By Hope Smith

It is highly unusual for an opera to be performed with both an entirely new story idea and with all of its writers still living, but UK Opera will put on a performance that breaks both of these abnormalities.

This weekend marks the world premiere of “River of Time,” an opera about the young life of Abraham Lincoln, which was written to celebrate the Lincoln Bicentennial.

Everett McCorvey, director of opera at UK, first commissioned “River of Time” to be written two years ago. McCorvey requested Joseph Baber, UK professor of composition, and James W. Rodgers, former chairman of theater at UK, to start the project.

“Both writers are very talented and experienced,” McCorvey said. “I really wanted beautiful melodies for this opera, and Joe just has a gift with melodies.”

“River of Time” covers the life of Lincoln from just before his birth to 1837, years before his presidential election. The goal was to show the experiences from Lincoln’s life that helped shape his future decisions, McCorvey said.

“The writers wanted to show the audience something they were less familiar with — Lincoln’s earlier years,” said UK Opera Interim Program Coordinator Joan Rue.

Portions of the opera were performed both in Lexington and in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center within the past year, but only in recent months has “River of Time” been rehearsed in its entirety as an opera.

UK graduate and undergraduate students make up most of the 47-person cast, with the exception of three local performers who play characters at a young age.

UK graduate student Mark Golson II, who plays the character of Billy in “River of Time,” expects the audience to be reminded of slavery and why Lincoln was determined to eliminate the practice.

“My character meets the young Lincoln in the end of the first act, when he sees Billy being torn from his family in the slave trade,” Golson said. “Lincoln sees this and thinks, ‘If slavery isn’t wrong, then nothing’s wrong.’ ”

“River of Time” shows audience members what Lincoln’s young life was like before his presidency, and that included his battles with the idea of slavery and the series of deaths in his family, even if they’re controversal topics.

“The whole discussion of slavery made all the actors a little uncomfortable, and some parts of the performance might make the audience a little uncomfortable, too,” McCorvey said. “But it’s important to show how slavery is wrong — that’s one purpose of the show.”

Tickets are currently on sale, and the cost for students is $12. “River of Time” will be performed Oct. 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lexington Opera House.

“We have no idea what the outcome will be, which is the exciting part,” Rue said. “We don’t know how the audience will react, we just hope they will enjoy it.”

If you go

What: “River of Time”

When: Oct. 8 through 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Lexington Opera House

Admission: $12 for students