With the New York Opera Fest 2018 officially underway, OperaWire will be showcasing small previews for each major participant at the festival, as we did during last year’s event. However, we are doing things a bit differently this year and giving the floor directly to each company to speak to you, the reader, directly. Enjoy!

Raise your hands if you like Handel? Then tonight, make sure to head over to Operamission’s workshop dedicated to the composer. It literally takes place throughout the day.

Productions

June 1: Operamission performs a Handel Warehouse: Charles MacKay Studio, National Opera Center at OPERA America, 330 7th Avenue, New York, NY

Tell us a bit about your company in general and what you’re all about!

Operamission started presenting operas, concerts, cabarets, recitals, and workshops in 2009 and is on a long-term mission of presenting the complete Handel operas in order. To date, New York audiences have seen the North American premieres of “Almira” and “Rodrigo,” and the “Handel Warehouse” is a part of our outreach and preparation for the next two installments of the series: “Il Pastor Fido” and “Teseo.”

Conductor Jennifer Peterson founded operamission and curates the programming. Stage Director Jeff Caldwell joins Peterson for the Handel operas, and will be co-hosting the “Handel Warehouse.”

Tell us a bit about your production(s) and why you’re excited about them!

We’re holding a “Handel Warehouse” on Friday, June 1, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at OPERA America’s National Opera Center in the Charles MacKay Studio. The day will be filled with Handel opera events—workshops and open rehearsals—open to the public with refreshments served, ending with a mini-HWV Reunion Gala Concert in the evening.

I can tell you more specifics about the various workshops if you’re interested! There will be ten different events throughout the day—some offered to all singers to participate and learn, and some featuring future Operamission Handel opera cast members.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge small opera companies face?

In New York…Venues!! And financial support, of course. But being in NYC allows up to be quite creative in putting on some pretty high-quality work.