Official Press Release: Mozart Murder Mystery on August 23rd
PO Box 301716
Austin, TX 78703
Austin-based One Ounce Opera to Re-imagine Mozart in an Original Murder Mystery
Central Texas' Alternative Opera Company will Celebrate First Anniversary on Aug. 23
AUSTIN, August 16, 2013 -- One Ounce Opera, an Austin Critics' Table Award Nominee for 2012-13, announced it will open its second season with an original production that combines scenes from W.A. Mozart's masterpieces Cosi fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni.
"The idea came to me one morning when I put my favorite Mozart operas on shuffle," says OOO founder and general director Julie Fiore. "I thought, 'Wow, this sounds congruent. Interesting.' I wondered what madness would be created if these characters or scenarios co-existed. Mozart's music drips with irony and innuendo. The stories already invite mystery. What if we just changed the subtext -- the situation -- mixed it all up, and watched the underlying musical conflict work itself out in a modern environment?"
That is exactly what Fiore and the One Ounce Opera Ensemble -- a professional group of some fourteen "singing-artists" -- will do during two shows on Friday, August 23rd at the Spiderhouse Ballroom, which will commemorate the company's first anniversary. She says, "Our launch last year was at Red 7, and our aim is to re-imagine opera in unexpected places, so the Ballroom at Spiderhouse made perfect sense. And, of course, what goes better with Mozart and mystery than a good martini?"
Fiore first assembled the group of “singing-artists” after holding local auditions in April of 2012, and added four new members in June of 2013. She selected people who committed to strong and fearless performances -- an integral skill when presenting alternative programs and attracting hipper audiences.
“You will immediately sense each singer's love for what they do and what they have trained tirelessly for. Our company members have performed leading and supporting roles at San Diego Opera, Washington Opera, Indianapolis Opera, to name a few, and overseas,” Fiore added.
The company's performers felt a palpable audience reaction during Soundspace at the Blanton in March, for which their original post-classical performances earned them the aforementioned Austin Critics' Table Award Nomination. Fiore believes this is because Austin is ripe for innovation, and her group hopes to encourage a new generation of opera lovers through non-traditional venue and program choices.
As Fiore is fond of saying, “Opera is not obsolete. Popular opinion of opera is.”
The OOO Mozart Murder Mystery, presented in English, will take place on Friday, August 23 at the Spiderhouse Ballroom, located at 2906 Fruth St. Showtimes are 8:00pm and 10:30pm. VIP and general admission tickets available for purchase online at http://holdmyticket.com/buy/venues/oneounceopera. For more information, contact Fiore or visit OOO at www.oneounceopera.com.
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One Ounce Opera aims to provide a come-and-go, laid back interactive atmosphere to experience a virtuosic sonic event up close and in small, powerful doses – just “one ounce” of
opera. OOO was founded by Austinite Julie Fiore in April 2012 and will officially launch their second season in August 2013. For more information, visit www.oneounceopera.com
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