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WELCOME TO OPERA COLORADO’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON. If variety is the spice of life, then we have a spicy season in store for you with so many ways for you to enjoy what we offer. As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary it seems fitting that we return to our roots and present La Bohème, the first opera we performed in our 1983 inaugural season. This is the timeless tale of love and loss seen through the eyes of six artist/students as they share the simple pleasures and shattering sorrows of life in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Fall in and out of love in Paris with this classic opera that was the inspiration for the 1996 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning rock musical Rent. Opera Colorado is quickly becoming a leader in the presentation of new, contemporary opera, and this season we are thrilled to present the world premiere of Gerald Cohen and Deborah Brevoort’s intimate opera Steal a Pencil for Me. Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, Jaap and Manja Polak’s already fragile marriage dissolves as he turns his attentions toward Ina Soep. The love that Jaap and Ina share helps to sustain them through the daily challenges of concentration camp life. This is a true story and to say “they beat the odds” is an understatement. In the spring we turn our attention to the lighter, comic side of opera with Verdi’s Falstaff. Based on Shakespeare’s iconic character, Sir John Falstaff employs crafty maneuvers to seduce the merry wives of Windsor, while the women conspire to develop their own schemes to keep Falstaff at arms-length and expose him as a fool. In the end, everyone is unmasked as a fool. Eat, Drink, Scheme, and Repeat, is a great way to end a celebratory season. This season we are adding an exciting array of Scene Change events that offer great opportunities to experience opera in relaxed and unexpected settings. You can choose to purchase a traditional season ticket package or Create Your Own Adventure by pairing one or more opera productions with two or more Scene Change events. This is your chance to curate your own, unique Opera Colorado experience. I invite you to join us for our exciting 35th Anniversary Season and experience opera in its many forms.
GREG CARPENTER General Director
WHERE WILL IT TAKE YOU? OPERA@THE ELLIE Immerse yourself in the tradition and spectacle of Grand Opera with our Main Stage performances at the incredible Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
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SCENE CHANGE Broaden your horizons and experience a Scene Change with our World Premiere Opera and other unique experiences in more intimate venues.
EVENTS (Details on Page 6)
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COMBINE & SAVE Want more out of your season? Purchase a package! Attend more than one Opera, or combine with exciting Scene Change Events for exclusive savings. (Details on Page 9)
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MAIN
STAGE @ THE ELLIE
FALL IN AND OUT OF LOVE IN PARIS. GIACOMO PUCCINI The Ellie Caulkins Opera House ARI PELTO Conductor MATTHEW OZAWA Director ANYA MATANOVIC Mimi DOMINICK CHENES Rodolfo LEVI HERNANDEZ Marcello MONICA YUNUS Musetta JOSHUA BLOOM Colline ANDREW GARLAND Schaunard Approx. running time: 2 hours 50 min.
SATURDAY, NOV. 4 TUESDAY, NOV. 7 FRIDAY, NOV. 10 SUNDAY, NOV. 12 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15
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7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 2:00PM 7:30PM 2017
One of opera’s most beloved stories popular with well-seasoned opera fans and simply perfect for the first time opera-goer. Set in 19th century Paris, follow six impoverished young artists and students as they struggle to make ends meet, fall in and out of love, and ultimately bond together to help each other in their most desperate hours. It sounds like the typical fresh out of college, starving artist lifestyle of the 21st Century. The timelessness of the story resonates just as deeply with contemporary audiences, as it did at its premiere in 1896. Did you know? The 1996 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning rock musical Rent, was inspired by Puccini’s opera. COMBINE WITH FALSTAFF AND SAVE 25% See page 9 for details.
Performances take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House: 1385 Curtis Street, Denver
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STAGE @ THE ELLIE
EAT. DRINK. SCHEME. REPEAT. GIUSEPPE VERDI The Ellie Caulkins Opera House ARI PELTO Conductor DAVID EDWARDS Director OLAFUR SIGURDARSON Falstaff CYNTHIA CLAYTON Alice MARCO NISTICO Ford SANDRA PIQUES EDDY Meg DANA BETH MILLER Dame Quickly SUSANNAH BILLER Nannetta MINGJIE LEI Fenton Approx. running time: 3 hours
SATURDAY, MAY 5 TUESDAY, MAY 8 FRIDAY, MAY 11 SUNDAY, MAY 13
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7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 2:00PM 2018
Performances take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House: 1385 Curtis Street, Denver
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. Eat, drink, scheme, and repeat is a great way to end a celebratory season at Opera Colorado. Did you know? Verdi idolized Shakespeare as one of the great playwrights and based his opera Falstaff on Shakespeare’s Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor. COMBINE WITH LA BOHÈME AND SAVE 25% See page 9 for details.
