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New to opera? Try it with a little wine

Soprano Sydney Mancasola, left, and conductor Ryan McAdams talk to 'Cityscape' host Steve Potter about the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' Opera Tastings program on March 27, 2015, at St. Louis Public Radio in St. Louis.
Alex Heuer
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Soprano Sydney Mancasola, left, and conductor Ryan McAdams talk to 'Cityscape' host Steve Potter about the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' Opera Tastings program on Friday at St. Louis Public Radio in St. Louis.

Interested in having a little food and wine with your opera? No problem.

The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ Opera Tastings pair music with food and wine samples.

“It’s an opportunity for people who maybe haven’t been in direct contact with opera singers to experience it for the first time in a very intimate and very sort of delicious setting,” conductor Ryan McAdams told “Cityscape” host Steve Potter on Friday. “I’m still glowing from the indecent amount of fun we had last night.”

Opera Tastings continue today and Saturday; both events are sold-out.

“I always tell people who come to the opera and maybe it’s their first time, you know, I didn’t love it at first glance either,” soprano Sydney Mancasola said. “There’s something that can be kind of ostracizing about it, but one of those things that the more you invest in it, the more it opens up to you. There’s no end to what you can discover from opera.”

Performing for a more intimate crowd has its advantages, Mancasola said.

“I get really excited about events like this because it’s a chance for me to have a direct response from the audience and to see, very viscerally, how they’re responding to me as a performer.”

The Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ 40th season starts May 23. McAdams, a St. Louis native, also will conduct the Opera Theatre’s season-opening production of “The Barber of Seville.” Mancasola will perform in Opera Theatre’s “La Rondine.”  

Related events

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Opera Tasting

  • When: 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2015
  • Where: Moulin, 2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis
  • More information

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Opera Tasting

  • When: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2015
  • Where: The Dark Room, 615 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis
  • More information

“Cityscape” is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and sponsored in part by the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.