New York City Opera Celebrates LA PERICHOLE With 4/25 Gala

New York City Opera announced today that its annual Spring Gala will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2013. The evening will feature cocktails at 6:00pm and a spectacular performance of La Périchole at New York City Center at 7:00pm, followed by dinner and dancing at The Plaza at 9:30pm.

This year's gala marks the return of the New York City Opera to its historic home at New York City Center. New York City Opera was originally founded at the New York City Center when doors opened in 1943 and performed there until 1965. From 1966 until 2011, the Opera performed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This season's production celebrates an exciting homecoming.

The festive evening centers on Jacques Offenbach's La Périchole, a fantastic piece of theater that has not been staged in New York since 1971. New York City Opera's entirely new production is conducted by Emmanuel Plasson and stars two masterful French singers - mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand and tenor Philippe Talbot. Director Christopher Alden - who directed some of the most acclaimed successes in the Opera's recent history, including Don Giovanni, A Quiet Place, and Così fan tutte - returns to NYC Opera for this production.

"We're excited to be concluding our Spring season with this beautiful French operetta--which will feature two amazing French singers--and to have His Excellency François Delattre, Ambassador of France to the United States, and Mrs. Sophie L'Hélias-Delattre on board as Honorary Chairs for the Gala," explained George Steel, NYC Opera's General Manager and Artistic Director. "We are throwing a great French-Peruvian-American party to celebrate our return to New York City Center."

All proceeds from the Spring Gala support NYC Opera's mission to create innovative productions of new and classic work, reach a wide audience with affordable ticket prices, and bring music into the lives of thousands of students each year through its acclaimed education programs in New York City public schools.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call New York City Opera Special Events at 646.758.9469.