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W O R LD PR EMI ER E
TO SAY “THEY BEAT THE ODDS” IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. MUSIC BY GERALD COHEN LIBRETTO BY DEBORAH BREVOORT The Wolf Theatre | Mizel Arts and Culture Center, MACC at the JCC ARI PELTO Conductor OMER BEN SEADIA Director INNA DUKACH Ina Soep GIDEON DABI Jaap Polak ADRIANA ZABALA Manja Polak Approx. running time: 2 hours 40 min.
THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, TUESDAY,
JAN. JAN. JAN. JAN.
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In this intimate opera, Cohen and Brevoort tell the true story of a group of Dutch Jews who are deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in the last year of World War II. Surrounded by horrors of the Holocaust, Jaap and Manja Polak’s already fragile marriage dissolves as he turns his attentions to Ina Soep. The love that Jaap and Ina share helps sustain them through the daily challenges of concentration camp life as they secretly pass love letters to each other. As librettist Deborah Brevoort so beautifully states, “It was a simple story, to be sure—of ordinary breakfasts, and butter for the bread—but nevertheless it held great power and ultimately enabled them to survive. When everything is taken away, only the essentials remain.”
7:30PM 7:30PM 2:00PM 7:30PM
Did you know? Jaap and Ina were married for nearly 70 years after the events of the Opera.
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COMBINE WITH LA BOHÈME AND FALSTAFF SAVE 15%.
Performances take place at Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Jewish Community Center (J Denver): 350 S. Dahlia Street, Denver
See page 9 for details.
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EVENTS
Enrich your 2017-18 Season and create even more magical memories.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Casual, fun, and interactive events in a relaxed setting. SIP & SING @ THE PRESERVERY
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11, 2017 | 6:30PM
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8, 2017 | 5:30PM
Enjoy a three course dinner with wine pairing in this relaxed, new farminspired American eatery while the Opera Colorado Young Artists perform some of your favorite opera arias and selections from music theatre and cabaret. The Preservery is a seasonal eatery, bakery, marketplace and bar devoted to building bridges through great food, live music and good old fashioned fun. (Seating is limited)
Raise the curtain and go on an exclusive expedition through the Ellie Caulkins Opera House! Learn all about what goes on behind the scenes of Opera Colorado’s La Bohème. Be a stagehand, learn how the professionals apply stage makeup and build wigs, gain insight on what it takes to be an opera singer, and participate in stage combat. Enjoy cocktails before and after the adventure!
The Preservery 3040 Blake Street, Denver Approx. Running Time: 2 hrs 30 min.
The Studio Loft at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House 1385 Curtis Street, Denver Approx. Running Time: 2 hrs 30 min.
General Admission: $85.00 Special Season Ticket Price: $72.25 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $76.50 (10% off)
General Admission: $50.00 Special Season Ticket Price: $42.50 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $45.00 (10% off)
SIP & SING @ NOCTURNE THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 2018 | 6:00PM Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with this smart, casual evening of eclectic food in a jazz club atmosphere. Savor a three course dinner with wine paring while our Young Artists serenade you and your sweetheart with romantic bon-bons from opera, musical theatre and popular song. Nocturne is a place where jazz is made more accessible to a broad audience, while offering a unique dining and hospitality experience. (Seating is limited) Nocturne 1330 27th Street, Denver Approx. Running Time: 2 hrs 30 min. General Admission: $85.00 Special Season Ticket Price: $72.25 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $76.50 (10% off)
YOUNG ARTIST EXPERIENCES
Shorter-length opera performances featuring our amazing Young Artists. YOUNG ARTISTS SHOWCASE
AFTERNOON OF AMERICAN SONG
YOUNG ARTIST CELEBRATION
Welcome the 2017-2018 Opera Colorado Young Artists for their eight-month residency in their debut Showcase performance. Young Artists play a vital role as the voice and face of Opera Colorado in the community. Take advantage of this special opportunity to meet them and make them feel welcome. Enjoy drinks and light hors d’oeuvres at an exclusive reception after the performance.
