A Season, Interrupted
WE ARE NOT DONE, NOT BY A LONG SHOT. WE ARE SIMPLY TAKING A LONGER INTERMISSION. THE SHOW WILL GO ON!
On that fateful Friday, March 13, 2020, Opera Colorado decided to close up the offices and cancel our March 14 Gala. This video was set to premiere at The Four Seasons, in front of a jam-packed ballroom full of music lovers, gathered together to celebrate the magic of opera. #SempreOC
VIDEO BY KELLY MAXWELL
Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci - 2020
SPOTLIGHT ON TRAGEDY
The public adores Canio’s clowning—but they’re about to witness the shocking consequences of his rage. Art imitates life (and vice versa) in this opera about the turbulent relationships within a traveling theater troupe. This was the last production in the 2012-2020 Opera Colorado season, before COVID-19 shuttered the stages. #OCPagliacci
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
Rossini’s The Barber of Seville - 2019
FIGARO, FIGARO, FI-GA-RO!
Opera Colorado kicks off the 2019-20 season with this laugh-out-loud comedy, featuring some of the most memorable tunes in all opera—including Figaro’s famous “Largo al factotum,” Rosina’s “Una voce poco fa,” and more. Packed with punchlines, this rapid-fire prequel to The Marriage of Figaro features the mischievous barber Figaro at his most cunning, in a whimsical Art Deco production. #BarberOC
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro - 2019
THE MOST BELOVED OF COMIC OPERAS
Opera Colorado closes the 2018-19 season with Mozart’s comedic genius, in a production set among the courtly opulence of 18th century Seville and featuring a brilliant ensemble cast. The wily Figaro and his love, Susanna, are set to marry, but Count Almaviva is intent on seducing the bride-to-be—stoking not only the couple’s ire, but the frustrations of the long-suffering Countess. What unfolds is hilarious chaos set to a sparkling score. #FigaroOC
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
Tom Cipullo's After Life and Josephine - 2019
INTIMATE WORKS IN AN INTIMATE SETTING
Opera Colorado transforms one of the galleries of the new Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art into a 140-seat theater for this double-bill of one-act operas—the first an afterlife conversation between artistic giants Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein, the second a spotlight on jazz-age icon and civil rights activist Josephine Baker.
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
Verdi’s La Traviata - 2018
TRAGIC PASSION TAKES CENTER STAGE
Opera Colorado opens its 2018-19 season with this romantic masterpiece, overflowing with some of Verdi’s most brilliant melodies—including the instantly recognizable “Drinking Song,” which will have you humming all through intermission!
Experience why La Traviata ranks as the world’s most beloved opera, and get swept away in the drama of its iconic heroine: the doomed courtesan Violetta, who sacrifices everything for love. Set among the glamour of 1850s Paris, La Traviata offers a stunning combination of music and drama…and an unforgettable evening for newcomers and longtime fans alike. #TraviataOC
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
Verdi’s Falstaff - 2018
EAT. DRINK. SCHEME. REPEAT.
If you are a fan of Shakespeare's comedies, you will love Verdi's comic opera. The story centers around Falstaff, who employs crafty maneuvers to seduce the merry wives of Windsor. When the women learn of Falstaff's mischievous plan they concoct their own scheme to dupe Falstaff and expose him for a fool. What ensues is a sophisticated comedy filled with backfired plans, failed disguises, and uproarious personalities. Ultimately it isn't just Falstaff who is exposed as a fool, but everyone involved.
All videos by Kelly Maxwell
Education and Community Engagement
During a typical season, Opera Colorado’s Education & Community Engagement Programs reach more than 45,000 learners of all ages—both in the Denver metro area and throughout the state of Colorado. Their vibrant array of programming includes touring productions of classic operas, lectures and in-school workshops customized to practically any topic, field trips to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and much more.
Videos by Kelly Maxwell
AN AFTERNOON OF AMERICAN SONG
Back in March 2020, Opera Colorado regrettably cancelled the live performance of this concert, due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19. But with a little retooling and hand sanitizer, the Artists in residence, the education department and I were able to rework the program into a brand-new digital series.
Performances were filmed with minimal crew/staff at the Opera Colorado Opera Center in Englewood, Colorado. CDC guidelines were observed during filming, ensuring the safety of our performers and staff. #ThisIsAmericanSong #SempreOC
Videos by Kelly Maxwell