Join us in the Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art
November 8, 2020 at 2:00 pm
New Orleans Opera and New Orleans Museum of Art are thrilled to continue our three-year collaborative partnership with the Opéra Nouvelle series. This year’s theme is “Mozart and the Garden.” The first half of this one-hour event is a fantastical journey through Mozart’s greatest hits – Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte and, perfectly suiting the occasion, La finta giardiniera (set in a garden, about a noblewoman in disguise). During the second half, we will feature a plethora of fun-filled English songs and arias with a surprise finale from a noteworthy composer who is living in New Orleans!
Tickets to the concert are FREE, courtesy of New Orleans Opera, and include admission to NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden after the performance, courtesy of NOMA. See below for details on how to get your free ticket.
Indoor museum cost at NOMA as follows: Members are free, $15.00 adults, $10.00 seniors (65+) & active military with ID, $8.00 university students with ID and Free admission for visitors age 19 and younger courtesy of the Helis Foundation.
Opéra Nouvelle: Mozart and The Garden is directed by Dr. William Mouat, Director of Education at New Orleans Opera, and it features NOOA resident and emerging artists Rachel Looney, Zara Zemmels, Amanda McCarthy, Sakinah Davis, Valerie Francis, Mark Anthony Thomas, Frank Convit, Ivan Griffin, Dylan Trần, and Jesse Reeks.
Ticket Information
All of NOMA’s in-person events require prior registration due to crowd control and the Special Event Permit from the City of New Orleans.
Seating capacity is 100 and crowd gathering outside of the space is not permitted.
We are SO excited to see you at the Opera On Tap concerts!
Below is the seating chart and we’ll have your name on a list at the door if you forget which section is yours. Please remember that each section seats up to three people; see the photo and instructions below on where and how to sit in your section to allow for the proper social distancing.
We are asking everyone for the 3:00 pm concert to enter at the front gate and to exit behind the house. This is to limit your risk and to help the 5:00 pm crowd maintain proper distancing protocols.
The New Orleans Opera Association is proud to announce the winners of the Fall/Winter 2020 WOOD OPERATIC ADVANCEMENT GRANT: Imani Sarai Francis and Lindsey Reynolds.
Imani was the Second place female winner of the Donald W. Wood, Sr. Vocal Competition (2015-2016). She was also the 2019 Fall/Winter recipient of the Wood Operatic Advancement Grant.
Lindsey received honorable mention at the Donald W. Wood, Sr. Vocal Competition (2015-2016) and was also the recipient of the 2020 Spring/Summer Wood Operatic Grant.
Imani Sarai Francis, B. M. , Boston Conservatory at Berklee School of Music.
Imani is a proud 2020 graduate of Boston Conservatory at Berklee School of Music. Recently Imani was accepted to the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Music where she will pursue a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Her plans include studying under the very capable tutelage of Dr. Loraine Sims. Imani requests financial assistance for this upcoming school year of 2020-2021 and is very grateful to the Wood Foundation through the New Orleans Opera Association for their continuous support of her career goals and aspirations. Imani graciously writes: “This organization is truly God sent and I have been blessed by your genuine concern and generosity for me and other aspiring young artists.”
Lindsey Reynolds, a graduate student pursuing a Masters of Music degree at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Lindsey is studying under the tutelage of Julia Falkner at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music. She is a versatile young artist and her favorite roles include Zerlina Don Giovanni, Adina L’elisir d’amore, Giulietta I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Miss Wordsworth Albert Herring, and Monica The Medium. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades, including first place in the Camille Coloratura Awards: Student Division, James Toland Vocal Arts Competition: Tier 2, Junior Division of the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera National Voice Competition, Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, and the National Association of Negro Musicians Vocal Competition.
Last summer, Ms. Reynolds was a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre Saint Louis where she was to premiere the role of Lily in Awakenings written by Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman (Canceled due to Covid-19). This October, Lindsey is very excited to be a featured artist in Lawrence Brownlee with Friends presented by Opera Philadelphia. It is her desire to have the funds to purchase equipment needed to accommodate performing and recording in this new COVID-19 world inside her one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia and to purchase a camera, to rent professional space to make recordings, and to hire an accompanist. She needs this equipment to create the strongest videos possible for online auditions and competitions. All Young Artist Auditions are taking place online this fall, as are competitions. The Curtis Institute of Music, the Conservatory in which she is studying online as a first-year student in their Master’s Program, is not open to students or staff. No one can access their buildings. Such a strange new world in which we are residing. Lindsey confidently writes: “I hope to come out of this a stronger singer and performer!”
