Opera Colorado facts for kids

Opera Colorado is an opera company located in Denver, Colorado. It was started in 1981. Each year, they put on three or four big opera shows. Their main stage is the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The Story of Opera Colorado

Opera Colorado began in 1981. Its first shows were in 1983. A husband and wife, Nathaniel Merrill and Louise Sherman, started it. They had worked at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for a long time. They hoped opera would become popular in Denver.

At first, there wasn't a good place for opera shows. They performed in Boettcher Hall. This hall was mostly for concerts. Even so, many famous opera singers came to Denver. These included Plácido Domingo and Catherine Malfitano. Later, other stars like James Morris and Samuel Ramey also performed.

In 2000, James Robinson became the Artistic Director. He had worked at many other opera houses. In 2001, Peter Russell joined as President and General Director. He had also worked at the Metropolitan Opera. With Peter Russell, they changed Boettcher Hall. They added microphones because the hall was so big. Voices would get lost without them.

A New Home for Opera

In September 2005, Opera Colorado moved. They moved to the new Ellie Caulkins Opera House. This new building was much better for opera. Moving to this new home helped the company a lot. More people started to support Opera Colorado. They also got more people to buy season tickets. The new opera house helped them work with other opera companies too. Peter Russell said the new house "changed" the company in a big way.

In 2007, Peter Russell and James Robinson left their roles. Greg Carpenter became the new General Director. He had worked with the National Symphony Orchestra. During the 2007-2008 season, Opera Colorado celebrated its 25th birthday. They had a special party with singer Patti Lupone. They also performed famous operas like La traviata.

In 2009, Opera Colorado won an award. It was the Downtown Denver Partnership Award. This award was for helping make downtown Denver's arts scene lively for 25 years. Greg Carpenter also received a special award called a Livingston Fellowship. This award helps leaders in non-profit groups learn and grow.

The 2009-2010 season started with a new show. It was The Tales of Hoffmann. This was the first time Opera Colorado performed this opera in 25 years. The costumes and sets for this show were made with other opera companies.

Learning and Community Programs

Opera Colorado does more than just put on shows in the theater. They also have programs for schools and communities. They visit schools, community centers, and places for older adults. Since 2002, these education programs have grown a lot. By 2009, Opera Colorado was reaching over 43,000 students and adults each year.

Programs for Young People

For students, they have touring shows. These shows travel to different schools. They also offer workshops in schools. Students can take masterclasses or go on field trips to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. These trips let students see how a real opera house works.

Programs for Adults

For adults, Opera Colorado offers chances to meet the performers. They also have talks before opera shows. They even create radio programs with Colorado Public Radio. These programs help everyone learn more about opera.