OPERA America Announces National Opera Week 2011
October 28 – November 6, 2011
Fun, free activities to be presented by organizations nationwide
Nearly 100 opera companies, schools and organizations in 29 states across the nation will celebrate the third National Opera Week from October 28 – November 6, 2011 by offering free, accessible events to their communities. National Opera Week is coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and opera training programs across the United States will be on display through free, dynamic activities designed to engage novices, opera lovers and everyone in between. National Opera Week activities include flash opera events, open houses, online activities, lecture/demonstrations and community performances.
Launching National Opera Week will be the NEA Opera Honors award ceremony on Thursday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. For the first time, this event will be available worldwide through a live webcast that also will be archived after the event and can be accessed at neaoperahonors.org. The NEA Opera Honors is the nation’s highest award in opera and recognizes outstanding artists for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the excellence and perpetuation of opera in America. This year’s honorees are stage designer John Conklin, general director Speight Jenkins, mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens and composer Robert Ward. The October 27 award ceremony and live webcast will feature video tributes, guest performances from artists such as tenor Lawrence Brownlee and mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson and an onstage conversation with the honorees. For additional information, visit neaoperahonors.org.
“From behind-the-scenes tours to enlightening performance talks to Twitter contests and more, there is something for everyone during National Opera Week,” states Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. “National Opera Week draws attention to the creativity and dynamism that propels our field today. We are proud to highlight this depth of opera activity across the United States.”
Noteworthy National Opera Week events include a hands-on opera workshop for senior citizens by the University of Alabama, an opera scavenger hunt by Chicago Opera Theater and tours of the Utah Opera production studios.
For a full listing of National Opera Week activities, please visit www.operaamerica.org/operaweek. On Twitter, join @OperaAmerica in the National Opera Week conversation with #OperaWeek. On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/nationaloperaweek.
Select Activities
Chicago Opera Theater (Chicago, IL)
Opera Scavenger Hunt: Chicago Opera Theater presents an Opera Scavenger Hunt using Scavenger with Friends. Participants will explore classical music and opera hot spots in Chicago, and win tickets and special discounts to COT.
The Dallas Opera (Dallas, TX)
Free TDO2go™ Performance: The Dallas Opera presents, in partnership with NorthPark Center and the SMU Vocal Program, a free performance of its Touring Opera, Doctor Miracle by Georges Bizet, sung in English. From the composer of Carmen, see the hilarious one-act opera about a young man’s quest to marry his true love, the mayor’s daughter. He must disguise himself as a servant who makes a “poison” omelet, and as a doctor who saves the family — all for the sake of true love. Will the happy couple get married?
OPERA America (New York, NY)
Inspired by Opera: The experience of attending the opera has touched people in different ways throughout their lives and OPERA America wants to hear how! During National Opera Week, OPERA America will collect personal stories from the public about their most memorable opera moments. Recollections involving the recipients of this year’s NEA Opera Honors are particularly welcome. The most inspiring examples will be posted to www.operaamerica.org/operaweek.
Sarasota Opera (Sarasota, FL)
First Friday Art Walk on Palm Avenue: During the First Friday Palm Avenue Art Walk, all the galleries and many of the shops along South Palm Avenue remain open late for shoppers and browsers. Many merchants offer light bites and complimentary wine tastings. Sarasota Opera singers will perform several short sets of opera arias and duets throughout the evening.
University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Opera Training for Everyone: The University of Alabama Opera Theatre will offer opera classes to residents of Capstone Village Retirement Community on the campus of the university. Participants who are normally in the audience will get a first-hand opportunity to experience the workshop training and skill sets which opera singers study to hone their craft as opera actors. Opera students and faculty will lead residents in mini-classes in improvisation, movement, acting, opera history and other topics, and the residents will serve as mock audition panelists.
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (Salt Lake City, UT)
Utah Opera Production Studios Tour: The public is invited to go behind the scenes and see how costumes, sets and props for Utah Opera are created.
| Activities in 29 States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois |
Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota |
Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington Wisconsin |
| 89 National Opera Week Partners | |
|---|---|
|
972, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy Academy of Vocal Arts Amarillo Opera American Lyric Theater Ardea Arts Arizona Opera The Atlanta Opera Austin Lyric Opera Boston Lyric Opera Boston Metro Opera Center City Opera Theater Central City Opera Charleston Chamber Opera Chicago Opera Theater Cleveland Institute of Music Connecticut Lyric Opera Cornish College of the Arts The Crane Opera Ensemble at SUNY - Potsdam The Dallas Opera Empire Opera, Inc. Eugene Opera Fargo-Moorhead Opera Florentine Opera Company Florida Grand Opera French Institute / Alliance Francaise Georgia Southern University The Glimmerglass Festival Golden Gate Opera Houston Grand Opera Juventas Music, Inc. Knoxville Opera Long Beach Opera Los Angeles Opera Louisiana State University Opera Lyric Opera of Chicago Madison Opera Manhattan Opera Repertory Ensemble Manhattan School of Music The Metropolitan Opera Michigan Opera Theatre Minnesota Opera Mobile Opera Muddy River Opera Company Nashville Opera National Endowment for the Arts |
New Orleans Opera Association North Park UniversityOPERA America Opera Birmingham Opera Carolina Opera Colorado Opera Company of Philadelphia Opera for the Young Opera Idaho Opera Lafayette Opera Memphis Opera New Jersey Opera Omaha Opera on the James Opera Roanoke Opera San José Opera San Luis Obispo Opera Santa Barbara Opera Theater of Pittsburgh OperaArts Palm Beach Opera Paul Sorvino Pittsburgh Opera Pocket Opera of NY Portland Opera Rice University - The Shepherd School of Music San Diego Opera Association Sarasota Opera G. Schirmer, Inc./Associated Music Publishers Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music Shreveport Opera South Shore Opera Company of Chicago Syracuse Opera Tri-Cities Opera Company University of Alabama University of Colorado, Boulder University of South Carolina-Opera at USC University of the Pacific University of Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Virginia Opera Washington National Opera Webster University |
About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.
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