200 Opera Events Slated Across the U.S. and Canada for NATIONAL OPERA WEEK 2017
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 27, 2017
Opera companies, schools and organizations across North America will celebrate the ninth annual NATIONAL OPERA WEEK from today, October 27 through Sunday, November 5, 2017, with nearly 200 opera activities in their communities.
Part of National Opera Week for the second year, OPERA ADVOCACY DAY (November 1) empowers individuals to encourage legislation to support the arts. National Opera Week and Opera Advocacy Day are coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera.
OPERA America is delighted to announce that renowned opera singer Denyce Graves is serving as the Honorary Chair of National Opera Week 2017, encouraging audiences to explore opera.
"I tell people all the time to just go and try the opera, and after they do, they come back to me and say, 'I had no idea that this is what the opera is - I want to come again and again!'" says Ms. Graves. "It's really a culmination of all the art forms, and that's what really makes it so great," she continued.
Ms. Graves welcomes audiences to National Opera Week in a video message, viewable at operaamerica.org/OperaWeek and on the organization's YouTube channel (youtube.com/OPERAAmerica) and below!
National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today and conveys the excitement and importance of opera to a national and international audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles, opera training programs and individual opera artists across North America will be on display through the wide array of events offered. These activities include performances, family activities, lectures, social events, tours, trivia contests and announcements of year-round community impact.
"Opera is thriving across the United States and Canada," stated OPERA America President/CEO Marc A. Scorca. "Cities large and small are home to vibrant opera organizations that serve the public inside the opera house with resonant productions and in the community with meaningful relationships, performances in alternative venues, events for families and inspiring introductions to the magic of the art form. National Opera Week demonstrates and celebrates the diversity of our art form today that promises an exciting future for opera across the country."
On Wednesday, November 1, Opera Advocacy Day provides an opportunity for individuals who work in or love opera to urge federal, state and local lawmakers to support arts education, the cultural agencies and other policies and legislation that sustain opera and the performing arts. Facts, talking points and other resources are available on the National Opera Week website (operaamerica.org/OperaWeek) and through the Performing Arts Alliance (theperformingartsalliance.org), of which OPERA America is a founding member.
"Nothing makes a bigger difference than when policymakers hear from their constituents," stated Brandon Gryde, director of government affairs at OPERA America. "Whether the issue most important to you is arts education in our schools, funding for the National Endowment for the Arts or tax policies for nonprofits, change won't happen if we don't raise our voices. Opera Advocacy Day is a great opportunity for opera leaders, artists and lovers of the art form to share how opera and the performing arts make our communities healthier and more vibrant."
Descriptions of select National Opera Week activities and lists of participating organizations and event locations may be found below.
Visit operaamerica.org/OperaWeek for a full listing of National Opera Week activities, a welcome video from Honorary Chair Denyce Graves and Opera Advocacy Day resources.
Join the National Opera Week conversation on social media with #OperaWeek.
OPERA America (operaamerica.org) leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera.
- Artistic services help opera companies and creative and performing artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works.
- Information, technical and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers.
- Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera appreciation.
Founded in 1970, OPERA America's worldwide membership network includes 150 Professional Company Members, 250 Associate, Business and Educational Members, 1,200 Individual Members, and 17,500 subscribers to the association's electronic news service. In response to the critical need for suitable audition, rehearsal and recording facilities, OPERA America opened the first-ever NATIONAL OPERA CENTER (operaamerica.org/OperaCenter) in September 2012 in New York City. With a wide range of artistic and administrative services in a purpose-built facility, OPERA America is dedicated to increasing the level of excellence, creativity and effectiveness across the field.
SELECT ACTIVITIES:
View full listings at operaamerica.org/OperaWeek.
