Opera BERKSHIRE OPERA (Wednesday) Opera companies and orchestras everywhere are celebrating the 250th birthday of Mozart, and on Wednesday night it's the Berkshire Opera's turn.

("The Italian Girl in Algiers," by Rossini, was the other work performed this summer by the Berkshire Opera.)

The Berkshire Opera starts its performance season with a New York touch with tomorrow's opening of a Così staged by the exemplary Rhoda Levine, with sets by Michael Yeargan.

During this time Yunus sang in several professional operas (see below) and was a member of Berkshire Opera's Young Artist Program.

The Berkshire Opera is a great idea waiting for its execution to hit stride.

With Tanglewood as the area's principal musical draw, the enterprising Berkshire Opera, now in its 20th season, has a ready constituency.

The Berkshire Opera brings a New York touch to Mozart's classic comedy with a production staged by the exemplary Rhoda Levine, with sets by Michael Yeargan.

There are "Masterpiece Theater" operas, like Stephen Paulus's musically staid "Summer," introduced by the Berkshire Opera in 1999 and revived this month by the Center for Contemporary Opera in New York.

The Berkshire Opera moves into its new home this year: its production of Benjamin Britten's opera will be staged at the Mahaiwe Theater, a former vaudeville house that seats 700, which the company bought in 2000 to be its first permanent residence.

Where the Berkshire Opera's "Perichole" turned to the dull and dated cuteness of the Metropolitan Opera version, Glimmerglass took the more radical step of excising almost all the dialogue.