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I didn’t grow up listening to opera. Aida? Carmen? No. Westside Story? My Fair Lady? You betcha. So when I attend an opera, I do my homework. I read up on the composer. I pore over the synopsis. I want to know what I’m watching once I get there. When I was invited to review the dress rehearsal of Opera Omaha’s production of The Barber of Seville, the Googling began. I learned about Rossini’s prolific career. The opera’s plot. The meaning of the characters’ names. But when the lights went down, what entranced me was the music. The overture was simply—dare I use a food metaphor—...

Student Dress Rehearsal Study Guide Created as a companion to Opera Omaha’s Student Dress Rehearsal of The Barber of Seville. The study guide includes information about the opera, an Opera 101, guiding questions for discussion, and resources for further exploration. Download the Study Guide

Join us for The Barber of Seville Friday, October 24, 2025 | 7:30pm Box Office Open | 6:00pm Lobby Open | 6:30pm House Open | 7:00pm Sunday, October 26, 2025 | 2:00pm Box Office Open | 12:30pm Lobby Open | 1:00pm House Open | 1:30pm Orpheum Theater 409 S. 16th Street, Omaha, NE 68102 The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes with one 20-minute intermission. Content Warning This production contains a gunshot in Act One. Atmospheric haze and strobe lighting will be used. View performance details Before you arrive Construction Update Please give yourself extra time to navigate construction near the Orpheum Theater. 14th Street is closed between Douglas and Farnam Streets for Mutual of Omaha construction. The Harney Street bridge is closed until ...

(To have this text read to you, or to translate it, select the blue accessibility icon at the bottom right of your screen.) ACT ONE A square in Seville at dawn, outside Doctor Bartolo's house. Count Almaviva, disguised as a humble student named Lindoro, attempts to serenade Rosina with the help of his servant Fiorello, and a group of musicians. The serenade fails to rouse Rosina, and the Count, annoyed by the musicians' loud demands for payment, dismisses them. Soon after, Figaro, the famous barber, enters singing about his bustling life as the "factotum of the city." The Count recognizes Figaro as his former servant. Upon learning the ...

(To have this text read to you, or to translate it, select the blue accessibility icon at the bottom right of your screen) DEAR FRIENDS: It’s a genuine pleasure to welcome you to the first production of our 25/26 Season, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Whether you are a long-time or a first-time operagoer, you know The Barber of Seville from its many pop culture appearances, including Bugs Bunny, Mrs. Doubtfire, and even The Simpsons. It has been a hit since its second performance in 1816 – the premiere was marred by protests from a rival composer’s fans! – and it has been a mainstay on opera stages for over 200 years. Why? The m...

(To have this text read to you, or to translate it, select the blue accessibility icon at the bottom right of your screen) Rossini's The Barber of Seville is probably the best known comic opera in the world. Even non-opera goers know its overture from countless films, cartoons, and advertisements, and Figaro's iconic, bravura aria “Largo al factotum” is even more famous. It was the first opera that I saw in the theater and I guess was the piece that got me hooked on opera. Yet beneath the comic veneer there exists another layer. The opera is based on Beaumarchais's play of the same name, part of a trilogy of work...

(To have this text read to you, or to translate it, select the blue accessibility icon at the bottom right of your screen.) A SONG OF PRAISE AND THANKS TO THE MIDWEST I am a Hoosier, an Indiana native, born in La Porte on the same latitude as Omaha, so I feel a magnetic connection there - I'm at home in Omaha. You have the mighty river; we have the Great Lake Michigan with Chicago shining on its banks. I want to praise and thank the great Midwest for the great musical education that led me to Rossini. Rossini was born in Pesaro, on the Adriatic Sea, another magnificent body ...

Reflections on the work and daily wonders of the Holland Community Opera Fellowship October 2025 At St. Joseph Tower, our Stories at Our Fingertips workshop series became a routine of reflection and laughter. Each week, residents gathered around the table to write and share stories from their lives — memories that ranged from childhood adventures to the friendships that shape who we are today. Our sessions blended creative writing, conversation, and visual art - all important elements of opera. We began with prompts that unlocked sensory memories like smells, sounds, and textures, and turned them into poetry, short reflections, and pages for each participant’s own mini-memoir book. As we worked, we talk...

Join us for Opera Outdoors, a free, fun, family-friendly opera concert at Turner Park Friday, September 5, 2025 | 7:00 PM (Rain date: September 6) Turner Park at Midtown Crossing View performance details What should I bring? Bring items that would make you feel comfortable at an outdoor concert - a blanket, lawn chairs, even a picnic! If you prefer not to bring food, Midtown Crossing has multiple restaurants from which to choose. When should I arrive? The Park and Kids Zone opens at 5:30 p.m., so you can start to claim your spot on the lawn. Kids Zone will include arts and crafts, balloon animals, costume station and more! The opera concert will begin ...

This past season... The expanse and impact of opera in our city never ceases to humble us. Thank you to each and every audience member, partner, supporter, staff member, artist, teacher, and participant for joining in the artistry of Opera in Omaha.