Opera Saratoga Announces First-Ever Holiday Opera

SARATOGA SPRINGS — To kick off a year-long celebration of Opera Saratoga/Lake George Opera Festival’s 65th anniversary, Opera Saratoga recently announced the first holiday opera in the company’s history: a special, 80-minute concert version of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème” at Universal Preservation Hall on Friday, Dec. 5.

The concert will be directed and accompanied on piano by Adam Nielsen (The Juilliard School, Metropolitan Opera) and directed by Mary Birnbaum, Opera Saratoga’s general and artistic director. The Skidmore Chorus will be conducted by Floyd Ricketts and include members of the Excelsior Vocal Ensemble.

“We chose ‘La Bohème’ to honor the heritage of Opera Saratoga, formerly the Lake George Opera Festival, which began its first season 65 years ago with this beloved Puccini classic,” said director Mary Birnbaum. “It’s a magical introduction to opera; Puccini’s story of young artists in love is heartfelt and accessible, especially for first-time operagoers. The opera begins on Christmas Eve and later moves to the festive streets of Paris, making it the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with our community.”

The cast includes Kayla Stein (The Juilliard School, Aspen Opera) as Mimì, Daniel O’Hearn (Alum of the Lindemann Program, Metropolitan Opera) as Rodolfo, Gregory Feldmann (Opernhaus Zürich) as Marcello , Shelén Hughes (Oper Frankfurt) as Musetta, Joseph Parrish (Salzburg Festspiele) as Schaunard,  Carl Dupont (Opera Saratoga alum) as Colline and Andrew Burger (Excelsior Vocal Ensemble) as Alcindoro.

For tickets or more information, visit www.atproctors.org.