Congratulations to Imani and Lindsey!
Donations to the Wood Operatic Advancement Grant help finance and cultivate young vocal talent like Imani and Lindsey, please contact Gina Klein at the New Orleans Opera Office at (504) 267-9527 or write gklein@neworleansopera.org.
New Orleans Opera mourns the passing of soprano Ruth Falcon, a graduate of Loyola and Tulane Universities, who made her New Orleans Opera debut in 1968 as Frasquita in Carmen. Ms. Falcon performed all over the United States and Europe, making her New York City debut as Micaela in Carmen and her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Empress in Die Frau Ohne Schatten. Her last role with New Orleans Opera was Leonore in Verdi’s Il trovatore, which opened the 1997-98 season. Following her successful performing career, she turned to teaching and became a successful pedagogue, guiding many opera singers as they launched international careers. Most recently she had been an esteemed faculty member of the Mannes School of Music.
“I am hoping this will be an opportunity for us to get to know each other a little better until we are able to be together in person at the theater. Let’s talk about what you love about New Orleans Opera, and I’ll share some of my favorite opera stories from my 30 years working in the field.”
Clare Burovac, General Director, New Orleans Opera
Pick your day, mix your drink, and come ready to share some stories!
October 22, 2020 – Parlez-moi d’amour: Love at First Sight in Romantic French Opera:
The first lecture in the series features guest presenter Amy Pfrimmer, voice faculty member and director of opera at Tulane University. Amy was, in fact, recently seen in the role of Juno in the NOOA Opéra Comique, Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach.From Georges Bizet’s Carmen to Jules Massenet’s Manon and Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns, Professor Pfrimmer will focus onthe Femmes Fatales of this golden age of French opera.
October 29, 2020 – Mozart Operas and the Enlightenment:
Dr. William Mouat discusses W.A. Mozart and his last, great operas. From the 1786 Le Nozze di Figaro, which strikes at the very heart of the dreadful Droit du seigneur tradition, to the 1787 Don Giovanni, which sends a warning to all rakes and miscreants, to the 1790 Così fan tutte, which explores young love, we will unpack the famous Italian Trio. As a pièce de résistance, we will examine Mozart’s final operatic comedy and Singspiel, the 1791 Die Zauberflöte, translated into English as The Magic Flute.
November 5, 2020 – Origins and Evolution of the Rescue Opera:
From Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio to Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz toRichard Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer, guest presenter, conductor, and collaborative pianist Michael Borowitz will discuss the various historic, social and artistic reasons that rescue operas came into being. Michael Borowitz is Associate Professor of Opera at LSU, and he works with New Orleans Opera on a regular basis. A seasoned and nationally renowned conductor, coach and pianist, Michael is also the artistic and musical director of Opera Louisiane, our Capitol City’s opera organization.
November 12, 2020 – When and where is it appropriate and effective to update an opera “classic”?
This topic asks a question that is frequently faced by modern opera companies, especially in the wake of a fluctuating world economy, and the paucity of donors and sponsors in the arts. By the time a great deal of money is spent on orchestras, singers, costumes and artistic direction, budgets are often strained and company managers must make the decision to update certain productions. Here, Dr. Sakinah Davis, Chair of Vocal Studies and Director of Opera at Xavier University will tell us the best ways to do this, and she’ll cite her personal experience with this topic of discussion.
November 19, 2020 – Cultural Appropriation in Madama Butterfly and Porgy and Bess:
This is a subject that is applicable to our contemporary world as we delve into Giacomo Puccini and George Gershwin’s masterpieces. Dr. Valerie Francis, Associate Professor of Voice at Nicholls State Uniiversity – having performed the roles of Cio Cio San as well as Bess – is uniquely qualified to relate her revelations and discoveries about these roles, and the performance history and traditions of these operas.
Until we can perform in our favorite drinking establishments again, we are so very proud to present to you:
October 24, 2020
3:00 pm and 5:00 pm SOLD OUT!
October 31, 2020
3:00 pm and 5:00 pm SOLD OUT!
Date TBD, Spring 2021
On Sale Spring 2021
Date TBD, Spring 2021
On Sale Spring 2021
DETAILS:
Performances will take place on the lawn of the Opera Guild Home, 2504 Prytania Street, NOLA 70130.
