Early snowstorm hits Front Royal opera goers; a second show goes on

You win some, you lose some…as the saying goes.That certainly was the case on Thursday and Friday, November 15-16. The first and one of the earliest snowstorms in recent memory canceled Thursday’s “night at the opera” in Front Royal, a sellout house, but the show went on on Friday to another SRO crowd at the Osteria 510 Italian Kitchen.
Well into its second year of operatic performances, Vincenzo Belvia’s Osteria appears to have proved its original point, along with “impresario” David Freese, that Front Royal is ready for most cultural events wherever and whenever offered. Stay tuned for an orchestral concert at Shenandoah U. March 6.

While local soprano Mellissa Chavez and tenor Nicholas Carratura again led the cast for “Madam Butterfly,” Freese introduced a newcomer, mezzo-soprano Natalie Naudus, recently domiciled in Linden, and her five-year-old daughter, Audrey, into the Butterfly acting group. Another newcomer was Eliot Macheny.

Meanwhile, Freese announced that the November 15 snow cancellation will be replaced at the Osteria restaurant on November 29.

An eclectic crowd gave enthusiastic ovations to the entire group, including a special clap for accompanist Jan Wagner. Wagner is the director of orchestral studies at Shenandoah University. To use theater vernacular, the six artists surely “broke a leg” on Friday evening. The disappointed audience from the night before has a treat to look forward to later this month.

Since there have been sellouts for the dinner and show (6-10 p.m.) opera fans and friends may wish to call the restaurant at (540) 631-1101 and ask to be placed on the ever-expanding mailing list for future events, the next being planned for February 2018. An evening devoted to Broadway musical songs is also under consideration for next year.