TOI's first NYC Meet-Up

On Thursday June 24th, 2010 The Opera Insider hosted its first New York City Meet-up coupled with a fundraiser for Mercury Opera's production of Pagliacci on Coney Island in September. About 100 people showed up to the LES's new hotspot, Foundation Bar NYC on Essex Street and partied for four hours from 6-10pm. Drinks flowed freely, and we were so happy to see so many of our members from NYC make the trek down to the Lower East Side to lend their support.



The night started out with mingling and lots of signing up for mailing lists, raffles, silent auction items, and of course drinks from the bar, expertly run by the lovely Beena. Our first door prize, a box of salt water taffy from Coney Island was won by Tamara Cashour, a NYC vocal coach and also the Artistic Director of Opera Avant who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks ago at the Opera America conference in Los Angeles.

Our other door prizes included two copies of Eric Salzman's book, The New Music Theatre, a T-shirt, and a 50/50 raffle which was won by a friend of one our singers, Laura Virella.

The teaser performance of a lover's duet and the first opera chart-topper "Vesti la giubba" was received well by everyone. Of course, how could it not be? The voices were just marvelous and we wish we could have heard more!! Here you see a few of the rising young stars serenading the guests:



Friends came in from all over the city and New Jersey and Pennsylvania for this event, and we are so grateful for the support you gave us. Mercury Opera's production will be an amazing experience, we are sure. The opera opens on September 1st and runs through the 11th. So please come on down and see them stage Pagliacci in a tent and set it on the Coney Island boardwalk. And if you haven't already don't forget to sign up to be a member of The Opera Insider so we can keep you up to date on our activities!