The Raylynmor Opera, which has been the Monadnock region’s opera company for nearly 30 years, will present “Star Spangled Opera,” a concert of American-themed classical opera, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Bass Hall in the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, 19 Grove St. in Peterborough. 

Benjamin Robinson, who has been with Raylynmor Opera for 13 years and artistic director for 10 years, said that while there are not many operas written by American composers, there are countless connections between classical opera and American culture.

“One opera we are performing,  Puccini’s ‘La Fanciulla del West,’  is actually set in a California mining camp,” Robinson said. “Puccini was fascinated with frontier life, and he based ‘Fanciulla’ on ‘The Girl of the Golden West,’ which was a book by David Belasco about the 1849 California gold rush.” 

Written in 1905, “La Fanciulla del West” premiered in New York City in 1910, at a time when New York was an important center for opera.

“The U.S. was a convenient location for European composers to set operas, away from the monarchies and political issues in Europe,” Robinson said. “At that time, in the Gilded Era, New York was the financial center of the world. The Metropolitan Opera, which opened in 1883, became hugely important for opera, and many European operas actually premiered in New York City.” 

Soprano Angel Azzarra and tenor Omar Najmi will be performing in Sunday’s event, accompanied by pianist Brendon Shapiro. 

“Angel just has this gigantic voice. When you listen to her, it’s so beautiful, and there is so much volume, you just sit there in awe – like, how can this sound come out of a human being?” Robinson said.

Azzarra, who has been named as one the country’s most-notable opera singers under 40,  has performed across the United States. Najmi, a Boston-based tenor who has sung with Raylynmor previously, is also a composer.

“Omar’s career is really taking off, and he wears a lot of hats in the opera world. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to see both these amazing artists perform right here in Peterborough,” Robinson said. 

Robinson has developed Raylynmor’s entire 2024-2025 season around the theme of Americana, in honor of the election year. In October, the company will present “The Medium,” which was written in 1946 by Gian Carlo Menotti, an Italian immigrant to the United States who wrote operas in English. Menotti’s best-known work, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” premiered on live television in 1951.

“Back then, opera was such a big deal, premieres were actually shown on TV,” Robinson said.

In March, Raylynmor will present a show entirely of Cole Porter songs. Porter is known for musicals that include “Kiss Me Kate”  and “Anything Goes,” and hits including “Why Can’t You Behave,” “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love” and “I Happen to Like New York.” 

In June, to wrap up the year of American-themed performances, Raylynmor is planning to stage a production of “Scalia/Ginsburg,” a one-act comedy opera by Derrick Wang.

“This piece explores the relationship between these two people, Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who agreed on almost nothing,  but they both loved opera. They bonded over their love of music,” Robinson said. “The show premiered in the U.S. Supreme Court with both justices in attendance. It sounds like it would be dry, but just when you think this show is going to be a boring lecture, you realize it is one if the funnier things you will ever see.”

For Robinson, the production of “Scalia/Ginsburg” will a bittersweet event, as 2024-2025 is his last season with Raylynmor Opera

“ ‘Scalia/Ginsburg’ is a piece that brings people together; it has an 'we’re all in this together’ mentality, which is what our country desperately needs right now,” Robinson said. “I see this piece as a great way for me to finish my tenure with the company, also a way to send the company forward and up to the next level in the next 30 years.” 

After ten years of juggling artistic director responsibilities for Raylynmor and for other opera companies Ithaca, N.Y., and in Anchorage, Alaska, Robinson will be spending most of his time in Anchorage in the future. 

“Raylynmor needs someone who can be here, on the ground,” Robinson said. “Everyone said Raylynmor ‘punches above its weight.’ We have persevered through thick and thin. We’ve brought great talent into the state. We have cultivated talent here in New Hampshire. We have sent people out all over the world. The friendships I have made here will last a lifetime.” 

For tickets or information about Raylynmor Opera, go to raylynmor.com.