Concert Operetta Theater

06/02/2026

Happy Birthday to baritone Mark Hosseini. He was wonderful in the 'Remembering Romberg' concert (2018). Here is a beautiful song, by Sigmund Romberg from his operetta 'Desert Song' (1926).

From the operetta The Desert Song (1926) by Sigmund Romberg and Os...

05/31/2026

Happy Birthday to tenor Billy Davenport. He sang one concert with COT while studying in Philadelphia and has gone on to an international career! Here's a powerful aria from Fran Lehar's gem 'Friederike' (1928).

O Mädchen, mein Mädchen from Friederike (1928) by Franz Lehár. Jose...

05/30/2026

Happy Birthday to soprano Evelyn Po***ck who sang with COT in our early years. She was one of the stars of our first Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy Concert in 2005. A Romberg classic....

On Kiss from New Moon by Sigmund Romberg. Evelyn P, soprano and Gloria Collins, piano. Performed on May 25, 2005 as the Music of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelso...

05/28/2026

Happy Birthday to soprano Christina! She was a wonderful addition to COT while living in Philadelphia and performed in 10 concert productions for us! At one time she was living just two blocks away from me! She’s now a great vocal teacher in Las Vegas!

Frederica (Friederike 1928) -"Dance the merry Rhineland Dance" (Heute tanzem wir den Pfälzertanz), music by Franz Lehár (1870-1948), with english lyrics by H...

05/27/2026

We honor operetta composer Victor Herbert on the anniversary of his death on May 26, 1924 in NYC. One of the most prolific composers of operetta for Broadway. From a '09 concert a piece from "The Fortune Teller" of 1898 a beautiful song which isn't performed as much as it should be...

From The Fortune Teller (1898). Ryan Kuster, bass-baritone and José Meléndez, music director, piano. From a concert - Gems from the American Operettas, reco...

05/22/2026

Today we honor the Austrian operetta composer Franz von Suppe on the anniversary of his death on May 21, 1895. He truly was one of the fathers of early operetta in German with over 40 staged works, most of which are not performed in America. COT has performed his one-act 'The Lovely Galatea' twice and also selections from 'Die Afrikareise'.

Couplet " Wir Griechen" from Die schöne Galathee by Franz von Suppe.Ben Blozan, pianoPerformed on March 13, 2005Concert Operetta TheaterVisit www.concertoper...

05/16/2026

Happy Birthday to the great Jewish tenor Richard Tauber (5/16/1891 – 1/8/1948) He was one of the best operatic tenors in Europe at the time, but was also know for his premiering many operetta roles, especially in Lehar’s later operettas (Frasquita, Die Zarewitsch, Land of Smiles, Giuditta). He died of lung cancer 3 days after his last performance and is buried in London. One of his greats….

https://linktr.ee/dennis.tschirner

05/15/2026

Happy Birthday to soprano Lis. She has a special story with COT. The lead soprano was sick and Lis stepped in with one-day notice to COT's production of 'Naughty Marietta' in 2009! All the thanks go to Jose Melendez for finding this amazing singer on such short notice! This is the most amazing version of the 'Italian Street Song' I've heard personally. Do wait for the high notes that begin around 2:50 - you will be blown away! THE BEST!

"Italian Street Song" from Naughty Marietta by Victor Herbert. Lis Stevens, soprano, with José Meléndez, Music Director & piano, Richard Vanstone, violin, Wi...

05/14/2026

Happy birthday to tenor Reverend Noah Van Niel. We met him after his undergraduate time at Harvard U, when he was studying voice in Philadelphia. We were honored to have him perform in two concerts - one being COT's debut in NYC at Merkin Hall. Here's a beautiful song by Sigmund Romberg's operetta 'The Desert Song' (1926).

05/13/2026

Honoring soprano Rebecca Carr today who passed away on May, 11, 2025. We were opera students together in the 80’s and remained friends. When I started COT, she was still living in Philadelphia, and I asked her to sing one of my favorite operettas. She was amazing as Countess Maritza by the operetta of the same name by Emmerich Kalman in 2007.

Waltz Our Worries Away (Einmal möcht ich weider tanzen) from Countess Maritza (Gräfin Maritza) by Emmerich Kálmán. Rebecca Carr, soprano, Cody Austin, tenor ...