It’s a pleasure to invite you to Opera Theatre’s first-ever trip to the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York, from August 17 to 19, 2012, hosted by the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Guild.  The trip offers three adventurous productions by a renowned company in the relaxed setting of rural New York state.  A picture-book small town, Cooperstown overlooks Lake Otsego, dubbed “Glimmerglass” for its serene beauty.

Our itinerary includes two transporting operas and an optional third, for all of which we have reserved premium seats:

• Verdi’s Aida in an intimate new production focuses on the captive princess caught in a love triangle.  Former OTSL Gerdine Young Artist and 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Winner Michelle Johnson will sing the title role.  Glimmerglass Artist-in-Residence Eric Owens will perform the role of Amonasro.  Director is Francesca Zambello, Glimmerglass Festival Artistic and General Direcctor.

• Lully’s 17^th Century French baroque masterpiece, Armide, portrays the warrior princess Armide caught between love and vengeance for her sworn enemy, Renaud, in a lavish production with period ballet.

• Weil’s Lost in the Stars, an optional third opera, is based on Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country.  This tale of a South African priest’s spiritual crisis stars Eric Owen and features OTSL favorite tenor Sean Panikkar in the role of The Leader.

Bass-baritone Eric Owens, the Festival Artist-in-Residence, is getting rave reviews for his role as Alberich in Wagner’s Siegfried at the Metropolitan Opera and will be seen there again this season in Gotterdammerung.

In addition to the performances, we will be treated to a private opera preview with a member of the Glimmerglass artistic staff.

Our hotel is the Otesaga Resort Hotel, a luxurious full-service hotel close to Cooperstown’s lively Main Street, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the surprising Fenimore Art Museum, and the Farmers’ Museum.  Across the road is the Leatherstocking Golf Course, one of the most highly rated courses in the 3-state area.