Behind the Curtain: Reflecting on 2023
By the Ellie Caulkins General & Artistic Director Greg Carpenter
The holiday season is the perfect time to slow down a bit and look back on all we accomplished over the past calendar year. Let’s reflect on all Opera Colorado has done in 2023 together.
Our 40th Anniversary Season
Source: Matt Staver/Opera Colorado
January was filled with excitement as we put the finishing touches on our new production of Erich Korngold’s rarely performed masterpiece, Die tote Stadt. Presenting this incredible work was no small undertaking for a regional opera company of our size. It proved to be an immense success, with many of our patrons returning to see multiple performances. This was a true milestone in the artistic achievements of Opera Colorado. It also allowed us to showcase the incredible Opera Colorado Orchestra.
Want to learn more about the creation of this opera? Come behind the scenes with us in this short documentary “The Making of Die tote Stadt” >>
Jump ahead to late April when we were working on two important initiatives. Puccini’s Turandot is a larger-than-life opera with an army of artists, production personnel, and behind-the-scenes activity, capping off our 40th Anniversary Season in grand style. The incredible singing from our solo artists and chorus coupled with the stunning sets and costumes led to four sold-out performances.
Simultaneously, we presented our spectacular 40th Anniversary Gala featuring the incomparable talent of the great American mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato and pianist Craig Terry. The evening was filled with memorable moments! It was the most financially successful gala since the opening of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in 2005.
A Bright Start to the 2023-24 Season
Source: Matt Staver/Opera Colorado
We opened our 2023-24 Season with a spectacular production of Mozart’s ever popular Don Giovanni. This opera set the tone for another exceptional season of grand opera! There’s also much more to come this season—we will present our new production of The Flying Dutchman in February and Samson and Delilah in May.
Along the way, we served our community in meaningful ways. Our education and community programs, presented by our talented group of Artists in Residence, reached audiences across the state. We also held important conversations in partnership with Rocky Mountain Public Media. We worked with the AAPI community for Turandot and the Rose Andom Center for Don Giovanni.
It has been a year full of Opera Colorado firsts, incredible artistic achievement, unique repertoire, and commitment to new levels of community engagement. It is through the generosity of our audiences and generous donors that we are able to accomplish so much.
We deeply appreciate everyone who engaged with us throughout the year and look forward to another year of grand opera!