Opera Omaha has announced two new members to its Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF). The two new integrants include Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez and Jazmine Salaberrios; they will join fellows Taylor Adams and Charisa Ramsey starting this fall and throughout the 2023-24 season. Per an official press statement “fellows serve as ambassadors of the company by bringing their artistic talents and resources to {…}
Opera Omaha’s annual Poetry & Music Project will culminate in a live concert presenting the world premiere of the songs inspired by poems from Nebraska students. This concert will premiere 15 original pieces with words from students set to music by professional composers Gabrielle Herbst and J.E. Hernández. The original poems, written by Nebraska students grades 3 through 12, were {…}
Opera Omaha will conclude its 2022-23 Mainstage Season with a production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” The company will present a production by Dean Anthony with conductor Steven White. The cast will include Sidney Outlaw in his Opera Omaha debut as Figaro, with Vanessa Becerra as Susanna. The cast includes Michael Adams, Mary Feminear, Kristen Choi, Victoria Livengood, Rod Nelman, Graham Brooks, Karina Brazas, {…}
Opera Omaha has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Jorell Williams in the title role of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” alongside Vanessa Becerra, Luis Alejandro Orozco, and Taylor Stayton. Gary Thor Wedow conducts the production by Octavio Cardenas. Performance Dates: Oct. 27 & 29, 2023 Andriana Chuchman, Brian Vu, and Hyung Yun lead Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Steven White conducts the production by {…}
Opera Omaha has announced a new General Director. The company said that Allison Swenson will succeed Roger Weitz as its nineteenth General Director in the company’s history. She will begin her role in mid-February after transitioning to Omaha. Swenson has more than 20 years of experience in the field and has worked with the Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and Santa {…}
Opera Omaha announced that General Director Roger Weitz will step down from his role at the end of the year. Weitz, who began his tenure in August of 2011, has earned accolades for its diverse and artistically excellent programming and for extending its reach locally, nationally, and internationally. In a statement, Weitz said, “I was born and raised in Omaha, {…}
Opera Omaha will continue its 2022-2023 season with a production of “Suor Angelica.” The opera, which is set to be conducted by Judith Yan, will star soprano Elaine Alvarez in her Opera Omaha debut. The production will also feature Ronnita Miller, Deborah Nansteel, Kelly Guerra, Hilary Ginther, and Jennifer Cherest. Keturah Stickann will direct the production featuring scenic designs by Wally {…}
Opera Omaha has announced the sixth year of the Poetry & Music Project. The project connects student poets and their words with composers to create original music and explore the connections between poetry and music. This fall, students in grades K-12 from Nebraska and Iowa will be invited to submit their original works to the Poetry & Music project and {…}
Credit: Micah Shumake/Detroit Opera Before heading to the Metropolitan Opera stage, Anthony Davis’ “X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X” will be performed at Opera Omaha. This new production by Robert O’Hara tours significant locations in Malcolm X’s life. Some of the co-sponsoring locations include Detroit Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Metropolitan Opera, and Seattle Opera. O’Hara’s production {…}
Opera Omaha has announced that General Director Roger Weitz will be leaving the company at the end of 2022. Weitz began his tenure in August of 2011 and under his leadership the company saw growth in ticket sales, subscribers, endowment, and the annual budget doubled over the course of 10 years. Per an official statement, donations went up every year {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera alongside Opera Omaha, Opera Columbus, and Portland Opera have commissioned a new work. In an ongoing effort to make the art form more accessible, relevant, and resonant for a diverse audience, the companies have commissioned a work from New York artist collective UP UNTIL NOW a series of short, American Sign Language-based films of opera arias. {…}