New to Opera

Every performance and production is different, but it’s easy to prepare. Before our mainstage productions (fully staged operas), we recommend getting to know the plot ahead of time and reviewing the Know Before You Go email you receive in the days ahead of your performance date. For non-mainstage performances, such as our Artist in Residence Showcase, Sip & Sing, and more, look out for that Know Before You Go email!

Plot: We post a blog with the plot and characters of each opera ahead of the production here. Don’t worry about spoilers—knowing what happens in the opera can help you spend less time trying to understand the action and give you more time to enjoy how the music allows the drama to unfold.

Know Before You Go Emails: A day or two ahead of the show, make sure to look out for an email about your upcoming performance. Review it carefully to make sure you’re prepared for your experience at The Ellie. We update these emails with parking alerts, special event info, and more.

Up to you! A trip to the opera is a great opportunity to break out a fancy outfit you haven’t had the chance to wear, but it is by no means necessary to dress up. Whether you’re dressed in formal wear or dressing more casually, we’re happy you’re joining us at the opera.

You might be wondering what sets opera apart from musicals, concerts, plays, or other forms of live entertainment. Opera shares some characteristics with other art-forms, but there are a few things that make it really special.

1. No amplification
At a concert, vocalists often use microphones to be heard, but opera singers can actually sing loud enough to soar over the orchestra without a mic! Even high up in the balcony, you’ll hear the performers loud and clear. Paired with the passionate emotions you’ll see in opera, it makes for an unforgettable experience.

2. The singing doesn’t stop
With few exceptions, the performers in opera sing the whole time. Dialogue is always sung, usually switching between what’s called recitative (reh-sih-tuh-teev), when a character is singing dialogue in an expository, less melodic way, and aria (ah-ree-uh), when the character (or characters) takes a moment to express their feelings in a more memorable, show-stopping fashion.

3. A tradition that has evolved
Opera’s roots go back to around 1600, and naturally, a lot has changed since then. Many of the most popular operas today are from between the late 1700s and early 1900s, but that doesn’t mean that these operas look or sound the same as they did back then. One of the amazing things about opera is that generations continue the tradition of the music, reinterpreting staging, characterization, musical style, and the message of these operas. Contemporary operas also may use many of the musical aspects of the art-form, which may have been developed over centuries, and apply it to stories that resonate with audiences today.

No matter what language they’re singing in on stage, every mainstage opera performances will have English captioning visible to all patrons. That being said, as opposed to movies and TV, it’s actually better to know the entire plot of the opera before you get there. When you have a sense of the plot, you’ll spend less time trying to understand what’s happening, and have more time to enjoy watching how the drama unfolds and hear how the music conveys that drama. Ahead of every production, we post a blog with the plot and characters of each opera.

Sometimes, you may notice that the captioning stops while a character is singing. This is not a malfunction—it means that the character is repeating text they’ve already sung in the piece. It often happens during an aria, which often has a lot of repeated text, similar to the repeated choruses of a pop song. While the music might change at times when the captions drop out, you don’t have to worry about missing out on any plot developments—the text hasn’t changed.

If you want to make sure you understand even more of what’s happening, we offer free Pre-Show Talks one hour before each mainstage performance, usually in the Studio Loft (ask an usher or staff member if you need help finding it).

Opera Colorado mainstage performances take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which is at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, located at 14th and Arapahoe in Downtown Denver. The Arts Complex has a paid parking lot on 13th and Arapahoe, but know that it is shared by all Arts Complex attendees. We highly recommend checking the Arts Complex calendar closer to your performance date to see how many other events are occurring on the same day so you can plan ahead.

Light rail is also a great option to avoid parking. Take either the H line or D line to the Theatre District / Convention Center station and walk a block and a half northwest on 14th street to find the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

Note: starting June 2026, the light rail will not service the Theater District / Convention Center station until spring 2027. There are several buses that stop within two blocks of The Ellie, including the ART and the 16th Street FreeRide, which runs every three minutes. To plan your ride to The Ellie with RTD, click here.