OPERA NEWS. "The Gotham Chamber Opera is on a roll!" That's how the new GCO fundraising letter starts — and it's not just hype. As has already been noted here, this year's GCO productions have been extraordinarily entertaining, playing to full houses.

Tickets are now on sale for the next GCO production: Benjamin Britten's comic opera Albert Herring, scheduled for February 9 (gala), 12, 14, 16, and 18. It might seem awfully early to buy tickets (non-gala prices range from $30 to $65 each), but it's smart to secure a spot now, as the theater is "intimate" and there are few low-end seats. Tickets are available through Ticket Central, 416 W 42nd Street (Noon-8 pm).