The Bronx Opera Company opens its 41st season
Counting Down to GOLD

Bronx NY – The Bronx Opera begins looking to a half century as the borough’s only opera/musical theatre company with its 41st season. The year and the season start with Bedrich Smetana’s mischievous and melodious game of love, Two Widows. This romantic comedy tells of how Karolina – through flirtation and trickery – finds a mate for her widowed (and reluctant) cousin, Anezka. Michael Spierman & Elizabeth Scott conduct a production directed by Royston Coppenger. This is a rare opportunity to see an obscure piece of great musical art performed in English.

Bedrich Smetana’s TWO WIDOWS
Performances are at two venues: IN THE BRONX: Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 11, 2009 @ 2:00 p.m. at The Lovinger Theatre @ Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Call for tickets: 1.718.960.8833. IN MANHATTAN: Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 2:00 p.m. at The Kaye Playhouse @ Hunter College, 68th Street near Lexington Avenue. Call for tickets: 1.212.772.4448. Production performed in English.

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Season 41 continues with Mozart’s ultimate flight of fantasy, The Magic Flute performed in English. The opera, conducted by Mozart himself at its premiere over 200 years ago, tells of Sarastro, the wise priest of Isis and Osiris, who has taken Pamina to the temple for the purpose of releasing her from the influence of her mother, the Queen of the Night. The queen induces the young Prince Tamino to go in search of her daughter and free her from the power of Sarastro. The rest is a fantastic rollercoaster ride reaching a High F6! A glimpse of what this might have looked like at its premiere is seen in the Academy Award winning film, Amadeus.

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THE BRONX OPERA
What began with a performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte on the stage of Vladeck Hall in the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative in the northeast Bronx has grown into an acclaimed and respected opera and musical theater company – the only one of its kind in the Bronx – presenting operatic works sung in English. Under the direction of Michael Spierman as artistic director, The Bronx Opera has brought art and culture to a myriad of audiences in the Bronx and the tri-state area. While always having a series of performances in its home base of the Bronx, The Bronx Opera presents works as close as Manhattan and Long Island, and as far off as upstate New York. Educating the next generation has always been in the forefront of each season. The Bronx Opera’s in-depth public school program brings students to the opera and brings opera to the students with a series of school visits and special performances.