Regional Opera Company of the Week: Winter Opera St. Louis

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the net, continues its expansion into other areas of entertainment with our latest feature -The Regional Opera Company of the Week!

This week, we're thrilled to present you to Winter Opera St. Louis!

Keeping opera alive during the winter months!

Winter Opera St. Louis is a non-profit organization that was founded in August of 2007.   It began as the New Opera Saint Louis and changed to Winter Opera St. Louis in 2010. The mission of the organization is to provide the people of St. Louis an evening of opera during the winter months when St. Louis had previously been without opera.  Winter Opera St. Louis also highlights local artists and invests in the local artist communities by providing an opportunity to perform with world-class talent.  The company is committed to enhancing opera in St. Louis through public participation, community outreach programs and artists' workshops.

The company performs at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at the Chaminade College Preparatory School.  Starting this year, Winter Opera St. Louis now offers pre-performance lectures for opening night of the season.  In an attempt to make opera accessible for all people, students can get student rush tickets with a valid ID on the day of any performance. 

Winter Opera St. Louis is also committed to young performers.  One of Winter Opera's main goals is to involve children in opera productions and give them hands-on experience with professional musicians.  Since 2009 there has been a children's chorus in one of the performances every season.  This season's Tosca in March 2013 will feature a children's chorus.  In addition to the children's chorus the company is excited to announce that it is able to sponsor covers, or 'understudies,' for promising young artists. This gives young artists the opportunity to learn a role and observe staging rehearsals with professional opera singers. This season the covers were Sara Gottman - covering Katisha, Anthony Heinemann - covering Nanki-Poo, Megan Higgins - covering Yum-Yum, Tom Sitzler - covering Pish-Tush and Adam Stefo - covering Pooh-Bah in The Mikado.

The company has an exclusive club, the Impresario Club, for donors of $2,500 or more.  An Impresario is a patron who understands the importance of the arts and is a major financier and supporter.  The membership includes

     * A private concert to entertain your guests
     * A one-of-a-kind Winter Opera Impresario membership pin designed by Mary Pillsbury
     * Season Tickets
     * First choice of seating
     * Drink vouchers
     * Listed in Program

Winter Opera St. Louis' current season includes:

A 1920's Masquerade Ball- Friday, October 26, 2012

The Mikado- Friday, November 9, 2012 & Sunday, November 11, 2012

Holiday on the Hill- Tuesday December 4, 2012 & Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Ballad of Baby Doe- Friday, February 8, 2013 & Sunday, February 10, 2013

Tosca – Friday, March 8, 2013 & Sunday, March 10, 2013

Visit the company's website (http://www.winteroperastl.org/) for more information about the company.

Photo credit: Ron Lindsey

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