Two Nights at the Opera

Opera lovers, rejoice. New Opera Saint Louis, as the name implies, is a new, locally based opera company dedicated to performing full operas in their original languages — and its inaugural production is Verdi's Rigoletto, the tragic tale of a jester attempting to keep his daughter chaste in the decadent culture of sixteenth-century Mantua. Gina Galati, a St. Louis native, is the company's director, and she also performs the role of Gilda; Robert McFarland portrays the hunchbacked Rigoletto, and Scott Schoonover conducts the thirteen-piece orchestra. Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday (February 15 and 17) at St. Ambrose Church (Wilson and Marconi avenues; 314-865-0038). Tickets are $20 and going fast; call now to reserve a seat.
Fri., Feb. 15; Sun., Feb. 17, 2008