A musical very rarely makes the cultural leap to the status of opera. Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music did, however, having graced the New York City Opera stage in 1990 and 1991. That production, now a part of NYCO's repertory, will return March 7-29, 2003.

Scott Ellis directs, with multiple Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact) choreographing.

Based on the Ingmar Bergman film "Smiles of a Summer Night," A Little Night Music contains Sondheim's best-known song, "Send in the Clowns." It's the story of improperly matched lovers, from the middle-aged lawyer and his young wife to the aging actress and her pompous count, and how they come to realize with whom they truly belong. The score also includes "A Weekend in the Country," "Liasons," "Every Day a Little Death" and "The Miller's Son." Houston Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre and other opera companies have also adopted the rarefied Tony Award-winning show, whose songs are all in multiples of three-quarter time.

No casting has yet been announced. The 1990 NYCO cast, seen in a PBS broadcast, featured George Lee Andrews, Kevin Anderson, Michael Maguire and Sally Ann Howes.

Subscriptions to New York City Opera are available by calling (212) 496-0600. The New York City Opera is on the web at http://www.nycopera.com. — By Christine Ehren