Austin Opera
Opera Video Contest (October 27 - November 5)
Everyone is invited to celebrate Opera Week and Austin Opera's upcoming production of Bizet's Carmen by creating a video that showcases a creative version of one of that opera's classic melodies. Prizes will be awarded to the most inventive submissions. (online/Austin, TX)
Cantanti Project
Magic & Mayhem (October 27)
Attendees in costume will experience famous opera scenes, musical theater, spooky songs and jaw-dropping singing, followed by a dance party with rising pop sensation Petra Jarrar. (Brooklyn, NY)
Knoxville Opera & Zoo Knoxville
KO at BOO! at the Zoo (October 27)
Join the revelry at Knoxville's largest Halloween event in safe and not-too-scary style at Zoo Knoxville. Knoxville Opera sings their sirens' song as families trick-or-treat along the BOO! Trail. (Knoxville, TN)
Minnesota Opera & Tech Tools for the Trades
Project Opera: Tech Tools (October 30)
This introductory workshop teaches teens the principles of costume design. Participants will work with master craftsmen to explore the creative process of developing a costume design for an opera. (Minneapolis, MN)
Ohio State University
Ramala: An American "Indianist" Opera (November 1)
Charles Wakefield Cadman's unperformed 1939 opera gets a special lecture/concert presentation when Ohio State musicologist Katie Graber presents her research into this work, which is based on traditional Native American melodies. (Columbus, OH)
Opera Maine
Opera Chorus Sing-Along (November 3)
Singers of all experience levels are warmly invited to join Opera Maine in singing some of opera's most beloved choruses. (Portland, ME)
Virginia Opera & Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Tap into Virginia Opera! (November 2)
Savor Hardywood's legendary selection of craft brews accompanied by a performance featuring Virginia Opera's Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists. (Richmond, VA)
Opera Tampa
Straz LIVE! in the Park (November 5)
This family-friendly concert in Downtown Tampa features Opera Tampa singers and other artists performing popular arias and Broadway tunes. (Tampa, FL)
Boston Lyric Opera & Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Creators of Burke & Hare Talk New Opera (November 5)
WBUR Arts Reporter Andrea Shea sits down with composer Julian Grant and librettist Mark Campbell to discuss their inspirations, writing process, and the vibrancy and urgency of opera in the 21st century. (Boston, MA)
200 ACTIVITIES IN 37 STATES, DISTRICTS & PROVINCES:
Alabama
Hawaii
Missouri
Québec
Alaska
Idaho
Nebraska
South Carolina
Alberta
Illinois
New Mexico
South Dakota
Arizona
Indiana
New York
Tennessee
British Columbia
Kentucky
North Carolina
Texas
California
Maine
North Dakota
Virginia
Colorado
Maryland
Ohio
Washington
District of Columbia
Massachusetts
Ontario
Florida
Michigan
Oregon
Georgia
Minnesota
Pennsylvania
Additional activities take place on the radio and online.
215 NATIONAL OPERA WEEK PARTNERS:
Academy of Vocal Arts
Mayor Steve Adler (Austin, TX)
Alamo City Opera
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
American Lyric Theater
American-Swedish Institute
Amici-Young Friends of Opera Birmingham
Amore Opera
ANA Trio
Anchorage Downtown Partnership
Anchorage Opera
Annapolis Opera
Arizona Opera
Arizona State University
Daniel Armstrong
Ars Nova Musicians Chamber Orchestra
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida
ASU Chamber Singers
The Atlanta Opera
Austin Opera
City of Aventura
Ball in Square Films
Binghamton Veterans Center
Boston Conservatory
Boston Lyric Opera
Boston Opera Collaborative
Broome County Arts Council
Broome County Veterans Services Agency
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo Suzuki Strings
Kristen Cambell, soprano
Canadian Opera Company
Canisius College
Cantanti Project
Carnegie Mellon University School of Music
Changing Hands Bookstore
Charlottesville Opera
Chicago College of Performing Arts
Chicago Opera Theater
Cirque de la Symphonie
City of San Antonio City Center
