Westchester Groups Celebrate Opera This Month

Opera is showcased prominently in Westchester this March as several local arts organizations celebrate the art form with a variety of unrelated performances throughout the County. From a workshop series to the world premiere of a fully-orchestrated oratorio, commanding voices and powerful compositions will fill the air during the following events:

March 5: Petite Messe Solennelle Presented by The New Choral Society

Under the direction of Dr. John T. King, this group will perform the composition that brought Rossini out of retirement. newchoralsociety.org

March 16-April 20: History of Opera: Opera Ensembles  Presented by Warner Library

The Library’s Opera Appreciation program presents instructor Susan Grunthal for a listening study of operatic ensembles in this free six-week series. warnerlibrary.org

March 23-26: L’incoronazione di Poppea Presented by Purchase College Conservatory of Music

The Corononation of Poppea tells the story of the mistress of the Roman emperor and her rise to be a crowned empress. purchase.edu/music

March 25 & 26: World Premiere of David Presented by Taconic Opera

The world premiere performance of David, an oratorio composed by the Company’s General and Artistic Director Dan Montez. Based on the biblical story of Kind David, the performance features the Opera’s chorus, a full orchestra and will be conducted by Montez. taconicopera.org

Career Bridges provides young opera singers with a “bridge” from the classroom world to the professional community. It is accepting applications for the 2017 Career Bridges Grant Awards. Deadline: April 4. For more info, visit: careerbridges.org.

A version of this article first appeared in the March 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews. 

Image above: Purchase Opera’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Coronation of Poppea)