WQXR and Met Opera Star Anthony Roth Costanzojoin Presents THE OPERA PARTY

This spring in The Greene Space, WQXR and Met Opera star Anthony Roth Costanzojoin forces to present The Opera Party, a new event series featuring world-class opera performances, engaging banter, unique physical environments, and culinary spectacle by celebrated chefs that will enchant opera aficionados and novices alike.

Mr. Costanzo - hailed as a "superstar countertenor" by The New Yorker -- will both host and perform during the three special events.

On April 17, the series kicks off with "Mistaken Identities"- an evening of deception, reinvention and alternate realities co-hosted by F. Paul Driscoll, editor in chief of Opera News. Revel in performances by trail-blazing countertenor David Daniels, food by James Beard Award-winning chef Patrick Connolly, and an interactive sculpture sure to shatter expectations.

For the second installment, "Secrets of the Opera" on May 15, find out everything from backstage gossip to onstage disasters. Revel in the splendor of Met Opera star Ailyn Perez and amuse bouches by chef Antoine Westermann of Le Coq Rico. Co-hosted by writer, storyteller and performer Justin Sayre.

For the third and final installment "Pride Without Prejudice" on June 22, WQXR will celebrate NYC Pride Week. The event will feature performances by cabaret artist Justin Vivian Bond and tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, a surreal confection by cake-maker Elizabeth Hodes, and enticing opportunities to show off just how much pride you feel.

Each event will feature designs, décor, and oddities by artist Doug Fitch.

"WQXR is thrilled to partner with Anthony Roth Costanzo and his incredibly creative collaborators to present The Opera Party," said Martha Bonta, WQXR's Executive Producer for Live Events. "We share a common goal of making opera accessible to all audiences, and with its sense of play and adventure and its celebration of the unexpected, we know the series will shine a fresh new light on the art form we all love so much."

"From the sublime to the ridiculous, I can't wait to celebrate the many ways opera imitates life, and how every so often, life imitates opera," said Anthony Roth Costanzo, curator and host of The Opera Party. "With a spectacular cohort of artistic luminaries, and the venerable, forward-thinking WQXR and The Greene Space as partners, I'm thrilled to take partying to operatic proportions."

WHAT: The Opera Party

WHEN: Monday, April 17, 2017, at 7pm - The Opera Party: Mistaken Identities
Monday, May 15, 2017, at 7pm - The Opera Party: Secrets of the Opera

Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 7pm - The Opera Party: Pride Without Prejudice

WHERE: The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York, NY (corner of Varick Street)

HOW: Tickets are $30 per event, available at thegreenespace.org

Audible is the 2017 Presenting Sponsor of The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is the street-level broadcast studio and performance venue of WNYC and WQXR that produces special live editions of WNYC programs and WQXR concerts and festivals, as well as original programming, including theater events, arts and culture conversation series, political debates and audio theater. It serves as a place for experimentation, cultural discovery and dialogue. For more information, visit www.thegreenespace.org

WQXR 105.9 FM, which streams live at www.wqxr.org, is New York City's only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. WQXR presents new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other venues. WQXR also broadcasts essential destination programs including New York Philharmonic This Week and Young Artists Showcase. For listeners in search of the new, WQXR operates Q2 Music, an online music stream dedicated to contemporary classical composers, cross-genre adventures, and performances from New York City's edgier venues. Operavore is WQXR's opera site featuring news, interviews, and commentaries from the world of opera, as well as a 24/7 all-opera stream. WQXR.orgprovides essential playlist information and online listening, as well as original content, host blogs, NYC cultural news, and videos. The station's free mobile app allows listeners to take WQXR with them wherever they go. As a public radio station, WQXR is supported by the generosity of its members and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for listeners in New York City and around the globe.

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