Opera North

Programs: Opera north is a full-time level iv (budget of less than 1 million dollars) professional opera company that stages original productions of well-known operas and classic musical theatre. The 2017 season featured mainstage productions of puccini's butterfly, offenbach's la belle helene, and cole porter's kiss me, kate performed in repertory over 16 days. With ticket prices starting at $20, over 5,400 tickets were issued for these performances.

opera north's nationally-renowned resident artist program provides education through performance for sixteen young adult professional singers, pianists, and production assistants. They work with world-class singers, directors, designers, and conductors in both rehearsals and classes. Singers perform and cover appropriate roles in two of the mainstage productions of the season and take on leading roles in the third production of the season (in 2017, la belle helene). Additionally, they perform in special concerts during the summer season. A select number of these artists return to the upper valley throughout the year to perform in education & outreach events at local schools and public venues. In 2017, the selected resident artists were chosen from 700 applicants.

opera north's education & outreach program brings opera and classic musical theatre to audiences in under-served regions of new hampshire and vermont, where funding cuts have severely impacted music and arts education. As part of its year-round programming, opera north stages low-cost and free-of-charge presentations at schools, libraries, and other public venues. The age-appropriate performances feature professional artists, musicians and technical personnel. In spring 2017, kurt weill's street scene was performed before about 450 at area high schools and the woodstock public library. In february 2017, opera north partnered with the lebanon ballet school to put on an audition workshop with broadway choreographer kurt dumoney. A dozen kids between the ages of 6 and 18 attended the two-day session, which included a q&a with parents. Financial aid was made available to students who could not afford the full cost.

the 2017 summer season also included concerts and special events at venues around the upper valley. Performances by resident artists and special guests were held in collaboration with landmark sites in the region. These events are part of opera north's outreach efforts to bring opera and classical music theatre to the community. In 2017, locations included the fells historic estate and gardens (newbury, nh), blow-me-down farm (cornish, nh), lake sunapee cruises (sunapee, nh), and highland center for the arts (greensboro, vt).