OperaBuffs
OperaBuffs was founded by Erwin Johson, Janiece Epke Baldwin, Sylvia Volk, Stacey Johnson and John Vidarte as an organization of like-minded opera aficionados in 1987.
That first year we went to Pittsburgh to hear Don Giovanni with Sherrill Milnes who enthralled our members with his presence and his voice. That year we also supported the first production of the Greater Buffalo Opera Company, "Madama Butterfly," by holding dinner parties all over the city and suburbs. Members opened their homes for dinner and dessert for OperaBuffs and others who would go to see the production at Sheas.
We have continued to provide audience members for productions in and around our community by arranging for group tickets and dinners, publicizing the productions in our newsletters, including talks on current productions in our lecture series, and making opera visible in any way we could.
OperaBuffs is unique, according to one member of OperaVolunteers International. We are the only guild member not affiliated with any opera company per se, and which supports opera the way we do. We need to keep this in mind as we continue with our activities: to remember that we organized because the founders were enthusiastic about opera and wanted to make it possible for others with the same enthusiasm to participate in the world of opera here and elsewhere.
OperaBuffs has contributed to the well-being of the arts community in Western New York in may wayseconomic and public spirited and will continue to do so with your support.
Info from:
www.operabuffsofwny.org/
February 20, 2010 Saturday 10am at Canisius College Frank Scinta begins a 4 part lecture series "Opera: the Story of Us". For reservations call Sylvia Volk at 716-881-1424; $10. per session.
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