By Alejandra Serna, Florida Grand Opera

They say that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is, but not in this case. Florida Grand Opera is doing its first ever tweet seats, or Tweet Tickets, event on March 21 for the opening of an edgy tango production in a Design District bar. Yes, that’s right! An opera in a bar! With Tweet Tickets, members of the community can apply online to attend for free.

Here’s how it works. Social media users are given access to a show with a complimentary ticket in exchange for tweeting, blogging, posting, and commenting about the performance in real time. It’s that simple.

“Many companies tried tweet seats over the last year, but received complaints about the social media activity being disruptive to the non-tweeting audience,” said Brendan Glynn, Director of Marketing for Florida Grand Opera. “This performance, however, is taking place at a bar, where things like moderate chatting and phone use are part of the atmosphere, so it’s a great match.”

Opening this coming Thursday, March 21, The Stage will be transformed into a tango bar in the slums of Buenos Aires, bringing to life FGO’s anticipated tango-themed double bill featuring Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Tango and Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires. This production is a part of a three-year Knight Arts Challenge program entitled “Unexpected Operas in Unexpected Places,” which FGO created with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with the purpose of exposing new audiences to opera. Tweet Tickets fit in perfectly with this strategy.

“It makes perfect sense to have Tweet Tickets for this very unique opera experience,” said Susan Danis, General Director and CEO of Florida Grand Opera. “Thanks to the Knight Foundation, we are so please to be bringing opera to a very different audience.” And the Knight Foundation concurs!

“Today’s audiences demand to be engaged. The opera’s new format is embracing that challenge by taking artists out of the formal performance hall and into people’s everyday lives and, we hope, reminding them how important and fun the classics are,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president for arts at the Knight Foundation.

Tweet Tickets are available only for the March 21 opening night performance of Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Tango and Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires at The Stage in the Design District. Click here to apply online.

Florida Grand Opera’s tango double bill featuring Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Tango and Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires, takes place at The Stage in the Design District March 21 through March 24. General admission, standing room tickets are available at just $25 and can be purchased online at www.FGO.org.

This presentation is part of “Unexpected Operas in Unexpected Places,” a three-year program designed to reach new audiences by producing lesser-known works in unconventional settings. It is made possible with the support of a grant from the Knight Foundation as part of its Knights Arts Challenge and co-production sponsors Shutts & Bowen and Car2Go.