The Secret New York Alternative to the Metropolitan Opera

I don't know how you feel about the opera. There's no real rhyme or reason as to who likes it and who doesn't. It's like oysters. Or skiing.

But if you're in the category of liking it a lot or not being sure, there is this tiny little gem of an opera house you have to check out. It's called the Amato Opera Theater and it's on Bowery Street, which New York history buffs will know was once gang and brothel territory. Much has changed on Bowery, including the loss of CBGB's and McGurk's Suicide Hall, but happily and really quite miraculously, the Amato Opera Theater remains.

The theater has stood here since 1948, when opera singers and Tony and Sally Amato found the cheapest little warehouse they could for their own productions. They made a point of casting fledgling performers and charging absolutely nothing for the shows. Ticket prices are still extremely reasonable at $35 (good seats at the Metropolitan Opera cost around $300). The theater holds exactly 107 people and the stage looks like a jewel box. It's tiny and crammed with a crafty little set, props and colorful costumes. It almost seems like an impossible venue for full length opera features, which makes sense, because Tony and Sally's almost seems like an impossible story, what with staying in love forever and gallantly following their dreams.

Sally died in 2000, the same year the team celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, but the show lovingly goes on. Tony even created the Sally Amato Opera Fund, where for $50/year members can attend three afternoon shows, rehearsals and receive a newsletter that analyzes the season's performances.

There is also a Saturday Opera-in-Brief show designed especially for children and adults with short attention spans. These 90-minute versions of the opera feature all the musical highlights as well as interwoven narrations of the story.

The Metropolitan Opera is cool and it's worth seeing, but even if you just compare websites, the Met looks like it was brought to you by Fidelity Mutual Funds, whereas Amato looks like it was pasted together by one of Tony's computer savvy cousins, not unlike my own pasted together book, "Secret New York," which sure, doesn't have the gloss of the Fodor's and Frommer's of the world, but nevertheless has heart. And, as you can see by our "I heart NY" logo, there's nothing more New York than that.

Comments

[nevets88]

Don't forget the New York State Opera, next door to the Met, under our noses.
It has a limited season, but puts out quality productions at more reasonable prices.
And the nosebleed seats aren't as bad as those in the Met.

The Amato is a great venue, but some notables that make it either more or less appealing. There is a reduced orchestra, performers forget their lines (which I get a chuckle out of) and the seating is super cramped (I'm 5'11"). It's the perfect place to stage La Boheme, as the stage set probably reflects how poor, tragic and ill-fated Mimi lived.

As for the Met, plan ahead and you can get reasonable seats in the $50-$100 range.
$25 if you're willing to line up for SRO in the morning. Sure, the Met is stuffy and you
wonder why with all the corporate backing and high ticket prices, it sometimes struggles financially, but if you want to listen to Netrebko or Dessay and watch the chandeliers lift up at showtime, this is where you go.

Affordable, live, high quality music in NYC can be found in churches, libraries, schools
and the smaller venues. One site to try is here (no association):

http://classicaldomain.com/month/calendar.html

And don't forget that little music school next to the Met, Juilliard. Usually an opera
is scheduled every year, free (or pretty much so) to the public.

Happy music hunting...

[NYCexile]

I was one of the regular orchestra members through the 80's and some of the 90's. Great stuff! Crowded into the miniscule pit, with several different parts to cover, sometimes with xeroxed sections taped into the book. Tony conducting and singing the chorus parts....

[larry278]

Are there any recording of works this gem has done? I can't travel any more but I remain a culture vulture.