Earlier this year Michael Dellaira acquired the operatic rights to John Dos Passos's great American novel "U.S.A.” “U.S.A.” spans the years from 1901- 1929, as much of the modern world we take for granted was just coming into being. Dellaira imagines an audience hearing his new opera, "U.S.A. – a Radio Opera" huddled around a parlor radio, creating the characters in one’s mind through the music and sounds coming from the radio’s loudspeaker, rather than from costumes, sets, lighting or stage directions. The premiere is expected to be a joint production of the Marshall Opera Company and the New York City choral group, Cantori. Last month U.S.A. – a Radio Opera was accepted as an official project for fiscal sponsorship by the New York State Foundation for the Arts.