In the same vein that "Peggy Sawyer" from Allentown PA saved the show at the last moment (Broadway's 42nd Street), opera companies engage singers to "cover" roles in the event the scheduled singer cannot go on. While some might think it is a thankless task, there have been moments of glory built on being a last minute replacement.  An 18-year old Licia Albanese, sitting in the audience In Milan, was unexpectedly thrust on stage to replace an ailing Cio-Cio San, a role which would become one of her signatures.  More recently, Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra was launched into the international spotlight after he rescued the Met's production of Tosca when Luciano Pavorotti came down with the flu. 

One Night Only - Covers Take Center Stage will allow recent Chelsea Opera cover artists to impress the opera loving public.  Each is talented in his or her own right and we are proud to present them in this wide ranging program of favorite arias, duets and scenes by Mozart, Handel, Puccini, Verdi and more.