Described by many of our patrons as the “highlight of the season,” an Afternoon of American Song is an event not to be missed. Join the Opera Colorado Young Artists for an intimate and immersive performance of 21st century American gems, ranging from opera to art song, musical theater, and cabaret. You’re sure to discover a new tune that you’ll be humming on the way home! Enjoy drinks and light hors d’oeuvres at an exclusive reception after the performance.
Celebrate our Young Artists as their eight-month residency ends, and we send them off in style! Let the exquisite sound of their voices sweep you away as they show off their talent for Opera Colorado’s fan club one last time before continuing on to their next adventure. Enjoy drinks and light hors d’oeuvres at an exclusive reception after the performance.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 15, 2017 | 5:30PM
The Studio Loft at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House 1385 Curtis Street, Denver Approx. Running Time: 90 min. General Admission: $25 Special Season Ticket Price: $21.25 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $22.50 (10% off)
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SUNDAY, MAR. 4, 2018 | 2PM
Location To be Announced Approx. Running Time: 90 min. General Admission: $25 Special Season Ticket Price: $21.25 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $22.50 (10% off)
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2018 | 2PM
The Studio Loft at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House 1385 Curtis Street, Denver Approx. Running Time: 90 min. General Admission: $25 Special Season Ticket Price: $21.25 (15% off) Create Your Own Adventure Price: $22.50 (10% off)
COMBINE & SAVE
There are so many ways to experience great opera. Put together the combination of experiences that fits you best.
PACKAGE ONE: FULL SEASON EXPERIENCE
Purchase our complete season and in addition to 25% off our Mainstage Operas, you will receive 15% off our World Premiere Scene Change Opera! This is your best opportunity to save.
OTHER BENEFITS: 15% off Scene Change Events (See page 8) • 15% off additional Mainstage seats •
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No exchange or handling fees Priority seating year to year
PACKAGE TWO: OPERA@THE ELLIE
Purchase both of our Mainstage Operas and you will save 25% off of single ticket pricing.
OTHER BENEFITS: • •
5% off Scene Change Events 1 15% off additional Mainstage seats
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No exchange or handling fees Priority seating year to year
PACKAGE THREE: CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Combine one Opera with two or more Scene Change Events and you will save 10% off your Opera ticket and 10% off Scene Change Events (See page 8, excludes Steal a Pencil for Me).
PLACE YOUR ORDER ONLINE OR BY PHONE
CLICK: OPERACOLORADO.ORG OR CALL: 303.468.2030 9
AT OPERA COLORADO
ENHANCE YOUR OPERA EXPERIENCE@THE ELLIE
La Bohéme Opening Night Dinner & 35th Anniversary Celebration: Kevin Taylor’s at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House | 14th Street and Curtis Street, Denver Enjoy an elegant, all-inclusive dinner before the performance of La Bohème and celebrate the opening of Opera Colorado’s 35th Anniversary Season. Hors d’ouevres and an open bar begin at 5PM, followed by a three-course meal in the Chambers Grant Salon. After the opera, join us back at Kevin Taylor’s for an extra special reception with the cast, including live music and dancing. A portion of the proceeds benefit Opera Colorado’s Education Fund. Saturday, November 4, 2017 | 5PM $250 PER PERSON PER DINNER Open bar during cocktail hour. Cash bar during dinner. Hosted Prosecco, wine and beer all evening. Tickets to the opera sold separately.
Falstaff Opening Night Dinner: Kevin Taylor’s at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House | 14th Street and Curtis Street, Denver Enjoy an elegant, all-inclusive dinner before the performance of Falstaff. Cocktails begin at 5PM followed by a three-course meal in the Chambers Grant Salon. After the opera, join us for a dessert reception. Saturday, May 5, 2018 | 5PM $130 PER PERSON PER DINNER Hosted Prosecco all evening. Hosted wine and beer with dinner, and a cash bar. Tickets to the opera sold separately.
