Baby its cold outside... but we can still dream of April in Paris. An evening of stirring choruses and poignant arias from great French operas. An evening you will long remember!

It might be cold outside, but I hope you will be dreaming of Paris as you sit back in your seat at the Peristyle Theater and listen to excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen, Gounod’s Faust, Charpentier’s Louise and other delicious French bonbons.

Opera originated in Italy around 1600, but from an early stage, its development in France took a distinctly different path. The primacy of the singers was never as important as it was in Italy, and the French style always favored a richer instrumental texture, more attention to words, elaborate scenery, and the inclusion of dance sequences.

The French loved great spectacles that reflected the pageantry and the splendor of Versailles. When foreign composers wrote for French opera houses, they were expected to follow this Grand Opera tradition as strictly as the locals, and it was obligatory to present all works in the French language. Eventually the French style became part of the general international style rather than a separate genre.

At the Opera Gala, you will have a wonderful opportunity to hear a wide selection of music from great French operatic masterpieces - music of great beauty, drama and romance. C’est magnifique!

Renay Conlin