Aspen, CO-Colorado is justly famous for its winters filled with pristine ski slopes and myriad outdoor activities. But it is during Colorado's glorious summer months that visitors to its mountain resort communities have the unique opportunity to experience classical music presentations in some of the most compelling and breathtaking locations in the country. To increase public awareness of the diversity of classical music offerings in the mountains, and to encourage summer tourism, the Colorado Music Alliance has been created.
Consisting of summer festivals as diverse as the venerable 53-year-old Aspen Music Festival and School and the 70-year-old Central City Opera, to 15-year-old Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and Steamboat Springs' Strings in the Mountains, the Colorado Music Alliance is a loosely organized group totaling ten summer music festivals with an emphasis on classical music. Together, they and their smaller brethren, in towns that include Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte, Durango, and Ouray, draw more than 320,000 visitors annually deep into the Rockies for 850+ concerts each season. In all, visitors can sample a full menu of classical music from symphonic and chamber music concerts, to solo recitals and fully-staged opera productions. Venues include beautifully restored Victorian opera houses, open-air pavilions and tents, and intimate, acoustically acclaimed recital halls. It's an intoxicating mix of world-class music and unforgettable settings.
More than simply local cultural institutions, the members of the Alliance also generate a significant fiscal contribution to the state's coffers. Last year the festivals of the Colorado Music Alliance contributed more than $80 million to the state's economy.
In an effort to reach potential visitors, the Colorado Music Alliance has created a web site listing members and their contact information, season information, and links to the member festivals. With an eye towards encouraging travel to multiple festivals, the members also plan to offer visitors to their web site the opportunity to receive discounts on tickets to their respective festivals. The web site launches at the end of April.
The Colorado Music Alliance is made up of the following organizations:For more detailed information about the Colorado Music Alliance and its members, call Wes Blomster at 303-444-0322 or visit the Colorado Music Alliance web site at www.ColoradoMusicAlliance.com.
Central City Opera House Association
CENTRAL CITY OPERA FESTIVAL
One of the oldest and finest opera festivals in the United States, headlining
artists from the Metropolitan San Franciso Opera. Classical opera is performed
in the 1878 Opera House. One of the most famous and oldest professional opera
seasons in America. Performed in English.
July THROUGH Aug.
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CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE
Built in 1878 by Welsh and Cornish miners, the Central City Opera House has
been restored to its Victorian splendor. The opera house is home to
Central City Opera, Colorado's oldest professional performing arts
organization, founded in 1932. The opera company has maintained its
commitment to singing in English, casting according to type and emphasizing
an ensemble approach to performance. The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Artists Training Program is one of the most prestigious in the country. In
its 66 years, numerous stars of the opera and stage have performed in the
Central City summer festivals, including Beverly Sills, Jerome Hines,
Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Samuel Ramey, Catherine Malfitano and many
others.
In 1999, Central City Opera is pleased to announce installation of new,
roomy, comfortable theater-style seating. Gracefully retiring the old
hickory chairs, Central City Opera is responding to decades of requests to
replace the seats. Increased leg room, new continental seating in the
front of the orchestra section, and cushioned, padded seats with arms will
all provide patrons with an unparalleled level of comfort. Last season, a
new air cooling system was installed in the 1878 Opera House, so that even
matinees were pleasantly cool. Central City Opera has now upgraded almost
every area of the Opera House, from the front of house to backstage areas,
all to present the finest performances in greater comfort for audience and
artists alike.
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FESTIVAL EXTRAS
Presented in the historic Williams Stables, Festival Extras such as
the cabaret opera THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR and OPERA A LA CARTE,
fully-staged scenes from some of the best loved operas, are a perfect
compliment to the mainstage productions. A series of Salon Recitals by
Festival artists, performed at the Teller House, complete the season.
