By: Jennifer Colgan Every spring, Opera Colorado presents a magnificent gala that is instrumental in raising funds that support our mission. On May 13, 2023, we are honored to welcome internationally-renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as the featured performer at our 40th Anniversary Gala, which will take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. We recently got a chance to ask Joyce a few questions about the gala performance and her other passions as an educator and advocate. Learn more about Opera Colorado’s 40th Anniversary Gala ..read more

By Jennifer Colgan On March 30, Opera Colorado is proud to partner with the Robert and Judi Newman Center to present a recital featuring Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung accompanied by pianist Cody Guy Garrison. The program features gorgeous songs by Mahler, Korngold, Zeisl, and Duparc. Don’t miss this one-night-only event! We recently got a chance to ask Michelle a few questions about her program and more. Learn about the inspiration behind her song choices, her love of teaching, and why performing in Colorado is so special to this Loveland native. Tickets are available through ..read more

By: Betsy Schwarm Given its blend of music, words, and stage action, opera can be a powerful tool for psychological exploration. It is not just a matter of what these characters are doing, but why they are doing it, and how they feel about themselves and their lives. Their inner selves become more vividly available with finely crafted music to express those feelings. The characters are fictional, but the music can make them seem almost real. Interested in learning more about Die tote Stadt‘s plot and characters? Check out earlier installments of Die tote Stadt (The Dead City) 101: Die tote S ..read more

By Angelica DiIorio Each season, our Artists in Residence travel around Colorado, performing Opera Colorado’s touring productions for schools and community centers. This season’s spring production of Romeo & Juliet includes brand-new sets and costumes! New sets have been created for touring productions in the past, but each one is special in its own way. Let’s learn a bit more about the sets and costumes in this version of Romeo & Juliet. Learn more about the creation of Romeo & Juliet from a Q&A with Director Cherity Koepke>> A DESIGN THEME IN ROMEO & JULIET Before ..read more

By: Angelica DiIorio With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might have love and romance on your mind. What better way to celebrate than with one of the most fabled stories, Romeo and Juliet? Every year, our Artists in Residence take touring productions to schools and community venues around Colorado. This winter, we introduce a new production to the Opera on Tour program, Romeo & Juliet. Learn more about how our Director of the Artist in Residence Program, Cherity Koepke, turned a Shakespearean classic into a short story that retains all the intensity of the originals. Join us a ..read more

By: Angelica DiIorio At its core, Die tote Stadt (The Dead City) is a story of the grief that a person experiences when they lose a loved one. Paul’s love for his wife Marie was very strong, so her passing is exceptionally difficult for him to handle. Many of us understand the heartbreak of losing someone, especially after the last few years. Let’s take a look at how grief has impacted Paul in his story. Learn more about the plot of Die tote Stadt>> What is grief? Items around Paul’s artist studio in a shrine to Marie Grief is the anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the ..read more

By: Jennifer Colgan Pittsburgh native Robert Perdziola has designed sets and costumes for some of the biggest opera houses in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera. This winter, he lends his immense talents to the world of Die tote Stadt (The Dead City). He is especially well-known for the beauty and intricacy of period costumes, which audiences will witness first-hand in the designs that will appear onstage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Learn more about Robert and his journey with Die tote Stadt. Save your seats for an unforgettable ..read more

By: Bethany Wood and Angelica DiIorio Meet the Hollywood score composer and incredible talent responsible for our winter production of Die tote Stadt (The Dead City): Erich Korngold. Korngold composed the opera in 1920 and worked on the libretto with his father Julius. Let’s learn more about the work of this composer who showed great promise from an early age. Experience Korngold’s masterpiece Die tote Stadt for yourself. Four performances only from February 25 to March 5 >> Korngold And His Family Erich with his parents, 1911 Source: Longborough Festival Opera The careers of Julius Kor ..read more

By: Jennifer Colgan It is not an easy feat to direct an entire opera, much less one that is rarely performed and being built from scratch. However, Chas Rader-Shieber is up to the task for our winter production of Die tote Stadt (The Dead City). Let’s hear from the director in a Q&A about his approach to this exciting project and a little of what you can expect from Korngold’s masterpiece. Experience Die tote Stadt for yourself from February 25 to March 5 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House>> Have you directed Die tote Stadt before? What about the project intrigued you when you w ..read more

Set rendering for Die tote Stadt by Robert Perdziola By: Jennifer Colgan Every season, Opera Colorado aims to present works that are new and exciting to our audiences, along with favorites like this spring’s Turandot. This season’s rare gem is truly extraordinary—a brand-new production of Die tote Stadt (The Dead City). While this title is familiar to some of our aficionados, it’s unknown to many music lovers. We’re here to unlock some of the mystery behind Korngold’s masterpiece by sharing the top questions about Die tote Stadt we’re hearing from opera fans like you. As part of its 40th Anniv ..read more