I have been an opera lover since I was about 15 years old. When I was in college, I even worked as an usher at the “old Met.” Over the years, my wife and I have had season tickets to the Met, and I assembled a large collection of opera records and built quite an autograph collection of famous opera singers.

So, when I saw that the Delaware Valley Opera was presenting Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” one of my favorite operas, I knew I had to go.

Yes, it is a country opera house. Yes, the orchestra is small, and the stage is certainly not the Metropolitan Opera. But what I experienced was as good as it gets.

The singers were absolutely fantastic, and the small orchestra was with them every moment. I found myself thinking that some of these singers could be Metropolitan Opera candidates right now, while others may very well have that opportunity in the future. Their voices were wonderful, but their acting was equally impressive. They didn’t simply sing their roles—they became their characters.

For those who already love opera, I strongly encourage you to attend a performance at the Delaware Valley Opera. And if you have never seen an opera, this is a wonderful place to start.

As I said, it isn’t the Met. It is a country opera house. But what they put on that stage was simply phenomenal.

Organizations like the Delaware Valley Opera don’t survive on talent alone. They need an audience. They need our support, whether it is through buying a ticket, making a contribution, or better yet, both.

We have something very special in our community. Let’s make sure the Delaware Valley Opera remains alive, vibrant, and performing for generations to come.

Mike Kossove
Kauneonga Lake, NY
[Ed. note: Mike Kossove is a frequent contributor to the River Reporter and writes the column Professor Mike’s Health Corner in the Health section.]