Hello, Star at Opera Parallèle

A Children’s Opera About Space

Opera Parallèle in a dress rehearsal of the Hands-On-Opera World premiere of “Hello, Star” by Composer Carla Lucero, Librettist Jarrod Lee, based on the book Hello, Star by Stephanie S. V. Lucianovic. With Christabel Nunoo, Adult Celeste, Aniyjah Garrett, Young Celeste,Aisha Campbell, Mother/Trainer, and Bradley Kynard, Big Star, and Nicole Paiement, Conductor, L. Peter Callender, Director, and Rebecca PN Seeman, Associate Conductor. At the Creativity Theater on Thursday evening, October 23, 2025.

* Notes *

Opera Parallèle held the world premiere of Hello, Star (pictured, photograph by Stefan Cohen) an earnest chamber opera for children by composer Carla Lucero and librettist Jarrod Lee last weekend. Music director Nicole Paiement had the tiny orchestra of nine people sounding utterly crystalline and beautiful.

Based on the picture book of the same title by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, the story concerns a girl named Celeste who is fascinated by a dying star and dreams of becoming an astronaut.

The USF University Choir made up an angelic chorus. There was much other lovely singing particularly from soprano Christabel Nunoo who plays the adult Celeste, her voice has an ethereal quality, while her counterpart mezzo-soprano Aniyjah Garrett has a more eerie, childlikeness appropriate for the young Celeste.

Soprano Aisha Campbell has a warmth as Celeste’s mother. Her sound is well-supported and clean. Baritone Bradley Kynard (Big Star) also has a rich voice, with a lot of power.

Director L. Peter Callender’s production glittered and had much charm. The small spinning set was almost like a dollhouse and worked well in the small space of the Creativity Theater at the Children’s Creativity Museum at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.

Lucero’s music took shape under the baton of Maestra Paiement. There were interesting percussive elements as well as parts that felt full of dance and movement. As usual Paiement had the musicians well in hand, every line felt intentional and smooth.

* Tattling *

As I brought my own 8-year-old daughter to this performance, I suggested the opera to a friend with a child as well, and was surprised that the show on Sunday was sold out. We were lucky that the Marketing Director of the company very kindly accommodated said friend.

There were not that many children at this opera, but I was seated near a woman with three small kids in tow, who spoke rather a lot and at full volume, but in Spanish, so somehow it was less annoying than it could have been, perhaps.

The Opera Tattler

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