The Taconic Opera summer program for emerging opera singers, New York Opera Conservatory (NYOC), offers you an opportunity to hear the upcoming generation of professionally trained singers as they gain valuable experience perfecting their craft in a leading role. Established in 2018, the NYOC helps to fill an unmet need among trained singers to gain hands-on experience through actual performance.

Each event in the series listed below – one tragedy and one comedy - will have a different cast, making every performance completely unique from all the others!  Each performance includes the complete opera and is semi-staged (costumes, props). 

July Opera:  Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) - Verdi

What can happen when a king falls in love with the wife of one of his advisers?  What does he do when a fortune teller reveals that she loves him too?  Based on an actual event in Sweden, come and watch his unraveling in a dramatic yet gently comedic way.  Since it’s Verdi, expect some outstanding arias and ensembles.

Dates:  Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 pm

             Friday, July 11, 7:00 pm

             Sunday, July 13, 3:00 pm

August Opera: La Cenerentola (Cinderella) – Rossini

In this dramatic variation of the fairy tale, the Wicked Stepmother is replaced by a stepfather, the Fairy Godmother is replaced by a philosopher and tutor to  Prince Charming, and Cinderella is identified not by a glass slipper but by a silver ring.  It’s not the Disney story: the supernatural elements that traditionally characterize the Cinderella story were removed from Rossini’s libretto because they couldn’t be staged in his day. However, Taconic Opera will make it just as entertaining and endearing to watch!

Dates:  Wednesday, August 13, 7:00 pm

             Friday, August 15, 7:00 pm

             Sunday, August 17, 3:00 pm

Location:  Croton Free Library

       171 Cleveland Drive

       Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Fee:  FREE

For information about becoming a student in the NY Opera Conservatory, visit the Conservatory website: https://www.newyorkoperaconservatory.com/

For general information about Taconic Opera and NY Opera Conservatory events, visit the website: https://taconicopera.org/