Originally Posted on Brokelyn.com by Samantha Corbin

There’s a new house party in Brooklyn, and it involves no body paint or midnight fish tacos. Before you say, “Hey wait, I actually like fish tacos”, you need to hear this: deep in the heart of the borough, there’s an opera scene brewing. And if you listen hard enough, you can detect the musical vibrations of BK’s best new startup. It’s called LoftOpera, and it’s exactly what it sounds like.

Akin to a good New Years’ resolution, LoftOpera was founded in January of 2013 (but unlike that promise you made to jog the Prospect Park loop every morning, this plan actually stuck). Brother-sister duo Dan and Briana Maury started a Brooklyn-based opera company in response to a felt need for a ‘cooler’ classical repertory scene—which apparently wasn’t as obscure as one might think.

How does one make opera ‘cool’? Easy. Stage it in a loft (in Brooklyn, duh), abridge the libretto to a tolerable length, and serve beer & wine at $5 a pop. Essentially, it’s opera-meets-house party for the masses.

#461: LoftOpera 26 MAY

I’ve done a lot of cool things in New York.  Last night’s LoftOpera would immediately get a place in the top 7, if I actually kept a list.

It was opera (Don Giovanni) performed by super talented people (both singers and musicians) in a loft (in Gowanus).

Not only was the entire concept cool (cheap drinks before and after, the sense that you’re attending something different and special), but the production itself was fantastic–and funny.  It was one of those events where, throughout it, you feel lucky to have happened to see it pop up on the obscure mailing list you’re on.

If you want to do a super cool thing you’ll want to tell your friends about, you should see LoftOpera.  Last night was the final performance, but I hear they’re trying to keep it going with new operas in the future.

In the meantime, if you want to read about it and be disappointed you didn’t find out about it in time to enjoy it, go here.