The CASTELS are in full swing in New York! Newly published in Nico's Opera Libretti Series are Four Strauss Operas and a third Bel Canto volume containing Italian and French Donizetti, Rossini and Bellini opera libretti. Nico has recently completed Wagner's complete Ring cycle and a volume of Miscellaneous German Opera which will include Hänsel und Gretel, Fidelio, Der Freischütz, Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin and Tannhäuser. They are expected to be published by summer of 2003. Nico is in his 33rd season at the Metropolitan Opera and teaching at the Juilliard School of Music.

Remarkably there is still time in the schedule for Nico's Private Coaching which he does either one-on-one in New York, by phone or by cassette tape through the mail. Interested students and professionals should contact him at nccastel@aol.com.

The Spring 2003 "Making It Professional" Weekend Intensives in New York have now been scheduled. Registration is being accepted for both weekends. Carol and Nico Castel combine their experience and expertise to give participants honest evaluations of the strengths as well as the weaknesses of their work and offer the guidance and expertise needed to help each singer bring his/her performance to the most competitive and professional level possible.

Two series of classes are being offered in 2003:

• The first, the weekend of February 21-23
• The second, the weekend of March 28-30.

Each weekend intensive includes: a Friday class from 7:00 - 9:30 pm; two Saturday classes, one from 12:00 - 2:30 pm and one from 4:00 - 6:30 pm and a Sunday class from 2:00 - 4:30 pm. To register or for additional information contact Nico or Carol at nccastel@aol.com.

Carol continues her Voice Studio and Private Coaching both in New York and San Francisco. In addition to opera directing she is now General Manager of the newly established New York Opera Studio offering students and professionals a "community conservatory".