For opera buffs looking for something a little more human and a little less grand.

by Contributor

Behind the Music:
Amato offers aspiring opera stars a chance in the company's renovated storefront, where the orchestra pit houses a mere eight musicians. The company does 72 performances annually.

Keep It in the Family:
For the company's artistic director, Tony Amato, opera is the family business. He's designed lighting and sets for countless productions over the course of 50 years, and nearly half of the company's staff are relatives. Others, like longtime designer-director Richard Cerullo, have been involved so long they seem like family.

What's Playing?
Amazingly, the Amato Opera company produces an average of eight operas a year, mixing occasional new productions with the classics. The company also features one-hour Opera-in-Brief performances mixing light opera, classics and Gilbert and Sullivan.