Tag Archives: Cincinnati Opera

September 30, 2024 · 5:24 pm

Cincinnati Opera Announces Revised Timeline for THE BLACK OPERA PROJECT

Shifting Later by One Year

CINCINNATI (Sept. 30, 2024)—Cincinnati Opera today announced that it has revised the timeline for The Black Opera Project, the company’s groundbreaking, three-opera commissioning initiative that engages Black creators to develop new operas celebrating Black stories.

As previously announced, The Black Opera Project seeks to illuminate the resilient spirit and vibrant heritage of the Black American experience. The project is the outgrowth of a grant from the Mellon Foundation to support Cincinnati Opera’s development of three new operas by Black creators focused on uplifting stories about the Black community.

Also as previously announced, the first work in The Black Opera Project, Lalovavi, an Afrofuturist grand opera with music by Kevin Day, libretto by Tifara Brown, and stage direction and dramaturgy by Kimille Howard, was initially set to premiere on Juneteenth 2025; Lalovavi will now open during Cincinnati Opera’s 2026 Summer Festival. The second opera—Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy, inspired by the life of U.S. Congressman John Lewis with music by Maria Thompson Corley, libretto by Diana Solomon Glover, and stage direction and dramaturgy by Timothy Douglas—will premiere as part of the company’s 2027 summer season. The third, as-yet-unnamed work will be presented during the summer of 2028.

“Artistic ventures of any kind take time, but creating a new opera is a particularly complex and intricate endeavor,” said Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera. “We’re committed to providing each of these important new stories the creative space and resources to achieve their creators’ respective visions. This adjustment will allow additional time for each opera’s development and refinement.”

The company will announce its 2025 Summer Festival in October 2024. On-sale dates for Lalovavi, Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy, and the third work in The Black Opera Project will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. Lead funder of Lalovavi is the David C. Herriman Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Additional funding for The Black Opera Project has been provided by the Mellon Foundation. Cincinnati Opera receives funding from the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

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September 11, 2024 · 5:59 pm

Cincinnati Opera and CCM to Workshop HILDEGARD

A new opera by Sarah Kirkland Snider, commissioned and produced by Beth Morrison Projects, through Opera Fusion: New Works partnership

The workshop culminates in a free, public presentation of excerpts from the opera on Thursday, October 10.

CINCINNATI (September 11, 2024)—Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) have announced the next opera to be workshopped through their joint program, Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW): Hildegard, with music and libretto by Sarah Kirkland Snider.

Commissioned and produced by Beth Morrison Projects, Hildegard imagines three of the most pivotal events in the life of 12th-century German Benedictine nun, visionary, composer, and polymath Hildegard von Bingen. It’s the year 1147, and Hildegard begins transcribing her visions of God. She enlists the assistance of a young convalescent, Richardis von Stade, and the two women quickly develop a transformative partnership that awakens them creatively, spiritually, and—much to the internal conflict of both women—romantically. In the meantime, a dispute with Hildegard’s superior costs her and her novitiate daughters the right to make music, underscoring Hildegard’s fundamental lack of agency in the male-dominated monastic culture and jeopardizing her standing within the Church. As Hildegard anxiously awaits the Pope to declare her prophet or heretic, the love between Hildegard and Richardis becomes impossible to ignore, and an unforeseen crisis threatens both their hard-won accomplishments and the intimacy, in all its complexity and secrecy, that has become their salvation.

Sarah Kirkland Snider
Composer/Librettist
Photo: Shervin Lainez

Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is co-directed by Robin Guarino, professor of opera at CCM, and Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, and provides composers and librettists the opportunity to collaborate with singers and creative personnel to refine their operas-in-progress. During the October workshop for Hildegard, Snider will work to further develop the work alongside director Elkhanah Pulitzer, dramaturg Annie Wang, and a cast of singers that includes Kiera Duffy as Hildegard and Mikaela Bennett as Richardis.

