Vying vocalists and driven divas can take the next step beyond karaoke with today's side deal: for $5, you get a general-admission ticket to "So You Think You Can Sing Opera," presented by the Baltimore Concert Opera (a $10 value). The event is being held in the Grand Ballroom of The Engineers Club at the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion on Monday, April 26, at 7 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. Please reserve your seat for the night you'd like to attend via email.

"So You Think You Can Sing Opera" gives amateur aria-artists an opportunity to spread their lungs and take flight in front of a live audience. These open auditions for future productions by the Baltimore Concert Opera showcase the area's untapped operatic ability, with performers (hopefully) soaring their way through seminal pieces from the operatic canon—think American Idol, except with fewer power ballads and more Puccini. Dress code for the event is business casual, so dust off your opera glasses and opera Foam-Dome and enjoy an evening of high notes and high pressure with today's Groupon.

Reviews

Even as Baltimore Sun classical music critic Tim Smith expressed vague concern about the concept, he noted the crowd was seemingly won over by last year's event:

• The applause meter registered accordingly, and Baltimore Concert Opera's general director, baritone Brendan Cooke, called for more. [Contestant Leah] Inger obliged with some stylish, if slightly less polished, Donizetti. – Tim Smith