Built in 1878 by Welsh and Cornish miners, the Central City Opera
House has been restored to its Victorian splendor. The opera house is
home to Central City Opera, Colorado's oldest performing arts group. The
opera company has maintained its commitment to singing in English,
casting according to type and emphasizing an ensemble approach to
performance. The Apprentice Artist Training Program is one of the most
prestigious in the country. In its sixty-five years, numerous stars of
the opera and stage have performed in the Central City summer festivals,
including Beverly Sills, Jerome Hines, Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Samuel
Ramey, Catherine Malfitano and many others.
Located in the mountains, a short drive west of Denver, round-trip
bus transportation from Denver and reserved parking as well as group rate
information are available through Central City Opera's Box Office. To
order tickets, call (303) 292-6700 or 1-800-851-8175. Ticket prices
range from $24 to $52.
Central City Opera Presents
Opera Pops Picnic Without Ants
Hosted with charm and panache by Central City Opera's Artistic
Director John Moriarty, the eleventh annual Opera Pops Picnic Without
Ants, sponsored by Norwest Banks, inaugurates the season with its only
Denver performance on Tuesday, June 17 at the Marriott City Center at
17th and California at 5:30 p.m.
A musical extravaganza with the complete Central City Opera
Festival Orchestra and artists from the upcoming season, this year's
Opera Pops program features the thrilling Offenbach trio from THE TALES
OF HOFFMANN, the traditional and beloved duet from THE PEARL FISHERS
and some Viennese pastries from DIE FLEDERMAUS and THE MERRY WIDOW.
Debut artist Guiping Deng (in the title role of MADAME BUTTERFLY,
opening June 28) will perform the soaring Magda's aria from LA RONDINE
and James Busterud, also making his first appearance with Central City
Opera (as Danilo in THE MERRY WIDOW, opening July 5), will delight with
Rossini's Largo al factotum from THE BARBER OF SEVILLE. Excerpts from
Ward's THE CRUCIBLE and Copland's THE TENDER LAND put the focus on
American opera as Central City Opera continues its American Series,
this year featuring SUSANNAH opening this summer on July 12 with
composer Carlisle Floyd in attendance. John Moriarty and John Baril
will share conducting duties for Opera Pops.
1999 marks John Moriarty's seventeenth season as Artistic Director
at Central City Opera where he has shaped the Apprentice Artist
Program. He is also chairman of the Opera Department at the New
England Conservatory of Music. He has conducted for Opera Theatre
of St. Louis, Wolf Trap Opera, and Santa Fe Opera, where he was also
Artistic Administrator and director of its training program. His
musical career began as a solo pianist with recitals and concert
appearances in this country and in Europe. In the fall of 1995, he
conducted FAUST for Boston Lyric Opera.
John Baril returns for his second summer as Assistant Conductor
and Chorus Master and his sixth summer with Central City Opera. In 1996
he conducted mainstage productions of RIGOLETTO and was Chorus Master
for the newly-released Newport Classics recording of THE BALLAD OF BABY
DOE. Mr. Baril is presently the Coordinating Manager of Yale Opera.
Opera Pops Picnic Without Ants is presented by Norwest Banks.
Tickets, including a picnic supper and the performance are $60 for
patrons, $30 for picnickers and are available through the Box Office
(292-6700, 1-800-851-8175).
Running June 28 through August 10, Central City Opera's 1997
Summer Festival will include Giacomo Puccini's MADAME BUTTERFLY,
Carlisle Floyd's SUSANNAH and Franz Lehar's THE MERRY WIDOW, all
performed in English. In addition to the main-stage offerings, Festival
Extras including Salon Recitals, Opera Lover Dinners, Opera … la Carte
and performances of the cabaret opera THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR are
scheduled to fit perfectly before or after the operas for the ideal
addition to a day or night at the opera.
The Central City Opera House has been lovingly restored to its
original splendor. This Victorian treasure seats 745 in an intimate
setting ideal for experiencing the best of opera.
Getting to Central City is easy. For those who choose to drive,
reserved parking is available. Patrons also have the option of
travelling in the luxury and comfort of the Central City Opera
Bus, which departs from locations in Denver and Boulder. Persons with
special needs can be accommodated with advanced notice.