Opera NEO, which has positioned itself as San Diego’s alternative opera company, plans productions of Handel’s “Agrippina” and “Mozart’s The Magic Flute” for its 2014 summer season.
In addition to the two operas, the season includes an Aria Marathon and Cabaret events and free public performances throughout the community. All tickets to staged opera performances are under $30 and are available online.
“Agrippina” by G. F. Handel
Opera in 2 Acts. Sung in Italian with supertitles.
August 14 & 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Crill Performance Hall at Point Loma Nazarene University
“The Magic Flute” by W. A. Mozart
Opera in 2 Acts. Sung in English.
August 15 at 7:30
August 17 at 2 pm
Crill Performance Hall at Point Loma Nazarene University
Opera NEO was created to prepare and inspire young opera singers. In addition to music and staging rehearsals, the young singers receive voice lessons, musical and language coaching, movement classes, seminars in audition techniques, opera business, role preparation, and performance techniques.
The company said that over the past three years it has doubled ticket sales and tripled the interest in its program, receiving more than a hundred applications in 2014 from young singers around the country. Opera NEO alumni have gone on to perform with such companies as Boston Lyric Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera and Austin Lyric Opera.
“There are thousands of young singers graduating each year from university and college opera programs, many of them with graduate degrees,” said Opera NEO Artistic Director Peter Kozma. “But very few are able to bridge the enormous gap between their academic experience and the expectations of professional opera companies. Opera NEO helps the most talented singers bridge this gap by providing experience, knowledge, and networking while building their confidence.”
