September 29th + October 1st 2023Opera Columbus is kicking off their 2023-24 Season with the ultimate femme fatale,Carmen.Groundbreaking in realism, this show quickly became one of the most popular western operas of all time. Carmencontains famous arias, such as the flirty Habanera and the famous Toreador song, and will be performed in the heart of Downtown Columbus, the Southern Theatre. This 90-minute production explores sexual freedom, social hierarchies and the class system. Carmen will be stage directed by 2022-23 CRANE Directing Fellow, Sarah Dahnke, and conducted by Dr. Everett McCorvey.
March 1st + March 2nd 2024
Followed by a return to the Ohio Theatre in a co-collaboration with Columbus Symphony: Eugene Onegin. When sensitive Tatyana bares her soul in a love letter to the dashing Eugene Onegin, he coldly rejects her and flirts with her sister, resulting in a deadly duel with his trusted friend, Lensky. Years later, Onegin returns, tortured by guilt and remorse. Eugene Onegin is filled with breathtaking music by composer Tchaikovsky (The Nutcracker, Swan Lake), and will be set in the 1950s, inspired by Hopper paintings. This co-production will be stage directed by Rosetta Cucchi, Artistic Director of the Wexford Festival, and conducted by Rossen Milanov.
April 2024
Then, in an undisclosed, speakeasy-like location, Opera Columbus presents The Temple, A Magic Flute Experience. This thrilling, immersive performance will be an experience both opera-lovers and operacurious will never forget. Mozart’s final opera, The Magic Flute, transports audiences to a fantastical world of dragons, princesses, trials and mysteries. Good and evil battle, and truth and resolution are elusive. The Temple will feature a new, English-language libretto updating the opera’s story and characters make it inclusive and accessible to contemporary audiences. This production will be directed by Allegra Libonati and arranged by Que Jones.
May 19th 2024
And concluding our season with the Cooper-Bing Competition, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Cooper-Bing is an internationally recognized vocal competition that has celebrated and supported emerging young artists in opera. Dubbed “The Olympics of Opera”, this competition encourages talent, creates artistic opportunity, and helps welcome the next generation into the professional opera community. Five finalists compete for the grand prize of $10,000! The 2024 competition will be emceed by Christopher Purdy.
