A young woman dreams that love and kindness conquer greed and cruelty. But do dreams really come true? Rossini’s charming take on the classic Cinderella story will delight audiences of all ages in this family-friendly opera.
Kind-hearted Angelina (Cinderella) is forced to work for her wicked stepfather and cruel stepsisters. Prince Ramiro, longing to find love, switches identities with his valet as they search the kingdom for a woman who is true of heart. Set in the mid-century modern town of Newport, Rhode Island, this enchanting story promises hilarious hijinks, mistaken identities, and – of course – a beautiful ball, all set to Rossini’s effervescent score.
Break out your best tiara and set a date to join us for this larger-than-life operatic fairytale that’ll have you floating on air and home by midnight.
Opera Columbus is proud to announce that this new production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella) was created in partnership with Tri-Cities Opera and Annapolis Opera.
February 24th + 26th
The Southern Theatre
The sensual rhythms of tango combine with operatic passions in Maria de Buenos Aires. Astor Piazzolla‘s revolutionary nuevo tango score and Horacio Ferrer‘s mesmerizing poetry unite the ethereal realm with the physical world to portray the spiritual journey of the opera’s heroine with costumes by Gerardo Encinas and choreography by Jeffrey Goltiao
Born in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina “on a day that God was drunk,” Maria heads to the center of town on her quest for freedom. She is quickly seduced by the music of the tango, and her world devolves into darkness, with the gritty streets claiming her as their own. Maria’s spirit survives, returning to haunt the city of her birth in death.
Sensual and pulsing to the beat of Argentine tango, this mesmerizing tale of a woman consumed by passion and her reckless search for love and freedom intoxicates the eyes and ears. The haunting melodies that drive Maria’s every step are played by an orchestra featuring uniquely Argentinian sounds. Piazzolla’s seductive score is irresistible and electrifying; Ferrer’s poetry compelling and provocative. Like the tango itself, Maria de Buenos Aries entwines you in its fierce embrace and never lets you go!
March 31st + April 1st
The Ohio Theatre
In a co-production with the Columbus Symphony, Jeweled with some of opera’s most beloved arias, Rigoletto contains all of the thrills and pathos that make grand opera famous.
Rigoletto, a cursed court jester of the lustful Duke of Mantua, obsessively protects his daughter, Gilda. But when Gilda falls in love with the man her father loathes, Rigoletto’s thirst for vengeance and desperate attempt to stop fate bring about his own tragic undoing. A Verdi favorite, Rigoletto is set in the rich and decadent Italian Renaissance and features some of opera’s most famous arias! This marks Rigoletto’s return to Columbus after 20 years, in a grand scale collaboration between the Columbus Symphony and Opera Columbus at the beloved Ohio Theatre.
April 30th
The Southern Theatre
The Cooper-Bing Competition is an internationally recognized vocal competition that has celebrated and supported emerging young artists in opera for the past 39 years. Dubbed the ”Olympics of Opera”, the competition encourages talent, creates artistic opportunity, and helps welcome the next generation into the professional opera community. Five finalists will compete for the grand prize of $10,000! Join us for this electrifying vocal battle royale and cast your vote for a special audience award!
June 2, 2023
Back by popular demand! This isn’t your mother’s drag show, this is an OC drag show. Which means our Queens sing live and are classically trained vocalists and musicians. Party Pass subscribers are guaranteed a seat at Drinks + Drag (which sold out in days last season) and will receive two cocktail tickets. Come kick off Pride with OC, you won’t regret it! *Guests for Drinks + Drag must be 21 years or older.
PAST EVENTS
The Southern Theatre
For the past 38 seasons, the Cooper-Bing Competition has been an internationally-recognized vocal competition that empowers and celebrates young, emerging artists. This competition discovers talent, reveals artistic opportunity, and engages the next generation into the professional opera community. Join us and cast your vote as finalists compete for a top prize of $10,000! You don’t want to miss this battle of the voices!
