Gothamist: Opera Comes to the Burg

Ronkonkoma Ondinnonk

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:43:32 -0500

I'm looking forward to going and seeing what it's all about.

Thomaz

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:00:51 -0500

I'm the Artistic Director/Founder of OperaOggiNY and the one who is privileged enough to find the theater and to be bringing it back to life. I"m also a contemporary composer, I have written 3 operas and I"m about to write 2 more. One will be using a male soprano!(if any one cares to listen to any examples of my work -thomaslawrencetoscano.com) We are not your traditional opera company, just go to our website and see.operaogginy.com We choose what best fits our cast. Yes, its a verismo opera, but, we are not going to give you a traditional experience. We never do. Point in fact: We presented Massenet's Sapho last spring ( Judson Memorial Church and also uptown 90th and Amsterdam). We took the opera, changed all the male roles to female roles and performed it as a lesbian opera. With real female relationships,marriage, adoption, child rearing, and yes the kiss in the love duet was real. No faking... It was so successful, artistically, that a lesbian author approached me after the performances and we are collaborating on a new opera, same subject. Hipsters? why can't they attend? Something wrong with their souls and hearts and minds? I don't exclude anyone. If I continue producing here, there will be, Legit Theater, Contemporary Theater, Chamber Music, ( both traditional and contemporary), Chamber Orchestra ( if I can find the funding), and of course, more OPeraOggiNY performances. Oh, btw...I am already planning a Messiah Sing-In on Sunday Dec. 14th. With refreshments...come one come all, of course, please sing only if you know the music, I don't think we will have any rehearsals! Thanks to the Gothamist for providing this forum. PS. There are not only hipsters in Billyburg, can't we all get along?

hurhg

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:03:56 -0500

hopefully it'll feature some modern and contemporary works considering its location. Verdi and Puccini can stay on the Upper West Side.

ides_of_march

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:22:54 -0500

Odd choice of opera indeed. I think to attract new fans they'd be better off starting with one of the time tested crowd pleasers by Verdi or Puccini.

Sparafucil

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:57:49 -0500

L'Oracolo? Wow, talk about obscure. My New Grove doesn't even have an entry for it. It seems an odd choice to inaugurate an opera hall, let alone revive interest in verismo opera.

Dude69

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:48:45 -0500

What a waste of a classical artform on these disgusting, self-important ironic hipster mass. Pavarotti is rolling in his grave!

matty

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:44:26 -0500

lol#2 yeah, opera is, like, so bad it's good.

Atomische

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:37:23 -0500

It sure looks like a fly space! I would attend, ironically.

r1b2

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:27:31 -0500

Bravo!