2016-17 Season
The 2016-17 season begins in September as Columbus’ flagship performing arts organizations reunite for Twisted 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2014’s smash hit, Twisted. For four performances only, BalletMet, the Columbus Symphony, and Opera Columbus will collide and combine to create an experience unlike any other.
Then in January 2017, Juilliard ADOS artist Miles Mykkanen will perform the role of Belmonte in Mission: Seraglio (Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio). Sung in German with English dialogue and English surtitles.
We conclude our mainstage season in May 2017 with a re-imagined production of Bizet’s most famous opera, Carmen. Featuring Juilliard ADOS artists Avery Amereau performing the role of Carmen and Thesele Kemane performing the role of Escamillo. Performed with the Columbus Symphony and BalletMet 2. Sung in French with English surtitles.
Beginning in October 2016, experience a modern version of The Magic Flute and the emotional abridged version of La Bohème during our Opera on the Edge production. Both sung in English and presented in a casual atmosphere. Enjoy food and drinks while the performers mix with the audience, pushing the boundaries of opera as we know it.
2015-16 Season
We kick off the season in September with Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Armide, performed with BalletMet 2 and the Apollo’s Fire Orchestra. Opera Columbus has never before performed this work, and we are thrilled to bring you this heart-wrenching tale of love and war set during the First Crusade.
Then in March 2016, we explore love among the penniless inhabitants of the rooftops of bohemian Paris in Puccini’s most popular opera, La Bohème. It will be performed in Italian with the Columbus Symphony.
In June of 2016, Opera Columbus will present a collaboration with The Ohio State University School of Music and Department of Theatre with Verdi’s La Traviata. Again performed with the Columbus Symphony, you will delight in this twisted tale of a much-sought-after Parisian courtesan.
La Traviata will also be our Opera on the Edge production for the 2015-16 season, as we will present the work as an hour-long, abridged version sung in English at Shadowbox Live’s Backstage Bistro.
2014-15 Season
In addition, Opera Columbus will continue Opera on the Edge, its successful, innovative collaboration with Shadowbox Live, transforming another classic opera into an immersive, interactive, and highly accessible experience in a casual environment. Featuring local artists in an abridged, English-language adaptation, this collaboration has expanded in the 2014-15 season to include two performances at The Refectory.
Experience Opera Columbus’ presentation of Pagliacci as an hour-long, abridged, English version performance in one of Columbus’ best casual and comfortable environments. “Crazed clown murders wife in front of live audience!” Find out what the headlines are all about, then immerse yourself in the fully staged, Italian language version the following summer.
2013-14 Season
We see the return of locally-produced grand operaas we open the season in November with Madama Butterfly in partnershipwith The Ohio State University. This production will be cast with up-and-coming artists from central Ohio and beyond, and include students fromOSU in the chorus and comprimario roles. In March, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will return in the perennially popular The Pirates of Penzance featuring the Opera Columbus Chorus. Both productions will be accompanied by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. The season willconclude with Carmen in Concert at the Ohio Theatre, a fantastic new collaboration with the Columbus Symphony.
2012-13 Season
In addition, Opera Columbus will collaborate with Shadowbox Live next season to launch a new program called Opera Cabaret. The program exposes new audiences to opera with live, abridged, English language performances of popular operas that are free of charge. The first Opera Cabaret presentation will be Puccini’s La Bohème.