Asheville Lyric Opera facts for kids
The Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO) is a professional opera company located in Asheville, North Carolina. It's a non-profit organization that brings amazing musical stories to life. ALO performs many different types of shows, from funny operas by Mozart and Rossini to dramatic ones by Verdi and Puccini. They also perform classic musical theatre works.
The company was founded by David Craig Starkey, who was its General and Artistic Director until 2016. Since 2001, ALO has performed at the Diana Wortham Theatre, which has 500 seats. The company is also a member of Opera America, a group that supports opera companies across the country. Dean Anthony became the company's new Artistic and Producing Director for the 2019/2020 Season.
The Story of Asheville Lyric Opera
Asheville Lyric Opera started in 1999. It was founded by a singer named David Craig Starkey. In its very first full season (1999–2000), the company performed a famous opera called La bohème. They worked with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra for this show.
Over the years, many talented guest singers, conductors, and directors have performed with ALO. These artists have performed all over the U.S. and even in other countries. For example, the soprano Susan Dunn gave a special concert in 1999. In 2001, the company performed Rossini's The Barber of Seville, with Rockwell Blake in a main role.
ALO began taking its shows on the road in the 2003/2004 season. They have performed in many states, including Indiana, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. By the 2006–2007 season, ALO was putting on three full opera productions each year. They also started performing special "education operas" for local schools.
In 2009, ALO celebrated its Tenth Anniversary with a big gala event. Famous singers like Angela Brown, Tonio DiPaolo, and David Malis joined the Asheville Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus for this special night. Other notable artists who have performed with ALO include Angela Renée Simpson, Talise Trevigne, and Stephen Mark Brown. Many skilled conductors have also led ALO productions, such as Timothy Myers, Robert Franz, Keith Chambers, and Daniel Meyer.
By 2012, ALO had presented more than twenty-five full operas and many concerts across Western North Carolina. The 2012/2013 Season featured Verdi's La traviata with soprano Elizabeth Caballero. They also performed Puccini's Tosca and had a concert by tenor Lawrence Brownlee. The 2013/2014 Season included Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus, and South Pacific. The production of Die Fledermaus was performed in English and changed to fit the history and culture of Asheville. This show also marked a new partnership with the Symphony of the Mountains from Kingsport, Tennessee.
ALO also has special programs for children and schools in the area. They offer internships for students interested in arts management, music business, and performing.
Past Performances
Here are some of the operas and musicals Asheville Lyric Opera has performed over the years:
- 2013–2014 Pagliacci and Suor Angelica (two operas together), Opera Winter Gala, Don Giovanni, South Pacific, Die Fledermaus.
- 2012–2013 La traviata, Taste of Opera, Tosca, Carousel
- 2011–2012 Madame Butterfly, The Asheville Christmas Show, Cosi fan tutte, The Sound of Music, Taste of Opera
- 2010–2011 The Magic Flute, Christmas Concert, Brundibar, La bohème, Taste of Opera
- 2009–2010 The Marriage of Figaro, Hansel and Gretel, Christmas Concert, Don Pasquale, Carmen
- 2008–2009 Romeo and Juliet, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Concert, Rigoletto
- 2007–2008 Don Giovanni, Down in the Valley, Lucia di Lammermoor, The Barber of Seville
- 2006–2007 The Elixir of Love, Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Merry Widow, La traviata
- 2005–2006 ALO Opera Gala, The Magic Flute, Madame Butterfly
- 2004–2005 ALO Opera Gala, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro
- 2003–2004 ALO Opera Gala, Amahl and the Night Visitors, La bohème, Don Pasquale
- 2002–2003 ALO Opera Gala, Amahl and the Night Visitors and Gift of the Magi (two operas together), Cosi fan tutte
- 2001–2002 The Barber of Seville, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Annie Get Your Gun, La traviata
- 2000–2001 ALO Opera Gala, Live from Broadway, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Madame Butterfly, Pirates of Penzance
- 1999–2000 Live from Broadway, ALO Opera Gala, La bohème, Pagliacci
