ANNOUNCING OUR virtual 22nd season of memories
We are in our 22nd Season of opera magic and, even though our season does not look exactly as we had imagined, we find we have much to celebrate and much to anticipate for the future. Please join us for a fun Virtual Season of Memories. We hope you will enjoy this ride down Opera Theatre Memory Lane and that you will accept our continued gratitude for your friendship. We anticipate a face to face reunion with you soon. In the meantime, please be safe and healthy!
8/14 - 8/28 The Magic Flute, Mozart
8/28 - 9/11 The Barber of Seville, Rossini
9/11 - 9/25 Puccini Double Bill
9/25 - 10/9 Let’s Make a Scene, Various
10/9 - 10/23 Trouble in Tahiti, Bernstein
10/23 - 11/6 Carmen, Bizet
Performances can be viewed on the OTR website and Facebook page.
8/28 - 9/11 The Barber of Seville, Rossini
9/11 - 9/25 Puccini Double Bill
9/25 - 10/9 Let’s Make a Scene, Various
10/9 - 10/23 Trouble in Tahiti, Bernstein
10/23 - 11/6 Carmen, Bizet
Performances can be viewed on the OTR website and Facebook page.
Let’s make a scene!
Our favorite scenes from 3 operas
The Medium - Act I
by Gian Carlo Menotti
Performed July 14, 2019
by Gian Carlo Menotti
Performed July 14, 2019
The Medium is a short (one-hour-long) two-act dramatic opera with words and music by Gian Carlo Menotti. Commissioned by Columbia University, its first performance was there on 8 May 1946.
Act 1
The medium's parlor
Monica, Madame Flora's daughter, and Toby, a mute servant boy rescued from the streets of Budapest play dress-up. When Madame Flora, or "Baba" as they call her, arrives home drunk, she violently chastises them for not preparing for that night's seance. Soon the guests arrive, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau, regulars, and the widow Mrs. Nolan who is attending for the first time.
With Madame Flora in a trance in her chair, a fake seance is held where Mrs. Nolan speaks with what she thinks is her deceased sixteen-year-old daughter but is really Monica behind a screen. As Monica disappears, Mrs. Nolan rushes toward the figure and is restrained by the Gobineaus.
When order is restored, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau "communicate" with their deceased two-year-old son Mickey, who, having never learned to speak, only laughs. After they say goodbye to him, Madame Flora suddenly clutches at her throat with both hands. She feels a phantom hand clutching her throat and is terror-stricken.
After demanding that the guests leave, she calls for Monica and tells her what she felt, eventually blaming Toby who was in the other room the whole time. In an effort to calm Baba's drunken rage toward Toby, Monica sings her the dark lullaby "The Black Swan" which is interrupted by a voice that Baba hears causing her to fly into a terrified rage at Toby for not telling her where the voice is coming from. The act ends with Monica again singing the lullaby while Baba recites her Hail Marys.
Act 1
The medium's parlor
Monica, Madame Flora's daughter, and Toby, a mute servant boy rescued from the streets of Budapest play dress-up. When Madame Flora, or "Baba" as they call her, arrives home drunk, she violently chastises them for not preparing for that night's seance. Soon the guests arrive, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau, regulars, and the widow Mrs. Nolan who is attending for the first time.
With Madame Flora in a trance in her chair, a fake seance is held where Mrs. Nolan speaks with what she thinks is her deceased sixteen-year-old daughter but is really Monica behind a screen. As Monica disappears, Mrs. Nolan rushes toward the figure and is restrained by the Gobineaus.
When order is restored, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau "communicate" with their deceased two-year-old son Mickey, who, having never learned to speak, only laughs. After they say goodbye to him, Madame Flora suddenly clutches at her throat with both hands. She feels a phantom hand clutching her throat and is terror-stricken.
After demanding that the guests leave, she calls for Monica and tells her what she felt, eventually blaming Toby who was in the other room the whole time. In an effort to calm Baba's drunken rage toward Toby, Monica sings her the dark lullaby "The Black Swan" which is interrupted by a voice that Baba hears causing her to fly into a terrified rage at Toby for not telling her where the voice is coming from. The act ends with Monica again singing the lullaby while Baba recites her Hail Marys.
La Boheme - Act IV
by Giacomo Puccini
Performed August 7, 2009
by Giacomo Puccini
Performed August 7, 2009
The story is set in Paris around 1830, and shows the Bohemian lifestyle (known in French as "la bohème") of a poor seamstress and her artist friends.
Act 4
Back in the garret (some months later)
Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work, though they are primarily talking about their girlfriends, who have left them and found wealthy lovers. Rodolfo has seen Musetta in a fine carriage and Marcello has seen Mimì dressed like a queen. The men both express their nostalgia (duet: O Mimì, tu più non torni—"O Mimì, will you not return?"). Schaunard and Colline arrive with a very frugal dinner and all parody eating a plentiful banquet, dance together and sing, before Schaunard and Colline engage in a mock duel.