La Bohéme & Falstaff Pre-Performance Lectures: Ellie Caulkins Opera House Lobby | 14th Street at Curtis Street, Denver Want to learn more about the Opera you are about to see? Ticket holders come early and attend a free pre-performance lecture. Led by music historian and Professor Betsy Schwarm, the PrePerformance Lecture takes place in the opera house one-hour prior to the performances. Want to view the program notes in advance? Visit the publications page of our website to see an electronic version of the program book in advance of arriving at the Opera House. Open to ticket holders one hour before each opera performance FREE
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FREE EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
Open House | Patron Day Ellie Caulkins Opera House Lobby | 14th Street at Curtis Street, Denver Come down to The Ellie for a delightful summer afternoon and experience opera! Single tickets on sale! Enjoy free refreshments from Backstage Coffee, live opera performances in the galleria, and no handling fees on ticket purchases! Plus, street parking is free downtown on Sundays. Last year, our revamped box office made ticket buying fast and easy. This annual event is not to be missed! Sunday, July, 30, 2017 | 11AM-3PM FREE
Opera at Cherry Creek Shopping Center Cherry Creek Shopping Center | 3000 East 1st Avenue, Denver Are you new to opera or do you attend all the time? Either way, this experience is for you. Come to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and enjoy a free live performance by the Opera Colorado Young Artists! The wonderment of opera in unexpected places can be a mesmerizing experience; bring the entire family! Performance will feature greatest hits from opera and musical theater. aturday, October 14, 2017 | 1:30PM S Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 1:30PM Saturday, April 7, 2018 | 1:30PM FREE
Family Day at the Opera Ellie Caulkins Opera House Lobby | 14th Street at Curtis Street, Denver For the entire family! Starring Opera Colorado’s Young Artists performing the company’s touring productions sung in English. Experience the wonders of opera and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Come early to enjoy family fun activities and kid-friendly refreshments provided by Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House. Activities begin one hour before each performance, and seating opens 45 minutes before each performance. Reserve your free tickets online starting March 1, 2018. Saturday, March 24, 2018 Cinderella 10AM | Elixir of Love 1PM FREE
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Students enjoying an Opera Colorado Education Event
2015 Young Artist Showcase
the art
of giving
“Music has a universal power to communicate with people across cultures. My wife and I were both teachers and always passionate about music education. I chair the Met Opera auditions for the Rocky Mountain Region and support Opera Colorado’s Young Artist program as my way of continuing to bring younger generations along. I feel fortunate to be able to do what I love.” – DR. STEPHEN DILTS, YOUNG ARTIST SPONSOR
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When you give to Opera Colorado, you make great things happen. Every gift – large and small – provides opportunities and creates possibilities. You have tremendous impact! Gifts from individuals are the single largest source of Opera Colorado’s annual income. Join the many patrons who have chosen to make Opera Colorado a philanthropic priority.
2015 Champagne Gala
friend
comprimario circle
$100-$249
$1,000-$2,499
dvance notice of annual season tickets* A + Your name listed in Season Program Books* Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have no cash value.
All above listed benefits, plus: + Personalized assistance with your opera tickets and Opening Night Dinner reservations + Complimentary admission to an Education Event
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chorister $250-$499 All above listed benefits, plus: + Invitations to unique donor events throughout the season including an exclusive backstage tour of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
red dot patron $500-$999 All above listed benefits, plus: + Access to the Chambers Grant Salon Donor Lounge and complimentary champagne during intermission for all Opera Colorado performances at The Ellie + Complimentary admission to the annual Young Artist Showcase and Celebration concerts + Complimentary invitation to attend the annual Sitzprobe Brunch and Rehearsal
diva circle $2,500-$4,999 All above listed benefits, plus: + Invitation to bi-annual Artist Welcome Events where donors can personally interact with the artists of each mainstage opera
Customized benefits packages are available for donors at the $5,000 level and above. Please contact Erin Wenzel for information and arrangements: 303.468.2040 or ewenzel@operacolorado.org.
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695 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 20 Denver, CO 80246
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WHERE WILL THIS SEASON TAKE YOU ?