Photo courtesy Green Mountain Opera Festival The Round Barn in Waitsfield is one venue being used this year for the Green Mountain Opera Festival. Tickets for all events and all venues went on sale April 1. WAITSFIELD - Now in its fourth year as Vermont's premier professional opera festival, the Green Mountain Opera Festival introduces international opera performers, world renowned directors, and emerging opera artists to music enthusiasts throughout the Mad River Valley and the Barre Opera House May 28 - June 21, 2009.

Under the direction of Taras Kulish, this three week operatic Vermont sojourn explores the art and beauty of opera with concerts, open air events, free open rehearsals, and free master classes culminating with two fully staged and costumed performances of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), accompanied by the Green Mountain Opera Orchestra at the Barre Opera House.

The festival's Emerging Artist Program will present an abridged version of Donizetti's The Elixir of Love (L'Elisir D'Amore) at the Round Barn Farm's historic Joslyn Round Barn in Waitsfield.

The Marriage of Figaro performances at the Barre Opera House will be Friday, June 19th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 21st at 3:00 pm.

This comedy involving crossdressing, sexy servants, and unfaithful sex-crazed masters was a howling success from its premier. The 18th century censors didn't find its parody of the upper class particularly amusing but modern audiences adore this evening of pure genius, joy, and musical delight.

Chronicling the 24 hours prior to getting the wedding to the church on time; The Count makes sexual advances to the maid, who is engaged to the valet (Figaro), who is pursued by an older woman, who is annoyed by a hormonal teen, who is obsessed with the boss's wife.

Tickets for the Barre Opera House performances range from $10 - $50 and are available by calling the Barre Opera House at 802-476-8188.

The young artists accepted into the Emerging Artist Program will sing supporting and ensemble roles in The Marriage of Figaro in addition to performing an abridged version of The Elixir of Love on Thursday, June 11th at 7:30 pm at the Joslyn Round Barn.

A lighthearted romp, The Elixir of Love features a phony love potion that is nothing but a bottle of cheap, red wine. The Emerging Artist Program is an artist-in-residence program for auditioned young opera singers and is a prominent component of the Green Mountain Opera Festival.

Free open rehearsals of The Marriage of Figaro will take place throughout the festival at the Valley Players Theater in Waitsfield.

Open rehearsals are an innovative no cost opportunity for community members to experience the magic of opera. A complete schedule is available at www.greenmountainoperafestival. com.

Families are encouraged to sample opera at the low cost Broadway Picnic taking place on Wednesday, June 10 on the grounds of the Lareau Farm Inn, home to American Flatbread, in Waitsfield.

This casual, open-air event begins at 6:00 pm with a carryin picnic option followed by the concert at 7:00 pm.

The cast of The Marriage of Figaro perform some of their favorite Broadways standards to the delight of people of all ages. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the event.

Ticket sales began April 1.

To purchase tickets to the Barre Opera House performances, call 802-476-8188 or visit www.barreoperahouse.org. To purchase tickets in the Mad River Valley call 802-496-7722 or email tickets@greenmountainoperafestival. com.