Much as I enjoy full scale opera productions by conventional, large opera companies like the COC, some of my best experiences in the last few years have been with smaller companies mounting unconventional productions in smaller and often unusual venues. There’s another opportunity of that type coming up over the next two weeks. Starting Sunday night Volcano Theatre are staging A Synonym for Love at the Gladstone Hotel. The music is by Handel but it’s using a new English libretto by Deborah Pearson. The action will take place in different locations in the Gladstone and the audience will follow the action around. The music director for this project is Ashiq Aziz who was responsible for an excellent Dido and Aeneas at the Winchester Dance Theatre a few years ago as well as last year’s innovative Orlando Lunaire in a warehouse in the west end.

The preview is on Sunday evening with ten more performances between then and the end of the month.  Tickets run $20-$42.  I’ll be at the preview.