Cedar Rapids Opera cancels ‘Cosi fan tutte’

CEDAR RAPIDS — COVID has canceled Cedar Rapids Opera’s productions of “Cosi fan tutte,” slated for Jan. 21 and 23 with Orchestra Iowa at the Paramount Theatre.

In a news release, the opera company’s board of directors cited COVID-19 cases within the “Cosi” company; the steep rise in COVID infections overall, including the omicron variant; as well as the complexities of housing artists safely in volunteers’ homes, saying “it became evident that creating a production that meets both artistic and safety standards was impossible.”

“Cosi fan tutte” ticket holders, including Orchestra Iowa subscribers, will be contacted in the coming days with information about refunds and the option to convert tickets into a donation to “provide critical relief during these extraordinary times.”

Cedar Rapids Opera will, however, move forward in producing “Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears,” a virtual opera for youths. Singers will be recorded live, and the recording will be available to stream free of charge to elementary schools, assisted living and long-term care facilities across the state. Classrooms and community groups are encouraged to participate in talkbacks with the performers and creative team after viewing the production via Zoom. More information is available at cropera.org/goldie-b-locks.

Strict COVID testing, masking and distancing procedures are in place for this project, under the supervision of two COVID safety officers.

Cedar Rapids Opera has a variety of digital and outdoor offerings planned in 2022, including Book Club with the Maestro via Zoom on Feb. 10; “La voix humaine” on the outdoor balcony of the CRST building May 13; a return to Brucemore this summer with “The Pirates of Penzance” from June 16 to 18; and another Juneteenth concert.