A public performance of excerpts from Hildegard will take place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Cincinnati Music Hall’s Wilks Studio (1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202). Admission to the public performance is free, though seating is limited and reservations are required. Reservations are available by calling 513-241-2742 or visiting cincinnatiopera.org.

About Opera Fusion: New Works
Funded through a generous gift from the Mellon Foundation, Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is a partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) dedicated to fostering the development of new American operas. This collaboration is jointly led by Robin Guarino, professor of opera at CCM, and Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera. OF:NW offers composers or composer/librettist teams the opportunity to workshop an opera during a residency in Cincinnati. Residencies utilize the facilities, personnel, and talent of both Cincinnati Opera and CCM. The workshops are cast with a combination of CCM students and professional artists, and each workshop concludes with a free public presentation of excerpts followed by an audience Q&A session. For more information, visit ofnw.org.

About CCM
Nationally ranked and internationally renowned, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts. The school’s educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction has been at its core since that time. CCM offers 10 degree types (BA, BFA, BM, MA, MFA, MM, MME, AD, DMA, PhD) in nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs and workshops. The college also offers a new graduate certificate in Music Pedagogy and two academic minors (Media Production, Music).

Declared a top college vocal program by Backstage Magazine and described as “one of the continent’s major music schools,” by the Toronto Star, CCM’s Departments of Opera and Voice provide one of the most comprehensive training programs for opera singers, coaches, and directors in the United States. CCM offers an international faculty of dedicated educators who are also celebrated professionals in their own right, widely and currently active in their respective fields. Several national opera companies hold auditions at the conservatory, and CCM students frequently advance to the final rounds of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. CCM graduates have performed on the stages of the world’s greatest opera companies, including Cincinnati Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Royal Opera (London), La Scala (Italy), and more. CCM Voice and Opera program support is provided by the Mellon Foundation for Opera Fusion: New Works, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, and the Patricia A. Corbett Estate. Additional support for CCM’s undergraduate opera productions is provided by Rafael and Kimberly de Acha. Guest directors for the 2024-25 season are supported by the Bacchus Legacy Foundation. To learn more, visit ccm.uc.edu.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. This project is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Opera Fusion: New Works receives generous funding from the Mellon Foundation. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

About Beth Morrison Projects
Founded in 2006 to support the work of living composers and their multi-media collaborators, Beth Morrison Projects encourages risk-taking, creating a structure for new work that is unique to the artist and allows them to feel safe to experiment and push boundaries. Noted as “the edge of innovation” (Opera News), Beth Morrison Projects is a “contemporary opera mastermind” (Los Angeles Times) and “its own genre” (Opera News). Projects have been performed at numerous prestigious venues and festivals around the world including Brooklyn Academy of Music, Disney Hall, The Barbican, Lincoln Center, The Walker Art Center, The Beijing Music Festival, New Visions Arts Festival, The Holland Festival, O Festival Rotterdam, and more. Recent and upcoming projects include works by composers Michael Gordon, Ted Hearne, Huang Ruo, David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Emma O’Halloran, Paola Prestini, Ellen Reid, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and more, with directors Tom Creed, James Darrah, Rachel Dickstein, Lee Sunday Evans, Patricia McGregor, Zoe Aja Moore, Kevin Newbury, Matthew Ozawa, Karmina Silec, Jay Scheib, Michael VQ, and Basil Twist.

About Beth Morrison
Recipient of the Musical America Award for Best Artist of the Year and Agent of Change, and a Kennedy Center Next50 Honoree, Beth Morrison is hailed as a “contemporary opera mastermind” (Los Angeles Times) and “a powerhouse leading the industry to new heights” (WQXR). She created Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) in 2006 to identify and support the work of emerging and established living composers, and to create a new kind of opera, and Opera News has noted: “More than any other figure in the opera industry, Beth Morrison has helped propel the art form into the twenty-first century.” In 2013, Beth co-founded the PROTOTYPE Festival with HERE, which has become “essential to the evolution of American opera” (New Yorker).