Concerts begin at 5:00 pm.
Face Masks Required (additional safety rules are outlined on our website.)
Tickets are $30 for a section and each section seats up to 3 people. Sections are assigned in the order tickets are purchased, so buy now for the best availability!
Bring a blanket or chairs (up to 3 chairs per section). No food or beverages will be available, so please BYOB.
Opera on Tap presents “Sing it, Sister!” – an all-women’s concert celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote! This special program anticipates our Election Day with music representing women from many walks of life, including Susan B. Anthony. As with all OOT programs, you can expect an engaging mix of Opera, Broadway and more!
Singers Nicole Heinen, Vickie R. Thomas, Haley Whitney, Rachel Abbate, Mary Cloud and Zara Zemmels are accompanied by Carol Rausch.
Opera on Tap presents “Sinister Saturday!” – a Halloween-themed concert with music about witches, zombies, fairy tale creatures, fortune-tellers, denizens of the underworld and the usual murder and mayhem. Costumes are optional….but don’t forget your mask!
And don’t worry – the program will be over before the sun goes down.
Singers Kameron Lopreore, Frank Convit, Spencer Reichman, Rachel Abbate, Nicole Heinen and Isabella Vanderhoof are joined by pianist Carol Rausch.
Opera on Tap presents “Shakespeare in the Park – In Our Yard” – Date TBD. The play’s the thing, and the Bard is the best when it comes to opera and musical theater plots! This concert features music from Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate (based on The Taming of the Shrew), Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Verdi’s Falstaff, Thomas’ Hamlet, and Rodgers and Hart’s The Boys from Syracuse (based on The Comedy of Errors). Plus three musical settings of Romeo and Juliet – the famous opera by Gounod, I Capuleti ed i Montecchi by Bellini, and Bernstein’s magnificent West Side Story.
Singers Rachel Looney, Nicole Heinen, Zara Zemmels, Kameron Lopreore and Spencer Reichman are accompanied by Carol Rausch.
Travel the World in Concert In Our Yard!
Opera on Tap presents “Travel the World in Concert – In Our Yard!” Date TBD. Even if your summer vacation plans are virtual, let us help with musical suggestions from around the globe! If you’re thinking about a classic trip to Europe, we’ve got selections from Italy, Spain, Germany and France. Something slightly more exotic? We’ll take you to Russia and the Balkans. Maybe a Caribbean cruise is more your style? Enjoy an excerpt from the West Indies. If you’re staying in the States, we’ve got music from Charleston, New England, the Big Apple and of course the Big Easy!
Join singers Haley Whitney, Mary Cloud, Isabella Vanderhoof, Kameron Lopreore, Mark-Anthony Thomas, Frank Convit and Spencer Reichman, with pianist Carol Rausch.
Safety Guidelines
We look forward to welcoming you at our upcoming performance!
The health and safety of our guests, performers, and staff are our top priority. While there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public spaces where people are present, we hope that the following guidelines will help everyone safely enjoy the performance.
Per City and State mandates, face masks will be required for all guests and staff throughout the performance.
A trained COVID officer will be on site at all times. All guests and staff will have a contactless temperature screening upon arrival. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 or higher will not be permitted to enter the venue.
Hand sanitizer will be available upon entry and throughout the venue.
While there will be no sale of food or beverages on site, we invite our guests to bring their own drink of choice to enjoy.
Restrooms will be available during the performance. We encourage guests, however, to use the restroom before they arrive to prevent large groups from gathering in the restroom area.
Please respect social distancing guidelines throughout the performance. Signage, ground markings, and staff will help guests maintain at least a 6-foot distance from each other.
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, shortness of breath, or loss of sense of smell or taste) should stay home and contact their healthcare provider.
Any guests who are unable to adhere to the above guidelines will be asked to leave the performance. We thank you in advance for your cooperation!
In the case of a possible COVID-19 exposure at the performance, the ticket purchaser will serve as the main contact for their party.
Good News Friday is a monthly space to talk about positive change, share good news from the field, and enjoy a chat with friends and colleagues.
In August, special guests Héctor Armienta, Shadi Ghaheri, and Nicole Paiment joined us for conversation, opera games, and a performance of “Awoke as a Butterfly” from M. Butterfly by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang, courtesy of The Santa Fe Opera.
The next Good News Friday is September 25, 2020 at 3:30 PM. Subscribe to OPERA America’s YouTube Channel here.
