After 60 years of producing operas singularly over a fall and winter season, Fort Worth Opera made a major change in its presentation format for 2007: it is condensing its entire schedule to an annual festival – with all of its operas and concerts being presented over a four week period beginning June 1. The repertoire for the inaugural 2007 Fort Worth Opera Festival includes a much anticipated world premiere by Thomas Pasatieri, who is returning to opera after 20 years of working in Hollywood on movie scores. The new opera, entitled Frau Margot, will be directed by Frank Corsaro, who is also writing the libretto, taken from an original play he authored. The other operas are Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Verdi’s Falstaff. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will perform for each opera. Fort Worth Opera is also partnering with the Van Cliburn Foundation to produce a concert version of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and the festival will include other events planned to celebrate its inaugural run.

On the web:
FW Opera
2007 Festival Guide