Clear Path for Veterans
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Opera
Cleveland Opera Theater
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Curtis Institute of Music
The Dallas Opera
Detroit Public Library
Detroit Tigers
Sam Donaldson
Dorothy Stang Popular Education Adult High School
DZINE Gallery
E. C. Schirmer
Eastman Opera
ECS Publishing Group
Edmonton Opera
Elements Theatre Company
Erwin H. Johnson Memorial Fund
Fargo-Moorhead Opera
First Coast Opera
Fitz&Startz Productions
Florida Grand Opera
Fredonia Chamber Choir
Fredonia College Choir
Fredonia School of Music
Fredonia Women's Choir
Fresh Squeezed Opera
FreshySites
Freudig Singers of Western NY
The Friends of Vienna
G. Schirmer Inc./ AMP
Glaxy Music
Gloriae Dei Cantores
City of Grand Forks
Guerilla Opera
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Harmonia Chamber Singers
Hawaii Opera Theatre
Heartbeat Opera
Herberger Theater Center
Matt Hidalgo, tenor
Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Buffalo, NY
Howard University Opera Theater Workshop
Indianapolis Opera
Indie Opera Podcast
The Kennedy Center
Kentucky Opera
Kerr Cultural Center
KLUV Radio
Klyde Warren Park
Knoxville Opera
LA Opera
Abigail Levis
Locks of Love
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Madison Opera
Magic City Opera
Magnolia Bakery
Manhattan School of Music
Marble City Opera
Martina Arroyo Foundation
The Memory Maker Project
Meow Wolf
Merola Opera Program
The Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera Guild
Mexican Cultural Institute (San Antonio, TX)
Miami Children's Chorus
Miami Lyric Opera
Minnesota Opera
Monkey See, Monkey Do...Children's Bookstore
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Music Academy of Western NY
Music at the Covenant
Music Sales Classical
National Sawdust
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
New York Opera Alliance
Sarah Newick
The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center
Nickel City Opera
Niloufar Talebi Projects
North Dakota-Manitoba District, Met Opera Auditions
Oberlin College Conservatory
Oberlin in Italy
The Ohio State University
Megan O'Leary, mezzo-soprano
The Olympia Theater
Omaha Public Library
OPERA America
Opera at USC
Opera Atelier (ON)
The Opera Atelier (FL)
Opera Birmingham
Opera Box Score
Opera Buffs (CA)
Opera Buffs of Western New York
Opera Carolina
Opera Colorado
Opéra de Québec
The Opera Guild of Southern Arizona
Opera Idaho
Opera in Concert
Opera Institute at American University
Opera Ithaca
Opera Lafayette
Opera Maine
Opera Memphis
Opera Naples
Opera Omaha
Opera on the James
Opera Parallèle
Opera Philadelphia
Opera Pomme Rouge
Opera Roanoke
OPERA San Antonio
Opera Saratoga
Opera Southwest
Opera Tampa
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
OperaRox Productions
The Other Good Guys Theatre Company
Pacific Opera Project
Pacific Opera Victoria
Painting with a Twist
Pensacola Opera
Piedmont Opera
Pittsburgh Opera
Portland Opera
Regina Opera Company
Resonanz Opera
Rhymes with Opera
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Roosevelt University
The Rosemary and Rodger Enrico Foundation
Brenton Ryan
San Francisco Opera
The Santa Fe Opera
Sarasota Opera
Savannah VOICE Festival
Seattle Opera
Sheldon Theater
Silken Audio
SOFA, University of North Dakota Student Government
Soundstreams Canada
Southern Tier Veterans Support Group
St. Mark's United Methodist Church (Sacramento, CA)
St. Petersburg Opera Company
Rachel Sterrenberg
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Tech Tools for the Trades
Third Eye Theatre Ensemble
Hao Jiang Tian
Toronto Operetta Theatre
Tri-Cities Opera
Tutor Doctor
Twin Village Music
University of North Dakota SNATS Chapter
University of South Dakota Opera
Dr. Liana Valente
Virginia Opera
VOICEBOX
Washington National Opera
WBUR
Barry A. Weinstein, Amherst Supervisor
WHAS11 Great Day Live
WQED
The Young Voices of The Santa Fe Opera
Young Woman's Choral Projects of San Francisco
Zoo Knoxville
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