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Daughter of the Regiment: Donizetti (Company Premiere)
Così fan tutte: Mozart
Anna Bolena: Donizetti (Company Premiere)
Il Trovatore: Verdi

Opera in the Heights (Oh!) announces its 2011 - 2012 season, opening on September 22, 2011 and featuring twenty-eight performances of four operas.

The season opens with Daughter of the Regiment, a company premiere. This comedy is full of surprises, laughter, some very athletic bel canto singing, and the superlative melodies of the master of song, Donizetti. The composer, hoping to gain favor in the Paris opera scene, had the libretto written in French. Performances dates are: September 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 October 1, and 2 (matinee).

In November, Così fan tutte graces the Lambert Hall stage as two young couples tempt fate by tempting each other. The story begins as the old cynic Don Alfonso, tired of hearing his two young friends rhapsodize about the perfection of their fiancées, is determined to crush their naiveté. One of Mozart’s most delightful farces, the opera will be performed on November 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, and 20 (matinee).

The New Year starts with another company premiere by Gaetano Donizetti - a riveting drama: Anna Bolena. The story of Anne Boleyn is a real life tragedy that outdoes many a fictional plot. Marrying King Henry VIII seemed like a triumph at the time, but it ended in tragedy for Anne. See the story of Anne and Henry (Anna and Enrico) played out in this opera on January 26, 27, 28, February 2, 3, 4, and 5 (matinee).

The season ends dramatically with a Verdi blockbuster: Il Trovatore. The composer was in his prolific prime when he composed this gem. The music is as good as anything he (or anyone else) ever wrote. The dramatic impact of this shocking story, wedded to Verdi’s incomparable score, gives us an indelible night at the opera. Il Trovatore takes the stage on March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, and 25 (matinee).

New this season is a Sunday matinee for each production, bringing the total performances for each opera up to seven. On the Monday and Tuesday evenings before each opening Thursday night, Oh! hosts Boeing Dress Rehearsal Nights. Open to the public and free of charge, these dress rehearsals with orchestra are a good opportunity to try before you buy.

Opera in the Heights is a professional opera company that exists to provide a stage for emerging performers and to bring affordable opera to the Greater Houston Area. All operas are fully staged with orchestra and presented in the original language with English translation projected above the stage.

Each evening performance starts at 7:30 p.m. and each matinee at 2:00 p.m. and takes place at Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. in the Houston Heights. Single ticket prices start at $20, student tickets are $10 any time, and senior tickets start at $15 in limited seating areas on Thursday nights only. Season tickets at are $72 - $193. To buy tickets, please visit www.operaintheheights.org or call 713-861-5303.