Opera Colorado facts for kids

Opera Colorado is a special opera company found in Denver, Colorado. It started in 1981 and puts on three to four big opera shows each year. Their main stage is the amazing Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The Story of Opera Colorado

How Opera Colorado Began

Opera Colorado was started in 1981 by a husband and wife team, Nathaniel Merrill and Louise Sherman. They had worked for a long time at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. They hoped that opera would become popular in Denver.

The first shows were in 1983. At first, there wasn't a perfect place for operas. They performed in Boettcher Hall, which was mostly for concerts. Even so, many famous opera singers came to Denver. Stars like Plácido Domingo and Pilar Lorengar sang in the very first season. Later, singers such as James Morris and Samuel Ramey also performed.

New Leadership and a New Home

In 2000, James Robinson became the artistic director. He had worked at many other opera houses. In 2001, Peter Russell joined as the new president and general director. He had led a program at the Metropolitan Opera.

At first, they had to use microphones because Boettcher Hall was so big. But in September 2005, Opera Colorado moved to the new Ellie Caulkins Opera House. This new building was much better for opera. Moving to a proper opera house changed everything. More people started to support Opera Colorado and buy tickets. It also helped them work with other opera companies. Peter Russell said the new opera house was a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" for the company.

Celebrating 25 Years

In August 2007, Peter Russell and James Robinson left Opera Colorado. Greg Carpenter became the new General Director. He had worked with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.

During the 2007–2008 season, Opera Colorado celebrated its 25th birthday! The celebration started with a special show by Patti Lupone. They also performed famous operas like Verdi's La traviata and Donizetti's Don Pasquale. They even did a concert version of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman.

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

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

Learning and Reaching Out

Opera Colorado doesn't just perform in the main theater. They also have many programs to teach and share opera with others. They perform in schools, community centers, and places for older adults all over Denver.

Since 2002, these education programs have grown a lot. By 2009, Opera Colorado was reaching over 43,000 students and adults every year!

Programs for Students

• Touring School Programs: They take shows like Richard Wargo's The Music Shop to schools.
• Workshops: They offer special classes in schools.
• Masterclasses: Students can learn from professional opera singers.
• Field Trips: Kids can visit the Ellie Caulkins Opera House to see how opera works.

Programs for Adults

• Meet the Artists: Adults can meet the singers and people who create the shows.
• Pre-Opera Lectures: Before a show, people can learn about the opera they are about to see.
• Radio Programs: They create shows with Colorado Public Radio (on 88.1 FM KVOD) to share opera with more people.