At age 12, Ryan Speedo Green was locked up in Virginia’s juvenile institution of last resort. At age 24, he was on stage at the Metropolitan Opera, competing in the Met’s annual contest to find the most promising young singers in the nation. The story of Green’s journey will be told in song, in dramatic reading and in conversation between Green and Daniel Bergner, author of The New York Times bestseller Sing for Your Life. It’s a spectacular narrative about the power of art and the possibility of transforming how we think about race in America.

 

An innovative and completely new production that reimagines Puccini’s popular and beloved opera. The sound is La Bohème and the look is Rent. The shows will be performed with orchestra in Franklinton’s 400 West Rich, a 100 year-old warehouse that has been converted into creative arts space. There will be a pre-show gallery hop with 400 West Rich artists. La Bohème @ 400 West Rich will be performed over two weekends with six total performances.

 

Mozart’s masterpiece Don Giovanni is considered one of the greatest operas ever written. Based on the story of the sexually promiscuous and morally vacant Don Juan, this is a brilliant mix of comedy, melodrama, and demons from hell. Sung in Italian with English surtitles, this production will feature the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in all the grandeur of opera.

 

This internationally-recognized vocal  competition engages impressive young operatic talent from all over the world. The Cooper-Bing Competition aims to encourage emerging artists and celebrate the next generation of opera stars. Join us and cast your vote as singers compete for a top prize of $10,000! You don’t want to miss this virtual experience on Facebook and our website.