OperaOggiNY
Menotti’s ”The Medium”
Performances June 22 – 28
With smaller seasons at City Opera and the Met, people are finding that a surprising magic exists in small micro budget performances led by OperaOggiNY‘s artistic director Thomas Toscano and music director Bill Lewis. In the spirit of bringing affordable opera to the people, they have created a new concept in local opera performances called “Walk to the Opera.” By focusing upon the drama, text and music rather than pomp and extravaganza, they are forging an expressive repertory ensemble with up and coming young professionals. Beginning with Menotti’s “The Medium” they bring this opera to five different neighborhoods. Starting in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and with subsequent performances scheduled in Astoria, Queens, and Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Ft. Green in Brooklyn.
Soon to follow will be new productions of operas by Vaughn Williams, Lockwood, Moniusko, Puccini, and some contemporary operas by American composers as well. In addition to these, Suor Angelica, L’Oracolo and Massenet’s Sapho, all now part of OperaOggiNY’s repertoire, will be presented in neighborhoods which have not yet experienced these performances throughout the metropolitan area.
“The Medium”*was commissioned by Columbia University and subsequently was transformed, by Menotti, into both a Broadway sensation and a celebrated film by the composer. A powerfully engaging work it explores the life of a medium who is, for all intents and purposes a fraud. In the middle of one of her fake sceances, she feels the hands of a spirit around her throat! What follows is a terrifyingly realistic descent into a complicated portrayal of where unbridled guilt and lack of self-awareness can lead.
June 22nd Washington Heights 189th and Bennett St Manhattan 8pm
June 23rd Lafayette Ave Presbyterian 85 S. Oxford St Ft Green, Brooklyn 8pm
June 24th Helenic Cultural Center – 27-09 Crescent St Astoria, Queens 8pm
June 26th Mt. Carmel – 275 N.8th (@ Union) Williamsburg, Brooklyn 8pm
June 28th Polish Slavic Center – 177 Kent St Greenpoint, Brooklyn 4pm
Admission: $20 dollars.
For more information, please contact Will Carter @ 718-312-8064
or write press@operaogginy.com
