A beautiful princess is protected in a secret place to keep her from realizing that she is blind. Placed there since birth by her well-intentioned father, King Rene, the princess is surrounded by people who conspire to keep her in her state of ignorance by never mentioning light or the fact that they can see. Eventually, however, she learns about her blindness when a count who has fallen in love with her tells her of her condition.

This story, as told in a play called "King Rene's Daughter" by Henrik Hertz, so interested Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky that he promised himself he would one day set it to music. He remained true to that promise; "Iolanta," named after the princess, was the composer's last operatic masterpiece. Students in the Yale Opera program will bring Tchaikovsky's musical retelling of the tale to life Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25 and 26, at 8 p.m. in Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall, 470 College St.

Colin Graham, who recently made headlines for his direction of the premiere of Andre Previn's "A Streetcar Named Desire" in San Francisco, will direct the production. John Baril, managing coordinator for Yale Opera and a conductor, will lead the performances, which will be accompanied by piano. All of the singers are students in the School of Music's opera program.

Graham is the artistic director for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and is internationally known for his opera, theater and television stage direction of more than 400 productions seen worldwide. Born in England, he studied acting, singing, dancing and musical composition. Early in his career, he began a long association with composer Benjamin Britten, for whom he directed many world premieres. He served as artistic director of Britten's English Opera Group and its successor, the English Music Theatre, and was for many years the artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival. He also directed productions of Sadler's Wells Opera/English National Opera. In addition to "A Streetcar Named Desire," his recent work includes a production of Britten's "A Death in Venice" for the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera, Covent Garden, which was chosen by The New York Times and New York Magazine as production of the year and was nominated for an Olivier Award in London. Graham also has worked with other major opera companies throughout the United States.

Baril has led performances of several of the Yale Opera program's "Scenes Nights," as well as its production of "La Cenerentola" in 1997. He was an assistant conductor, chorus master, production coordinator and featured artist with the Nevada Opera Association for many years and has led several Nevada Opera productions. In addition to his work at Yale, he is the music administrator of the Central City Opera, for which he has conducted a number of works, and recently conducted Carlisle Flood's "Susannah" for the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Baril is also a singer, and he has performed numerous comprimario roles.

Tickets to "Iolanta" are $10; $5 for students. For further information about the performances, call 432-4158.

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