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July 5, 2024 · 9:28 am

Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 Summer Festival Concludes with the World Stage Premiere of Paul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO

Performances take place July 18, 20, 21, 25, and 27 at Cincinnati Music Hall

CINCINNATI (July 3, 2024)—Cincinnati Opera concludes its 2024 Summer Festival July 18-27 with the highly anticipated world stage premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio at Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall. The touching and topical classical piece features music and lyrics by Paul McCartney and Carl Davis with all new sets, costumes, lighting, staging, and choreography. Please see below for complete details.

CO_Liverpool OratoriosdCALENDAR INFORMATION

Who and What:
Cincinnati Opera presents the world stage premiere of Paul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO

When:

  • Thursday, July 18, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m.
  •  Sunday, July 21, 3:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 25, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 27, 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Music Hall’s Springer Auditorium, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Description:
Written by Paul McCartney in collaboration with the late, esteemed composer and conductor, Carl Davis, Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio was commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society in honor of its 150th anniversary and premiered in 1991. The piece tells the semiautobiographical story of a young man named Shanty, who is born during the turbulent years of World War II and grows up in Liverpool. The work follows his life journey, depicting his struggles and joys and exploring the themes of childhood, school days, love, war, and reconciliation. McCartney’s melodic pop sensibility is evident alongside stunning classical orchestration, resulting in an accessible yet intricate musical work.

Cincinnati Opera’s production of Paul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO will be the work’s first-ever operatic staging, featuring all new sets, costumes, lighting, staging, and choreography, plus a dazzling cast, a 48-voice chorus, dancers from the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Scenic design for Cincinnati Opera’s production of Paul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO. Design by Leslie Travers.

In a letter to the company, McCartney said, “I am writing to express my wholehearted support for this project. I believe that the Cincinnati Opera is uniquely positioned to bring this work to life in a new way, and I have no doubt that your production will be an inspiring experience for all who see it.”

The public is encouraged to join in the effort to invite McCartney to attend this historic event by creating tribute videos, sharing them on social media, and tagging @cincinnatiopera and #GetPaulToMusicHall. For more information on the regional campaign, “Come Together, Cincy! Get Paul to Music Hall!” visit GetPaulToMusicHall.org.

CO_Liverpool Oratoriocc
Cast and Creative Team:

  • Composers/Librettists … Paul McCartney and Carl Davis
  • Conductor … Joseph Young
  • Stage Director … Caroline Clegg
  • Set and Costume Designer … Leslie Travers
  • Associate Costume Designer … Kelli Haase
  • Lighting Designer … Thomas C. Hase
  • Wig and Makeup Designer … James Geier
  • Choreographer … Michael Pappalardo
  • Chorus Master … Henri Venanzi
  • Cincinnati Boychoir Director … Jason Alexander Holmes
  • Shanty … Andrew Owens
  • Mary Dee … Jacqueline Echols McCarley
  • Miss Inkley/Chief Mourner/Nurse … Kayleigh Decker
  • Headmaster/Preacher/Mr. Dingle … Kevin Short
  • Boy Soloists … Nick Kruckeberg, Eli DeHoff

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Boychoir, and Cincinnati Ballet

Tickets and Information:
Tickets start at $36. To order, call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org/liverpool-oratorio.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The company also receives support from the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Lead sponsor for Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio is Western & Southern Financial Group. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Media partner is 90.9 WGUC. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio is a coproduction with Seattle Opera and is presented by
arrangement with Faber Music in association with MPL Communications.

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June 25, 2024 · 5:08 pm

Paul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO Runs July 18-27

CO_Liverpool OratorioPaul McCartney’s LIVERPOOL ORATORIO
Cincinnati Opera
July 18-27
Music Hall [Over-the-Rhine]

Music and libretto by Paul McCartney and Carl Davis

Memories from Paul McCartney’s life in Liverpool, England, inspire this story of growing up and finding our way. Beginning with Latin text that means “not for ourselves, but for the whole world were we born,” Liverpool Oratorio explores formative moments, relationships, and the responsibilities we accept. Cincinnati Opera proudly presents the world-premiere stage adaptation of McCartney’s acclaimed 1991 work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. It’s a powerful story, full of heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies, presented in a brand-new stage production. Sung in English with projected lyrics.

