Season 11 Past Performances
Colorado Sky: a Children’s Opera
Boulder Opera World Premiere!
In collaboration with Sohap Ensemble and Art Song Colorado, Colorado Sky, a new Puppet Opera. Inspired by Colorado Proposition 114, this delightful new work tells the story of Sky, a reintroduced wolf cub as he learns to make friends and be himself in his new home.
The story is brought to life by cinematic shadow puppetry, three singers (Claire McCahan Mezzo Soprano, Brandon Tyler Padgett, and Sabina Balsamo), and the Lírios Quartet. Director Katy Williams Design and designer Melanie Bindon (Playful Mirrors) create a magical world with high powered flashlights, elaborately drawn and cut out puppets, and gorgeous visual textures made from ordinary household items
GRAND FINALE: MANON BY JULES MASSENET
Boulder Opera presents one of French opera’s masterpieces!
Manon Lescaut-a young beautiful woman- arrives in Paris preparing for a life of service at a convent. The young Des Grieux catches sight of her. They instantly fall in love, abandon their plans, and flee together to live a story is full of innocence, love, betrayal, and tragedy.
Enjoy this beautiful work under the baton of Steven Aguiló-Arbues, featuring an ensemble orchestra, Gene Roberts as Stage Director, with Amy Maples as Manon, and Cody Laun as Des Grieux.
FAMILY SERIES: HANSEL AND GRETEL
The Boulder Opera Family Series presents an abridged version of Hansel and Gretel.
Based on the Brothers Grimm classic fairytale, Engelbert Humperdinck’s adaptation follows Hansel and Gretel on a journey of self-discovery during which they meet the Sandman, the Dew Fairy, and of course, the malevolent Witch. Children will cheer when Hansel and Gretel use their cunning, wits, and most importantly, their brave hearts to defeat evil and live happily ever after.
A great introduction to Opera through the well known beloved story, the opera is sung in english and lasts one hour with a Q&A at the end. Featuring Aric Vihmeister at the piano and cellist Mathieu D’Ordine. Directed by Brandon Tyler Padgett. Suited for kids ages 3 and up.
GALA CONCERT 2022: A HAUNTED MASQUERADE
Boulder Opera invites you to a haunted Masquerade concert and fundraiser. Join us for an evening of magic and fun featuring selections from Magic Flute, Hansel and Gretel, The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Die Fledermaus, Manon and more.
There will be a silent auction and all proceeds from the concert will support our programs for this upcoming season of 2022-2023. Come as you like or with your mask. There will be masks available for purchase. The ticket price includes a Witches brew!
AN OPERA CABARET: LE FRENCH AFFAIRE
Boulder Opera Company presents a concert of French romantic opera with a cabaret theme.
Inspired by the drama of love and passion, the program Le French Affaire is a special arrangement of arias, duets, and trios from the French Romantic period. Brought to life by Boulder Opera Mezzo-Sopranos Bella Mallow and Dianela Acosta and Soprano Alice del Simone. Collaborative pianist Nathalia Kato provides accompaniment. *This event is part of the Fête de la Musique organized by L’Alliance Française.
OPERA IN THE PARK 2022 — ERAS OF OPERA
Boulder Opera presents an outdoor concert exploring Opera through the ages. Tracing Opera back to the 16th century, classical period, romantic period and all the way to the contemporary era, experience the history of opera 101 under the stars.
This family-friendly concert will feature some of Boulder’s most talented rising artists, performing classic arias and scenes from Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Verdi, Floyd, Heggie and more!
Enjoy Opera while having a picnic with your family, friends, or a romantic date. There will be a fenced beer garden.
Season 10 Past Performances
IL TROVATORE BY VERDI
THIS EMOTIONAL MELODRAMA IS SET IN 16TH CENTURY SPAIN AND HAS IT ALL: WITCHCRAFT, MURDER, LOVE AND VENGEANCE.
The jealous Count di Luna is obsessed with Leonora, a young noblewoman in the queen’s service, who does not return his love. She loves the troubadour Manrico, leader of the partisan rebel forces. A bohemian woman and Manrico’s mother, Azucena, seeks revenge for the murder of her mother by di Luna’s father. All of the confluent story lines culminate in a tragedy not to be missed! Conducted by Maestro Jorge Salazar and directed by Gene Roberts, Boulder Opera’s production of Il Trovatore will star Soprano Michelle Diggs-Thompson as Leonora and favorite local tenor Nathan Snyder as Manrico.
Performed in Italian with English supertitles.
LEARN MORE ABOUT IL TROVATORE WITH A PREVIEW CONCERT AND LECTURE!
Join Stage Director Gene Roberts for an opera talk and concert at the Muse Performance Space. Enhance your opera going experience of Il Trovatore and learn about its music, composer, and its themes.
The concert will highlight some of the most popular arias and scenes and will feature singers Savannah Scott -soprano, Imelda Franklin Bogue -mezzo-soprano, and tenor Keanu Aiono-Netzler, with Maggie Hinchliffe at the piano.
Come join us for an evening of great music and learn more about Verdi’s tragedy Il Trovatore!
OPERA IN THE PARK 2021
Boulder Opera presents a FREE outdoor concert exploring different Acts from Italian Operas with a theme of tragedy, potions, and love. This family-friendly concert will feature some of Boulder’s most talented rising artists, performing classic scenes and choruses from Madama Butterfly, The Elixir of Love, Il Trovatore, and La Traviata.
Enjoy Opera magic under the stars while having a picnic with your family, friends, or a romantic date! Fenced beer garden. VIP seating when you purchase a picnic basket.
10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT
2021 marks our 10th season and anniversary! We look forward to performing for our beloved audience after a difficult year with some of the best programming we have planned so far. We cannot do it without your support: we rely on our patrons and community supporters to present our productions each year.
Our Gala Concert is a fun party to celebrate Boulder Opera, our singers, and our community! Meet us in the lobby of the The Dairy Arts Center for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner - and be sure to place your bids in our fabulous silent auction! Then find your seats in the Gordan Gamm Theater for a lovely concert of arias and scenes featuring our top singers from the season including Nathan Snyder and Phoenix Gayles, and our new Artists-in-Residence 2021-22 will perform a taste of what is coming for our 10th Anniversary and Season!
This event is our main fundraiser for the season and supports the Family Opera Series, outreach education, and our full mainstage opera in the Spring of 2022.
L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES
Boulder Opera’s Family Opera Series brings the enchanting L’enfant et les sortilèges (The Child and the Spells: A Lyric Fantasy in Two Parts) by Ravel with stage direction by Dana Kinney, and music direction by Steven Aguiló-Arbues.
A lazy child has been grounded. Ordered to stay in his bedroom until dinner time, he takes out his anger on the animals and objects around him. He knocks over a tea service, torments a squirrel and a cat, tears up the tapestry and then his books. Suddenly, as if by magic, these innocent victims come to life and decide to get their revenge.
The Opera is one hour long, sung in French with subtitles. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
