Angela Leson

As part of the New York Opera Fest, Brooklyn's scrappy Vertical Player Repertory ventured into Manhattan's Christ and St. Stephen's Church near Lincoln Center, bringing with it a true rarity: Giovanni Pacini's bel canto-ish MALVINA DI SCOZIA, which dates from 1851. And while it was good to hear a work that competed in its day with the operas of Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti (not to mention the up-and-coming Verdi), “rarity” isn't necessarily synonymous with “ready for prime time,” even in Vertical's spirited production.

Tonight, December 1, The Aviva Players will conclude its 40th Anniversary three-part concert series at The National Opera America Center, 330 Seventh Ave. (at 29th Street), Manhattan with THAT CERTAIN AGE: SHORT OPERAS ABOUT AGING WITH HUMOR AND GRACE. The evening is presented by Aviva Players and Kindred Spirits. Director is Rina W. Elisha and musical director is Barbara Ames. The evening will feature works composed by Anne Phillips, Alice Shields, Mira j Spektor, Haim Elisha and Seymour Barab. Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the shorts!

The Aviva Players, now in its 40th season, invites opera goers to travel into the past and future with its 'Double Feature of Chamber Opera Films' to be presented at Opera America, 330 Seventh Ave., Manhattan, tonight, November 4. The films are 'Villa Diodati' a screen version of Mira J. Spektor's opera about Mary Shelley and the origins of her Frankenstein story, and 'Libertaria: the Virtual Opera' by Sabrina Pena Young, a futuristic animated tale that may be the world's first original machinima opera and is certainly one of the few animated comic book operas.

On December 1, The Aviva Players will conclude its 40th Anniversary three-part concert series at The National Opera America Center, 330 Seventh Ave. (at 29th Street), Manhattan with THAT CERTAIN AGE: SHORT OPERAS ABOUT AGING WITH HUMOR AND GRACE. The evening is presented by Aviva Players and Kindred Spirits. Director is Rina W. Elisha and musical director is Barbara Ames. The evening will feature works composed by Anne Phillips, Alice Shields, Mira j Spektor, Haim Elisha and Seymour Barab. Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the shorts!

The Aviva Players, now in its 40th season, invites opera goers to travel into the past and future with its 'Double Feature of Chamber Opera Films' to be presented at Opera America, 330 Seventh Ave., Manhattan, on November 4. The films are 'Villa Diodati' a screen version of Mira J. Spektor's opera about Mary Shelley and the origins of her Frankenstein story, and 'Libertaria: the Virtual Opera' by Sabrina Pena Young, a futuristic animated tale that may be the world's first original machinima opera and is certainly one of the few animated comic book operas.