If you've been perusing our site, you may have realized that we're not your average opera company. There's a long tradition of grand opera houses putting on classy shows for rich audiences...but the truth is, opera is theater. And theater is for everyone.
We're not the only smaller, offbeat opera company in America. Our ideas are part of a larger movement to reimagine and redefine an age-old art form and bring it to modern audiences in an affordable and engaging way. The current generation of opera singers graduating from music school is the largest we've ever seen. It's a talented group of people, many of whom may never get hired by a major company due to too much competition. The solution? More stages to perform on, and for that you need more companies, and more audiences. So the more people that like opera, the better! Here is a list of small startup opera companies who might just make an opera fan out of you.
We're not the only smaller, offbeat opera company in America. Our ideas are part of a larger movement to reimagine and redefine an age-old art form and bring it to modern audiences in an affordable and engaging way. The current generation of opera singers graduating from music school is the largest we've ever seen. It's a talented group of people, many of whom may never get hired by a major company due to too much competition. The solution? More stages to perform on, and for that you need more companies, and more audiences. So the more people that like opera, the better! Here is a list of small startup opera companies who might just make an opera fan out of you.
1. The Pacific Opera Project - Los Angeles, CA
This one is my personal favorite. Pacific Opera Project, located in LA, California, brings you new and zany takes on classic operas. I'm going to be honest, I thought Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" was not the most exciting of his operas. And even though I'm a hardcore opera fan, I probably would skip out on it if I could watch Figaro or Tosca instead. But wait, Klingons? Star Trek captains? Say no more. In an epic twist, suddenly this is the best, side splitting comedic opera to ever grace youtube. Check out the show below. And if you like what you see, you're in luck. They are bringing the show back to LA this season and even touring it to Oakland and CT.
www.pacificoperaproject.com
www.pacificoperaproject.com
2. Fresco Opera Theatre - Madison, WI
I'm sorry. I went to their website and I see JEDI? The only thing remotely as good as Star Trek and opera has to be Star Wars and opera, and I only list the other first because I'm a Trekker. Also, Star Wars is not the only interesting thing Fresco Opera Theatre has going for it. Last summer they put on the opera Hansel and Gretel...in a network of garages in different neighborhoods. That's right, you brought your lawn chair and lemonade and sat down in your neighbor's driveway to watch the opera. Heck, I just may follow that example sometime.
http://www.frescooperatheatre.com/
http://www.frescooperatheatre.com/
And I have to get behind the way they ask their donors for money. They put out a video spoof OF MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD and said "won't you be my donor?" I mean, yes of course I would! Check out the amazing parody below.
3. New York City Opera - NYC, New York
Okay, technically, New York City Opera is pretty much a big budget opera company. However, its competition is the Metropolitan Opera. So by comparison, it is small and indie. It calls itself "the people's opera," and specializes in new and interesting takes on classic productions. Their 2013 production of Offenbach's "La Perichole" looks pretty crazy indeed!
nycopera.com
nycopera.com
4. NEMPAC Opera Project - Boston, MA
This company is a summer offshoot of the North End Music and Performing Arts Company in Boston, MA. They perform fully staged operas in the park, and in historic locations like the Old North Church or Faneuil Hall. This concert below is at the Old North Church, you know, the one with Paul Revere and the lanterns? One if by land, two if by sea, three if there are random opera singers chilling...get it together singers, the British are coming! The cool thing is, the North End is the Italian district of Boston, so Italian opera is pretty much at home there. Another thing I appreciate as a singer is that they've been able to take the pool of talent from the many music schools in the area and actually give them a place to perform outside of school. Trust me, after four years in Boston only singing at school, you get itching to actually perform with, you know, a real company (although your classmates are nice and your school is expensive and so you have a nice auditorium.)
http://www.nempacboston.org/performance-season/nempac-opera-project
http://www.nempacboston.org/performance-season/nempac-opera-project
There are many many more, and I'll be sure to post a second set of these soon!
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