Summer isn't bringing a slow-down to the hip performing schedule in the black box at Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art.

The world premiere of A King Listens, a multimedia, one-act contemporary opera, will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, in association with Music 04, a new music festival at University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Inspired by a short story by Italo Calvino, the opera uses live and electronic music, video and performance to tell the story of a king who is a prisoner in his palace and his mind.

Producer and lead composer Margaret Schedel has assembled eight composers from CCM's music department to create soundtracks for the opera. Trinidad MacAuliffe is videographer and Jennifer Timm directs.

The CCM partnership brings students and graduates of DAAP (department of Design, Architecture, Arts and Planning), the department of Philosophy, the College of Business and CCM to the collaboration.

Arrive at 6:30 to watch a video that prequels the action. Tickets $10, students $2. Reservations and information: 345-8400 or 345-8405.

— Jackie Demaline