Bryant Park presents New York City Opera 5/22 at Bryant Park

Los Elementos by Literes Tuesday, June 13 - La Cenerentola by Rossini Tuesday, August 22 - La Fanciulla del West by Puccini Friday, September 15 - Viva Verdi: Arias and Duets by Verd. Featuring extraordinary performances produced by New York City Opera, including original hour-long previews of the company's upcoming shows.

"We are thrilled to continue our valued relationship with Bryant Park, says Michael Capasso, General Director of New York City Opera. "The people's opera bringing free opera to the people is at the very core of our mission."

May 22, 6pm - 7:30pm at Bryant Park's Upper Terrace Los Elementos by Antonio Literes (in Spanish) (excerpts) This "entirely original effort" (The New Yorker) from New York City Opera's Ópera en Español series explores the very beginnings of Spanish-language opera with Literes' circa 1706 work Los Elementos. The distinctive melodic contours and lively rhythms of the Spanish Baroque animate Earth, Air, Fire, and Water in this allegorical drama.

June 13, 4pm - 5:15pm (family event) and 6pm - 7pm (recital) at Bryant Park's Upper Terrace La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini (excerpts) The timeless, beloved tale of Cinderella all wrapped up with some of Rossini's finest vocal writing.

August 22, 6pm - 7pm at Bryant Park's Upper Terrace La Fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini (excerpts) Preview of this hard-drinking, poker-playing, bona fide Western with an Italian operatic soundtrack.

September 15, 6pm - 7:30pm at Bryant Park's Upper Terrace Viva Verdi: Arias and Duets by Giuseppe Verdi An evening of excerpts from some of Giuseppe Verdi's most famous operas, culminating with Rigoletto.

About Bryant Park Corporation
Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), a private not-for-profit company, was founded in 1980 to renovate, finance and operate Bryant Park in New York City. BPC is funded by income from events, concessions and corporate sponsors, as well as an assessment on neighboring properties, and does not accept government or philanthropic monies. In addition to providing security and sanitation services and tending the park's lush lawn and seasonal garden displays, BPC provides public amenities and activities, including movable chairs and tables, cafe umbrellas, restaurants, food kiosks, world-class restrooms, and a wide range of free events throughout the year. The Midtown Manhattan park is visited by more than six million people each year and is one of the busiest public spaces in the world. BPC's website, bryantpark.org, is available for more detailed information and a schedule of upcoming events.

About New York City Opera
Since its founding in 1943 by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia as "The People's Opera," New York City Opera has been a critical part of the city's cultural life. During its history, City Opera launched the careers of dozens of major artists and presented engaging productions of both mainstream and unusual operas alongside commissions and regional premieres. The result was a uniquely American Opera Company of international stature. For more than seven decades, City Opera maintained a distinct identity, adhering to its unique mission: affordable ticket prices, a devotion to American works, English-language performances, the promotion of up-and-coming American singers, and seasons of accessible, vibrant and compelling productions intended to introduce new audiences to the art form. Stars who began their careers at New York City Opera include Plácido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Samuel Ramey, and dozens more. In 1999, New York City Opera founded VOX, Contemporary Opera Lab, an annual concert series that offered composers and librettists the opportunity to hear excerpts of their works performed by professional singers and musicians. For decades City Opera has been committed to introducing opera to the young, bringing the art form to new audiences with educational outreach performances in New York City's public schools. Now, having returned to the stage, New York City Opera continues its legacy at a new, state-of-the-art home at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with revitalized outreach and education programs, and programming designed to welcome and inspire a new generation of City Opera audiences.
3021 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11218