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Our mission is to establish an opera repertory company that chiefly performs standard operas, in their original languages, in diverse settings throughout the Bronx, and beyond.
We strive to shine a light on the range, depth, and breadth of talented and diverse, classically trained singers, by providing opportunities to perform the standard opera repertoire. Also, to provide operatic performing experiences to diverse, talented young, emerging, and mid-career singers who are historically underrepresented in the profession, while offering educational outreach to diverse audiences within the Bronx, and beyond. The company presents concert style, semi-staged and fully staged operas in various settings, including intimate venues, with cost effective ticket pricing to encourage attendance by economically, culturally, and racially diverse audiences.
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We are a Bronx-based organization that serves Bronx area musicians and all those who wish to perform with us in the Bronx and beyond.
Our first performance venue was in the 165-year-old Fordham United Methodist Church. Our performance space was the church’s fellowship hall, Hackl Hall. This setting was considered “found space” in the theatrical world. It wasn’t a traditional space with a stage and the great distance between the players, the orchestra, and the audience. The setting was more intimate and interactive, which we also found beneficial at the Andrew Freedman Home, as it can be up close and more personal with the audience. Our more site-specific production of La Traviata in 2022 at the Andrew Freedman Home, set during the Spanish Flu of 1918, marked a first full production since
2019.
Bronx neighbors, church members, friends and family members of the artists were thrilled by our productions. One African American patron shared during intermission at our 2018 Susannah, who I happened to know was a singer shared: “It felt safe”. As an African American, I get it, as do others. Many patrons and artists left the event raving about the new company in town, the Lighthouse Opera Company! We will continue to enhance our historic settings with lighting English translations and some scenery. We look forward to continued performances at the opulent and newly renovated Andrew Freedman Home of the Grand Concourse-in the Bronx!
You can meet many of our LOC performers, who shared their stories during the pandemic shutdown with our audiences in a series curated by Angela Owens, Life at the Lighthouse on our Lighthouse Opera YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/LOCYoutube
Our past Lighthouse Opera singers continue to perform and expand their operatic careers in local state, national and international forums.
We are proud of them!
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