Musetta suddenly appears; Mimì, who took up with a wealthy viscount after leaving Rodolfo in the spring, has left her patron. Musetta found her that day in the street, severely weakened by her illness, and Mimì begged Musetta to bring her to Rodolfo. Mimì, haggard and pale, is assisted onto a bed. Briefly, she feels as though she is recovering.
Musetta and Marcello leave to sell Musetta's earrings in order to buy medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his overcoat (Vecchia zimarra—"Old coat"). Schaunard leaves with Colline to give Mimì and Rodolfo some time together. Mimì tells Rodolfo that her love for him is her whole life (aria/duet, Mimì and Rodolfo: Sono andati?—"Have they gone?").
To Mimì's delight, Rodolfo presents her with the pink bonnet he bought her, which he has kept as a souvenir of their love. They remember past happiness and their first meeting—the candles, the lost key. Mimì is overwhelmed by a seizure of coughing.
The others return, with a gift of a muff to warm Mimì's hands and a cordial to soothe her cough. Mimì gently thanks Rodolfo for the muff, which she believes is a present from him, reassures him that she is better, and falls asleep. Musetta prays. Schaunard discovers that Mimì has died. Rodolfo rushes to the bed, calling Mimì's name in anguish. He sobs helplessly as the curtain falls.
Act 4
Back in the garret (some months later)
Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work, though they are primarily talking about their girlfriends, who have left them and found wealthy lovers. Rodolfo has seen Musetta in a fine carriage and Marcello has seen Mimì dressed like a queen. The men both express their nostalgia (duet: O Mimì, tu più non torni—"O Mimì, will you not return?"). Schaunard and Colline arrive with a very frugal dinner and all parody eating a plentiful banquet, dance together and sing, before Schaunard and Colline engage in a mock duel.
Musetta suddenly appears; Mimì, who took up with a wealthy viscount after leaving Rodolfo in the spring, has left her patron. Musetta found her that day in the street, severely weakened by her illness, and Mimì begged Musetta to bring her to Rodolfo. Mimì, haggard and pale, is assisted onto a bed. Briefly, she feels as though she is recovering.
Musetta and Marcello leave to sell Musetta's earrings in order to buy medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his overcoat (Vecchia zimarra—"Old coat"). Schaunard leaves with Colline to give Mimì and Rodolfo some time together. Mimì tells Rodolfo that her love for him is her whole life (aria/duet, Mimì and Rodolfo: Sono andati?—"Have they gone?").
To Mimì's delight, Rodolfo presents her with the pink bonnet he bought her, which he has kept as a souvenir of their love. They remember past happiness and their first meeting—the candles, the lost key. Mimì is overwhelmed by a seizure of coughing.
The others return, with a gift of a muff to warm Mimì's hands and a cordial to soothe her cough. Mimì gently thanks Rodolfo for the muff, which she believes is a present from him, reassures him that she is better, and falls asleep. Musetta prays. Schaunard discovers that Mimì has died. Rodolfo rushes to the bed, calling Mimì's name in anguish. He sobs helplessly as the curtain falls.
Samson and Delilah - Act II
by Camille Saint Saens
Performed August 5, 2009
by Camille Saint Saens
Performed August 5, 2009
Samson and Delilah (French: Samson et Dalila), Op. 47, is a grand opera in three acts and four scenes by Camille Saint-Saëns to a French libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire. It was first performed in Weimar at the Grossherzogliches (Grand Ducal) Theater (now the Staatskapelle Weimar) on 2 December 1877 in a German translation.
The opera is based on the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah found in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It is the only opera by Saint-Saëns that is regularly performed. The second act love scene in Delilah's tent is one of the set pieces that define French opera.
Two of Delilah's arias are particularly well known: "Printemps qui commence" ("Spring begins") and "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" ("My heart opens itself to your voice", also known as "Softly awakes my heart"), the latter of which is one of the most popular recital pieces in the mezzo-soprano/contralto repertoire.
Act 2
Delilah's retreat in the Valley of Sorek
Dalila knows that Samson is entranced with her and will come to her instead of leading the revolution against the Philistines. Sitting on a rock outside the entrance to her retreat, she sings triumphantly about her power to ensnare Samson. She says that all of his strength is hopeless to withstand love's onslaught ("Amour! viens aider ma faiblesse – Love! come help my weakness").
Distant lightning is seen as the High Priest arrives to report that Samson and the Hebrews have conquered the Philistines. He attempts to achieve Samson's capture by offering Dalila gold, but she refuses saying she cares not for money but only for revenge. Her desire to hurt Samson is motivated solely by her loyalty to her gods and her hatred for the Hebrews. Dalila and the High Priest sing a duet expressing their mutual abhorrence for Samson and the Hebrews. Dalila vows to discover the secret of Samson's strength.
Now alone, Dalila contemplates her chances of success. Samson, intent on taking his place as the leader of the Hebrew revolt, emerges to say his last farewell as distant lightning is once again seen. In an attempt to close the trap which she has set for Samson, Dalila tells Samson seductively that she is completely his if he wants her. She begs him to respond to her caresses, hoping that he will finally let go of all other things and concentrate completely on her.
