Piper’s Opera House and the Nevada Chamber Opera at the University of Nevada, Reno will raise the curtain at a gala premiere party of the new American opera, “The Big Bonanza,” at 3 p.m. April 2 at Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City.
The opera, taken from the book of the same name, tells the story of the men and women who occasioned the greatest mineral discovery known in modern times. They included Bonanza King John Mackey, opera house impresario John Piper, the Territorial Enterprise reporter Dan DeQuille (who wrote the tale), and of course Mark Twin, who published the work.
The opera is under the direction of Albert Rudolph Lee, the new voice director for the Department of Music at UNR. It was composed by Monica Houghton, and the libretto was penned by Jon Christensen.
Tickets cost $20. Funds will help renovate the historic opera house at 12 N. B St. The price includes a champagne reception after the performance. For tickets, 775-847-0433, or go to https://bigbonanzagala.eventbrite.com.
Performances are also planned at 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. April 10 in UNR’s Nightingale Concert Hall. For tickets, go to http://www.unr.edu/cla/Music/calendars/index.htm.