OPERA IS HOT AT THE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATER 1st Weekend in December

The Faison Firehouse Theater located at 6 Hancock Place will present Opera Is HOT December 2^nd, with a 6pm opening night reception, followed by the 8pm performance; Saturday, December 3^rd, 3pm and 8pm and Sunday, December 4^th, 3pm, followed by reception. Tickets for the 8pm concerts (Friday and Saturday), $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the performance. Opening Night Reception and concert: Friday, December 2^nd $40 per person. 3pm concerts (Saturday and Sunday) $20 in advance, $30 on the day of the performance.

The closing matinee performance with reception on Sunday, December 4^th is $40 per person. Tickets on line: www.faisonfirehouse.org and for reservations call 212-665-7698, or e-mail at faisonfirehouse.org.

The series will present of four concerts featuring Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competition Winners, Jasmine Thomas, soprano, Flora Mendoza, mezzo-soprano, Patrick Dailey, counter-tenor, and Barry L. Robinson, baritone. The program will also include guest performances by Robert Mack, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, Phillip Boykin, the acclaimed Crown in the upcoming Broadway production of Porgy and Bess, Richard Bellazin, acclaimed bass, Victor Trent Cook and Roderick Dixon, celebrated tenors and original members of “Three Mo’ Tenors”. The series will present arias by Donizetti, Puccini, Mozart, Bizet and Gershwin.

In addition the repertoire will include Negro Spirituals and works by African American Composers Hal Johnson and Nathaniel Dett. As conceived and staged by George Faison, poetry form renowned African American writers will be interwoven throughout the program to recreate an era of self discovery and determination reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance. Brian Whitted, Faison Firehouse Theater Musical Director will provide the piano accompaniment. The historical prospective will blend the talents of these gifted young stars of tomorrow into a new creative production that will serve as a preview of future presentations of up and coming opera singers. This artistic philanthropy is in keeping with the now eleven-year Faison Firehouse mission to “reclaim restore and rebuild our youth and our community through dance, music, art and theater.”