This cozy, off-the-beaten-track venue functions as a showcase for talented young American singers. The intimate 100-plus-seat house celebrated its 50th season in 2002 amid a rising reputation and increasing ticket sales. The staple is full productions of Italian classics -- Verdi's La Traviata, Puccini's Madame Butterfly, Bizet's Carmen, with an occasional Mozart tossed in -- at great prices for regular performances ($28, $23 for seniors and kids). Performances, usually held on Saturday and Sunday, now regularly sell out, so it's a good idea to reserve 3 weeks in advance.

Note for parents: On one Saturday a month, "Opera in Brief" offers fully costumed, kid-length versions of the classics interwoven with narration so Mom and Dad have a palatable forum in which to introduce the little ones to opera. At $15 or so per ticket, these matinee performances are wallet-friendly, too.