Opera Omaha week, in accordance with National Opera week, began Oct. 27 and runs through Saturday. According to production coordinator Cammy Watkins, Opera Omaha week was designed to make opera more accessible to the public. Nowadays, many people aren’t aware of the opportunities to attend opera in a casual environment, and this week is meant to allow people of all ages to try it out and see how they like it. This year, Opera Omaha is also celebrating its 55th season, so a special performer will be coming in to make an appearance.
There will be three special events this week at Opera Omaha. These include performances, an evening with lunch and a show and a master class taught by Peter Volpe. Volpe’s resume includes performances at Carnegie Hall, at the Oberlin Conservatory, with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, with the Augusta Choral Society and many more. At the lunch, Volpe will be performing for the guests as they enjoy a free meal. Afterwards they will be able to ask questions about careers, performances or anything else they want to learn about the opera world. There will also be a Halloween party, which is being called Opera After Dark. Guests will come in costume, and the best costume will win tickets to an upcoming performance.
Opera in itself is something that has different ideas associated with it. When many people think of opera, they think of elderly people sitting in the wings, who are wearing spectacles because they are too far away to see properly, and who are listening to singing that is in a different language. This is partially right. Today, the average age of someone attending an opera is sixty years old. National Opera week and Opera Omaha Week are trying to show the younger generation that opera is not just for the older folks. By holding a master class, Opera Omaha is attempting to show students how much fun and how exciting singing and performing can be.
According to Watkins, “It will give students an opportunity to learn about techniques and tricks professional opera singers use to improve their voices and performances.”
Anyone who enjoys musical theater and even some contemporary music will most likely enjoy opera as well.
Opera began in Italy, and quickly spread across Europe. At first, it was performed for the higher class, and seen as a superior to other styles of performance art. However, it did not remain confined to the higher class for very long. Opera became public in 1637. Because of this shift, many operas became more comedic in style. They began to make fun of the higher classes in subtle ways, which amused the middle classes that attended the productions. Today of course, anyone is able to attend a performance. It simply isn’t as prominent as attending a concert would be for students. The coordinators of National Opera Week hope to change that.