Crystal Theatre
Crystal Opera

Crystal Opera
Crystal Opera's Schedule

In the spring of 1991, Cheryl Kemeny and Arden Anderson-Broecking founded Crystal Opera, formally known as Crystal Opera Consortium. Cheryl Kemeny is the founder and director of the award-winning children's group, Crystal Theatre, and Arden Anderson-Broecking is a singer whose career spanned opera, concert and musical theatre. Arden is also a music critic, lecturer on opera, vocal coach, and stage director. Colleagues for a number of years, both women had always wanted to present opera in an accessible, "non-threatening" form that would intrigue and include people who love opera and those who had never been exposed to this ultimate type of theatre.

They began with Puccini's "Suor Angelica", the only work they have sung in a language other than English. In their eight-year existence, they have done other pieces of the "Trittico", and works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gian-Carlo Menotti, Seymour Barab, Johann Strauss, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Gaetano Donizetti. In addition, they were invited to produce the world premiere of Linder Charlson's "The Binding of Isaac", with a libretto by Greenwich resident Marvin Gottlieb.

Their opera class, sponsored by Crystal Theatre, has taken one-act operas into the public schools, "kids singing for kids", introducing opera to young people on the elementary level. The class also presented an original opera, "The Isle of Puck", by Darren Ford, now a composition major at University of Southern California.

Crystal Opera's stated purpose is to offer artistically sound, complete productions that showcase Connecticut singers, composers, and musicians. They have presented more than thirty singers in their eight years. They hold auditions once or twice each year. In addition to the opera class, the company invites members of Crystal Theatre who are ready to do so to participate in their productions in ensemble or comprimario roles, giving them an opportunity to be part of an adult production as part of their own education.

Crystal Opera singers often sing with other companies, including Connecticut Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera Association, Bronx Opera and Di Capo Opera. In 1997, the company was proud to have the first and second place winners of the Amici competition, basso Daniel Hague and tenor Matthew Surapine, on their active roster. The Amici competition was sponsored by Opera Theatre of Connecticut. Mr. Hague sang the title roles in both "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni" for Crystal Opera. Mr. Surapine sang the role of Ernesto in the production of "Don Pasquale".

Undaunted by predictions that they "wouldn't last two years", Crystal Opera is looking forward to continuing to bring opera as entertainment as well as enlightenment to as many people of all ages possible. The company welcomes support and, as a subsidiary of Crystal Theatre, the opera is non-profit. All contributions to the company are tax-deductible.