Triangle Opera Studios Makes Its New Home at Durham School of the Arts

What's that sound? A soprano aria? Opera has found a new home in Durham. Triangle Opera Studios, (TOS) a three years young source for area opera singers with potential for careers as professional performing artists, is pleased to announces its new home for rehearsals, masters classes and performances at the Durham School of the Arts (DSA) in downtown Durham.

Bridging the gap between the voice studio and professional stage for aspiring professional singers through performance opportunities and master classes with prominent singers and coaches, Triangle Opera Studios will present its first series of performances at DSA June 7-9, 2013 with two popular works by Italian-American composer and librettist Gian Carlo Menotti.

Durham School of the Arts’ magnificent 1,600-seat Weaver Auditorium is now home to Triangle Opera Studio’s performances, beginning with the Menotti double bill. In addition, Triangle Opera Studios will be an active collaborator with School of the Arts faculty in providing services and opportunities to enrich DSA student experiences with invitations to attend rehearsals and participate in productions where possible and appropriate.

“We are very grateful to DSA’s Principal David Hawks, faculty and staff for making this collaboration happen,” says TOS Founder/Director Christine Weidinger, former star soprano at most of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera.  “We owe special thanks to Assistant Principal Michelle Hunt who first conceived of this arrangement and convinced her colleagues to talk to us. Now we have a home base and it’s a dream come true!”

Weidinger is devoted to the stated mission of her organization. “We are focused on the singers, who are not paid a dime to perform. They may help defray some of the production costs but that is nothing compared to the large tuitions most companies like ours charge singers to perform in their programs.”
She is clearly passionate on this point: “Singers beginning a career are not in a position to pay huge sums to perform. We provide them, tuition-free, the opportunity to rehearse and perform under expert supervision. For them, each production is a learning experience and for the public, we hope, an opera lover's joy,” add Weidinger.

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