which Geppetto finds a log.
Scene 2: Geppetto's hut In which Pinocchio is made and Geppetto suffers some of the misfortunes of parenthood; Pinocchio learns about school and the consequences of falling asleep in front of an open fire; a cricket learns the result of giving unwanted advice to small boys; and Geppetto buys Pinocchio a schoolbook.
Scene 3: A street In which Pinocchio sets off to school but is distracted.
Scene 4: The puppet theatre In which Pinocchio meets some old friends; escapes death; is very brave; is rewarded and sent on his way.
Scene 5: A street In which Pinocchio meets a Cat and a Fox and learns about the
Field of Miracles.
Scene 6: The wood In which Pinocchio ignores a warning from a ghostly Cricket; is pursued by Assassins; meets a dead girl with blue hair; is hanged and pecked down by some friendly birds.
Scene 7: The Blue Fairy's cottage In which Pinocchio is cured and discovers the consequences of lying to girls with blue hair, promises to be good and sets off to meet Geppetto and live happily ever after.
Scene 8: The wood In which Pinocchio meets the Cat and the Fox again; is tricked out of his money and is mocked by a parrot.
Scene 9: The court and jail In which Pinocchio discovers the meaning of Justice and Freedom.
Scene 10: The wood In which Pinocchio goes looking for the Blue Fairy but finds a grave and goes for a ride on a Pigeon.
Scene 11: A beach In which Pinocchio attempts to help Geppetto.
Act Two
Scene 1: Drudgeland In which Pinocchio learns about work, meets a lady with blue hair and does quite well at school.
Scene 2: The seashore In which Pinocchio proves indigestible.
Scene 3: Outside the Blue Fairy's house In which Pinocchio knocks at a door, gets frustrated with a Snail and is promised a party.
Scene 4: A street In which Pinocchio, at the urging of his friend Lampwick, sets off for Funland.
Scene 5: Funland In which Pinocchio visits Funland and is transformed by the experience.
Scene 6: The circus In which Pinocchio joins the circus, recognizes a member of the audience and is sold to a Drum-maker.
Scene 7: The seashore In which Pinocchio becomes his old self again and is swallowed by a big fish.
Scene 8: Inside the big fish In which father and son are reunited and escape together.
Scene 9: The village by the sea In which Pinocchio works hard for his father; meets his old acquaintances and finally gets his reward.
Michael Church,
Jonathan Dove: No nose for talent (Subtitle: Jonathan Dove's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' is the most acclaimed new opera in years – so why is he being ignored by the Establishment?), The Independent, February 13, 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.