His admission Je t'aime! introduces her main aria "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix – My heart opens to your voice", which becomes a duet on the second verse when Samson joins her in song. Now that Dalila has him in her power, she feigns disbelief in his constancy and demands that he show his love by confiding in her the secret of his strength.
Samson hears rolling thunder again which now seems like a warning from God and refuses. Dalila weeps and scorns Samson and runs into her dwelling. Samson is momentarily torn but then follows Dalila inside. Not long afterward, having finally learned that the secret of Samson's strength is his long hair, she calls to hidden Philistine soldiers, who rush in to capture and blind Samson.
The opera is based on the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah found in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It is the only opera by Saint-Saëns that is regularly performed. The second act love scene in Delilah's tent is one of the set pieces that define French opera.
Two of Delilah's arias are particularly well known: "Printemps qui commence" ("Spring begins") and "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" ("My heart opens itself to your voice", also known as "Softly awakes my heart"), the latter of which is one of the most popular recital pieces in the mezzo-soprano/contralto repertoire.
Act 2
Delilah's retreat in the Valley of Sorek
Dalila knows that Samson is entranced with her and will come to her instead of leading the revolution against the Philistines. Sitting on a rock outside the entrance to her retreat, she sings triumphantly about her power to ensnare Samson. She says that all of his strength is hopeless to withstand love's onslaught ("Amour! viens aider ma faiblesse – Love! come help my weakness").
Distant lightning is seen as the High Priest arrives to report that Samson and the Hebrews have conquered the Philistines. He attempts to achieve Samson's capture by offering Dalila gold, but she refuses saying she cares not for money but only for revenge. Her desire to hurt Samson is motivated solely by her loyalty to her gods and her hatred for the Hebrews. Dalila and the High Priest sing a duet expressing their mutual abhorrence for Samson and the Hebrews. Dalila vows to discover the secret of Samson's strength.
Now alone, Dalila contemplates her chances of success. Samson, intent on taking his place as the leader of the Hebrew revolt, emerges to say his last farewell as distant lightning is once again seen. In an attempt to close the trap which she has set for Samson, Dalila tells Samson seductively that she is completely his if he wants her. She begs him to respond to her caresses, hoping that he will finally let go of all other things and concentrate completely on her.
His admission Je t'aime! introduces her main aria "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix – My heart opens to your voice", which becomes a duet on the second verse when Samson joins her in song. Now that Dalila has him in her power, she feigns disbelief in his constancy and demands that he show his love by confiding in her the secret of his strength.
Samson hears rolling thunder again which now seems like a warning from God and refuses. Dalila weeps and scorns Samson and runs into her dwelling. Samson is momentarily torn but then follows Dalila inside. Not long afterward, having finally learned that the secret of Samson's strength is his long hair, she calls to hidden Philistine soldiers, who rush in to capture and blind Samson.
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ABOUT
Opera Theatre of the Rockies is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to the advancement of opera in Southern Colorado through performance, education, and training. |
PERFORMANCE GOAL
Opera Theatre of the Rockies will produce and present exciting and memorable professional opera that spotlights Colorado artists. |
EDUCATION GOAL
Opera Theatre of the Rockies will enhance awareness, knowledge and appreciation of opera in Southern Colorado. |
TRAINING GOAL
Opera Theatre of the Rockies will provide professional training and performance opportunities for emerging artists. |
PARTNERS
Bee Vradenburg Foundation, The Carma Fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Colorado College Cultural Attractions Fund, Colorado College Music Department, Colorado Creative Industries, Cowan-Fouts Foundation – Robert & Jenny Cowan, Denver Lyric Opera Guild, Dr. Susan Rae Jensen & Tom Trainer, El Pomar Foundation, The Hester E. and Edwin W. Giddings Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, KCME – Jazz 93.5 FM, The Mining Exchange a Wyndham Grand Hotel & Spa, National Endowment for the Arts, Pikes Peak Opera League, Virginia Snow, Visit Colorado Springs, Webb Family of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Wells Fargo Private Bank – The Tiemens Foundation, and the Adventure Culture Fund.
Bee Vradenburg Foundation, The Carma Fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Colorado College Cultural Attractions Fund, Colorado College Music Department, Colorado Creative Industries, Cowan-Fouts Foundation – Robert & Jenny Cowan, Denver Lyric Opera Guild, Dr. Susan Rae Jensen & Tom Trainer, El Pomar Foundation, The Hester E. and Edwin W. Giddings Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, KCME – Jazz 93.5 FM, The Mining Exchange a Wyndham Grand Hotel & Spa, National Endowment for the Arts, Pikes Peak Opera League, Virginia Snow, Visit Colorado Springs, Webb Family of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Wells Fargo Private Bank – The Tiemens Foundation, and the Adventure Culture Fund.
The WOW project is underwritten by The Adventure Culture Fund.
