Opera Vermont concerts celebrate Giacomo Puccini

Opera Vermont, in partnership with the Chandler Center for the Arts, proudly presents a special concert dedicated to the timeless music of Giacomo Puccini, one of the world’s most beloved opera composers.

The event on Saturday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m., will be performed by a talented group of BARN OPERA/OVT favorites and newcomers, at the BARN OPERA House on Pearl Street in Brandon.

BARN OPERA has developed a reputation over the past four years for their heartwarming and poignant, “Community-Christmas-Card,” production of “Amahl & the Night Visitors” at the Salisbury Congregational Church. 

BARN OPERA welcomes young children and families to experience their first brush with opera at Rossini’s “La Cenerentola — Cinderella” on Oct. 13 and 14 at BARN OPERA House in Brandon.

This performance is loosely based on the scandalous events that transpired in the life of world-famous (and notorious womanizer) composer Giacomo Puccini, told through a contemporary construct. 

Based on “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Goethe, the opera “The Letters of Charlotte” by J. Massenet, is centered around the young poet, Werther, who falls in love with Charlotte, who is already engaged to be married to someone else.

When the world gives Barn Opera bitter lemons, they don’t just make lemonade, they make “Limoncello”! 

Heartened as I was to hear that the production is happening, I was even more pleased to learn about the sensitivity to race and gender demonstrated by director Josh Collier’s casting decisions.

Josh Collier has just what we need to spice up our holiday traditions. He’s bringing “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” a 40-minute opera to the Salisbury Congregational Church on Dec. 17 and 18.  

SALISBURY/BRANDON — In a holiday season full of creative ways to share good tidings despite the pandemic, Brandon Opera is no exception. The nonprofit is using the power of video to share its holiday productions this year. The goal of Barn Opera has alway … (read more)

SALISBURY — BARN OPERA completes its second season “The Season of Love” with Giancarlo Menotti’s holiday opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” This production will be performed by an all-Vermont principal cast as well as a local amateur chorus, on Friday … (read more)

BRANDON/SALISBURY — Barn Opera of Brandon will complete its second season — “The Season of Love” — with a presentation of Giancarlo Menotti’s holiday opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” at Salisbury Congregational Church on Dec. 13 and 14. “Amahl” is t … (read more)