When I first stumbled upon the Opera Collective, I was coming down the escalator from Grand Central into the subway station below, and I thought that the shuttle passage was emitting a performance from Lincoln Center; as I swiped my fare to get in, I was astonished to find that instead of a taped performance, there was a professional-caliber singing troupe. This group, the Opera Collective, was singing parts of Carmen with such passion that I had to stop and listen. Of course, considering that the group, according to their website, has members that have performed at some of the most famous concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, one can expect their singing skills to simply be superb.

 After all, the Opera Collective’s slogan is to “make opera accessible,” and their individual charisma ensures that they attract crowds of people to see them. Their fellow musicians, evidenced by guitar, cello and violin cases, are often seen quietly listening behind lines of tourists, in a heartwarming display of camaraderie that truly speaks to the unifying nature of music. Their website states that the collective were formed to create performance opportunities and a support structure for their musicians, so that they can freely exchange musical ideas. This is reflected in their ten-person regular rotation; the many combinations of singers from the group ensure that the music is always vibrant and fresh.

I have also seen them in Grand Central, or rather in the Graybar passage leading to it. Opening the door into the passage from Lexington Avenue, I walked into another world, with an explosion of wonderful, powerful sounds. Keep in mind that opera singers perform in gigantic spaces, and have voices that are suited to this awesome task. Imagine how a trio of these singers can completely transform an ordinary passage into a stage of the finest quality. Imagine that, in the bowels of the underground, New Yorkers can literally stumble upon professional opera singers, joyously projecting great works of music for our humble ears to hear.

The Opera Collective website;

http://www.operacollective.com/