Austin's One Ounce Opera vs. Nickelback

It's difficult enough to sing a demanding aria … without trying to sing the demanding aria while wearing a pair of headphones that are blasting Nickelback into your ears.

And yet that – and other such diabolical antics – are exactly what the members of Austin's acclaimed One Ounce Opera will be trying to do this Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4, at the North Door.

Because they're masochists?

"Not exactly," says OOO artistic director Julie Fiore.

These stunty spectacles are part of the company's annual fundraiser, the Jackass Opera Auction. Because One Ounce Opera, ever innovative and allergic to dullness, refuses to truck in the same-old same-old.

"We were brainstorming ways to change up the typical park-and-bark aria concert," says Fiore. "And after a few beers, someone tossed out, 'Yeah, have you ever wanted to crash the aria and pour ice down their back?' And we laughed. And then came up with more ways to aria-crash. That list sat burning on my iPad for months."

But months have passed.
And it's party time again.
And so now?

"So now we're bringing that list to life on Sunday," says Fiore, "and we have no idea what's going to happen."

Suggestion: Hilarity will happen.

Along with actual, glorious vocal work from a diversity of OOO members, a certain abundance of hilarity will ensue. And you, dear Reader, you can bid on just what sort of hilarity will ensue, what sort of sensory assaults the line-up of singers will have to withstand while belting out the Wagner and the Puccini and so on.

Meanwhile, at another point in this same shindig, the North Door will be screening clips from Jackass: The Movie that have been overdubbed with opera tracks.

And – oh, here, here's the listing again, with the ticket reservations and so on.

And so, yes, we recommend this event for every music-lover who enjoys the high-brow mixed richly with the low-brow, who wants to witness professionals battle mightily against the wildest obstacles, who wants to support the existence of an audience-engaging cultural powerhouse like One Ounce Opera.

(Or even for those who are just still chuckling over the phrase "park-and-bark.")

And we'll see you there!