Causes: Arts & Culture, Opera

Mission:

Opera Omaha’s mission is to give life to the belief that excellent performances of opera, music theater, and other activities designed to educate, engage and enrich all residents of our community will improve life in the greater Omaha region.Opera Omaha believes that “Opera is for Everyone,” since everyone has the capacity to enjoy and to grow from the experience of opera – in live performance, recordings and media presentations, and other learning and enrichment opportunities. Opera Omaha, as a cultural service organization, feels it must increase the public’s exposure to and appreciation of opera throughout our community, regardless of age, cultural, social or economic background. Opera Omaha achieves this by providing access to original high quality opera productions and by forging opera’s rich storytelling power, historical significance and cross-cultural relevance into an array of activities that invite all people to enjoy themselves as a community, to grow as people, and to become more productive citizens.

Geographic areas served: Midwest

Programs:

Opera Omaha has launched a four-year education and performance project which will annually include one major Mozart opera presented in connection with a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (WAM!) Festival. (The February 2010 production of The Marriage of Figaro is the first production of this multi-year series.) The yearly WAM! Festival also include performances of other works by Mozart, community enrichment activities that highlight Mozart, and in the future, a vocal competition for high school-age students. Mozart’s music and other themes such as Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment will provide immediately identifiable access points for the people of our region, into Opera Omaha and a lifelong commitment to personal and community enrichment through music and opera.