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Notes from Conductor Christopher Allen I will never forget the first time I heard the horn solo during the orchestra prelude before Juliet’s famed aria “Oh! Quante volte.” When the orchestra phrase ends, the unaccompanied voice breaks the silence of the theater with “Eccomi in lieta vesta”. Hearing this phrase for the first time was a magical moment that remains in my memory to this day. The moment shows how expressive the human voice can be. Should the perfection of silence be broken, let it be by the human voice. Vincenzo Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi is a gem of a bygone era. Bellini helped codify a new style of...

Some thoughts about operatic repertoire, gender and expectation from Director James Darrah In choosing I Capuleti e i Montecchi, the most pressing question on everyone’s mind was: what are we going to do with the fact that Romeo, the romantic “male” lead, was originally and intentionally written for a female mezzo-soprano voice type? While I don’t have any hard data to back up this claim, I would argue that this basic fact in casting has even resulted in Capuleti also having far fewer performances in this country than some of Bellini’s other works, let alone other bel canto repertoire. Are other opera companies or board members scared of a woman...

ESPAÑOL Join us for Opera Outdoors a free, fun, family-friendly opera concert at Turner Park Friday, August 20, 2021 | 7:00 PM 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! Learn more about our Picnic Contest If you prefer not to bring food, Midtown Crossing has multiple restaurants from which to choose. When should I arrive? The Park and Kid Zone opens at 5:30 p.m., so you can start to claim your spot on the lawn. Kid Zone will include arts and crafts, balloon animals, costume station and more! T...

ENGLISH Acompáñanos en la Ópera al Aire Libre, un concierto de ópera gratuito, divertido y disponible para toda la familia en Turner Park Viernes, 20 de agosto, 2021 | 7:00 PM Turner Park en Midtown Crossing Ver los detalles de la presentación ¿Qué debería traer? Trae los objetos que te hagan sentir cómodo/a en un concierto al aire libre: una manta, asientos para césped, ¡incluso haz un picnic! Ver más información sobre nuestro Concurso de Picnic Si prefieres no traer comida, Midtown Crossing tiene varios restaurantes dentro de los cuales puedes escoger. ¿A qué hora debería llegar? El parque y la Zona de Niños abren a las 5:30 ...

ESPAÑOL Have you ever wanted to throw an elaborate al fresco feast with finery and flair? Now’s your chance at the Opera Outdoors Picnic Contest sponsored by Pic’d on Purpose! A new addition to the concert this year, we invite you to grab a spot on the Turner Park lawn and put on your most creative spread. The park opens at 5:30pm on Friday August 20 and judges will begin deliberations (and perhaps sampling!) at 6pm. The contest will be adjudicated by Opera Outdoors emcee Chris Allen, General Manager of KVNO; Savanna Hobza, owner of Pic’d on Purpose; and Kurt Howard, Opera Omaha’s Producing Director. Please note that...

ENGLISH ¿Alguna vez has querido hacer una fiesta al aire libre, de gala y con adornos? ¡Esta es tu oportunidad en el Concurso de Picnics en la Ópera al Aire Libre, patrocinado por Pic’d on Purpose! Como un valor agregado al concierto este año, te invitamos a que ocupes un espacio en el césped en Turner Park y armes tu más creativa composición gastronómica. El parque abre a las 5:30 pm el viernes 20 de agosto y los jueces empezarán a deliberar (¡y tal vez a probar!) a las 6 pm. El premio será entregado por el maestro de ceremonias de Ópera al Aire Libre, Chris Allen, gerente...

VIEW 2020/2021 COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM Dear Friends, I am profoundly grateful to greet you after one of the most difficult years imaginable. It’s been a period of isolation, turmoil, and loss. Through it all, Opera Omaha strove to be a source of comfort and celebration; to share joy to the greatest extent possible and to the best of our ability. Now, with the return to large-scale live performances this spring, we offer this publication as a commemoration of the many ways Opera Omaha has endeavored to serve, create, and connect in the face of so many challenges – and to thank the many people and institutions who made it possible. With ingenuity and ...

Making Community Where It Counts: Holland Fellows bring Opera Omaha engagement to a new level through dedicated civic practice by Leo Adam Biga In this woke era, organizations are called to be mindful about engaging all different sectors of their communities. Matters of identity are more problematic for some entities than others. In the performing arts world, mainline presenting and producing groups have historically done a poor job of representation. In particular, Opera has operated in a bubble of exclusion and privilege. In its traditional surface outreach, opera has dictated the terms of engagement, rather than letting the community lead. Even with heightened awareness and appreciation around equity, opera companies ...

Share a Song That Brings You Joy! This collaborative project between the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC) and Opera Omaha’s Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF) was born out of a desire to keep the ISC family connected during the Coronavirus pandemic. As a team that believes in the connective joy of music, the HCOF asked participants to “Share a song that brings you joy” and design artwork inspired by memories or feelings associated with the selection. Over 60 artists responded to the call and gave us The Great ISC Songbook. This interactive book devotes a page to the artist, their art, and a clickable link to the song selection. This project explor...

OPERA OMAHA TO RESCHEDULE 2020-2021 SEASON In response to the recent resurgence of COVID, Opera Omaha has made the difficult, but necessary decision to reschedule the company’s Orpheum Theater productions in the 2020/2021 Season to protect the safety of our patrons, artists and staff. We have worked diligently with artists and creative teams to offer previously scheduled titles and innovative Opera Omaha productions next year in our 2021/2022 Season, to be announced early 2021. At this time, Opera Omaha is not planning to present any Orpheum Theater events for the remainder of its 2020-2021 season, including The Marriage of Figaro, scheduled for February 2021 and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, sc...