  • Thu, July 18 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, July 20 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, July 21 at 3pm
  • Thu, July 25 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, July 27 at 3pm

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June 3, 2024 · 5:10 pm

Cincinnati Opera Kicks Off Its 2024 Summer Festival with Opera in the Park, a Free Community Concert in OTR’s Washington Park, on Sunday June 9

The musical celebration features opera and musical theater favorites performed by stars from Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 season, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute

CO_Opera in the Park

Photo by Philip Groshong

CINCINNATI (May 31, 2024)—Cincinnati Opera celebrates the kickoff of its 2024 Summer Festival with a free community concert in the heart of Over-the-Rhine.

On Sunday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m., Cincinnati Opera presents Opera in the Park, a free concert in Washington Park featuring a selection of opera and musical theater favorites performed by star singers from Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 Summer Festival, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute. Guests who arrive early can also enjoy a free preview performance by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute, beginning at 6 p.m.

Admission to Opera in the Park is free and open to the public. Visit cincinnatiopera.org for more information.

CALENDAR INFORMATION

What:
Cincinnati Opera presents Opera in the Park

When:
Sunday, June 9, 2024
6 p.m.: Preview concert by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute
7:30 p.m.: Opera in the Park

Where:
Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Description:
Cincinnati Opera presents Opera in the Park, a free concert of opera and musical theater favorites in Washington Park.

Featured singers include cast members from the company’s upcoming productions of Don Giovanni (June 13, 15), La Traviata (June 27, 28, 30), and Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio (July 18, 20, 21, 25, 27): sopranos Jessica Faselt, Erin Keesy, and Heidi Middendorf, mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis Dupont, tenors Santiago Ballerini, Aaron Blake, and Demetrious Sampson, Jr., baritones Anthony Clark Evans, Thomas Dreeze, Elliot Madore, and Joseph Parrish, and bass Patrick Guetti.

Also featured are the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by conductors Alex Amsel and Kevin Miller, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute. Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, will emcee.

Just before Opera in the Park, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute will perform in Washington Park beginning at 6 p.m. Top high school brass players from around the region will join professionals from around the country to present arrangements of Cincinnati Opera-inspired music.

Attendees are invited to bring friends, families, and dogs–plus blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics–to enjoy this evening of opera under the stars. Concessions and food trucks will be available in and around Washington Park throughout the evening.

Admission and Information:
Free. Guests are encouraged to register in advance for weather alerts and event updates. To register, visit cincinnatiopera.org/opera-in-the-park.

Inclement Weather:
In case of inclement weather, Opera in the Park will move indoors to Music Hall’s Springer Auditorium, and all pre-registered attendees will be guaranteed tickets for admittance. Attendees who have not pre-registered may obtain tickets online or at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, though admission is not guaranteed.

Looking ahead:

Cincinnati Opera
2024 Summer Festival

Don Giovanni
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
June 13 and 15 at Music Hall

La Traviata
By Giuseppe Verdi
June 27, 28, and 30 at Music Hall

Studio Sessions
June 18, July 2, July 11 at Music Hall’s Wilks Studio
Featuring soprano Jacqueline Echols McCarley (June 18), baritone Elliot Madore (July 2), and soprano Jessica Rivera (July 11)

Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
By Paul McCartney and Carl Davis
July 18, 20, 21, 25, and 27 at Music Hall

Visit cincinnatiopera.org for complete 2024 Summer Festival details.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The company also receives support from the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Lead sponsor for Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio is Western & Southern Financial Group. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Additional support for Opera in the Park is provided by Modern Office Methods (MOM). Media partner is Classical 90.9 WGUC. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

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