TEN
That is the 
number of free performances Nevada Opera produced in 12 days for Artown this July. From our popular “Opera in Blue Jeans” show in Wingfield Park, to performing a children’s opera at the Boys and Girls Club, we expanded our Artown programs to broaden our exposure and build new audiences.
We had overflowing crowds at all our performances, including children’s shows that were performed at the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum, Sarah Winnemucca Elementary School, and the Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch -- in addition to the Boys and Girls Club.
Because of these shows and our new Studio Programs, many local youth were able to perform, giving them stage experience and self confidence. They were also able to work with ten singers from New York who came to Reno and shared their skills and talents. Over 1000 guests enjoyed great music and heard some of the finest young opera stars in America perform in Reno.
How did we pull off ten shows in 12 days? In January, we hired a new, dynamic General Director, Monica Harte, who assembled an incredible team of singers, musicians, and directors to create seven unique shows. She also created the Studio Programs --- Youth Program for kids, tweens and teens and Resident Artist Program for young professional opera singers.
For details and more photos,click on a highlighted selection below
- July 4th - Fireworks at the Piano at Steinway Gallery
Four world-class pianists presented dazzling and explosive selections - July 7th - Die Fledermaus at Fuego
Wine tapas and song at Fuego - July 8th - Opera Shorts at Steinway Gallery
Nine eclectic operas in one evening. They're great, click to see why - July 11th - House at Hawkins Amphitheater, Bartley Ranch
Sci-fi opera for the family with a positive message. Also July 13th at the Boys and Girls Club - July 13th and 14th - The Great Grey Ghost of Old Spook Lane at Sarah Winnemuca School (13th)
and the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (14th)
A children's musical about accepting people and their differences - July 13th - Wingfield Park
Nevada Opera Chorus performed before a screening of the Marx Brothers A Night at the Opera. - July 15th - McKinley Art Center, Art Paws with PetFolio magazine
NVO terms up with publisher of PetFolio singing songs about animals. - July 15th - Opera in Blue Jeans at Wingfield Park
NVO's traditional Artown performance. Act II of Die Fledermaus
Sparklers, rockets and a few explosions! Four world-class pianists dazzled the crowd with classical masterpieces and original compositions on one of Steinway's concert grand pianos at the NVO@ThePiano concert.
We expected fireworks for the 4th of July. What we didn't expect was the crowd. The Steinway Recital Hall is an intimate setting for about 100 attendees. We thought it would be reasonably full. It was full - 30 minutes before show time! Thanks to Lamis Pritchard and her staff, chairs and piano benches were moved into the display gallary around the many pianos. The eventual crowd of 200 plus heard wonderful music from four very talented performers.
Our artists were:
- Christian McLeer, graduate of Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music is co-founder and Artistic Director of Remarkable Theatre Brigade (RTB). As a concert pianist Christian has won numerous comprtitions and performed at many respected venues including Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and the New Orleans Astro Dome.
- Donna Axton is the director of music studies at Sierra Nevada College, director of the SNC Concert Choir, a TOCCATA performer and the music minister at St. Patrick's Church. At SNC, Donna teaches classes in piano, voice, world music, music history, music appreciation, music and mythology and psychology.
- Azamat Sydykov is a Kyrgyz concert pianist who has played solo concerts internationally through Kyrgyz, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, Italy and Netherlands. Having settled in New York City, Sydykov has there performed at Steinway Hall, Mannes Concert Hall, Gilder Lehrman Hall, Greenwich House, David Greer Recital Hall and United Nations Headquarters in New York.
- Jonathan Levin made his debut with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra when he was fifteen. Recent performances have included concerts and recitals at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Brooklyn Public Library, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the Kosciusko Foundation in Manhattan, as well as concerts in North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida.
Wine, tapas and Strauss' music delighted a crowd that spilled into the streets. The Nevada Opera Chorus and members of the Resident Artists program performed the second act of Morzart's Die Fledermaus.
Fuego was the scene of Prince Orlovsky's party. In addition to developing the complex plot, the singers tried to dazzle the perpetually bored Prince with Spanish art songs and arias. The Prince may have been bored but the overflow audience certainly wasn't! The owner of Fuego, Miguel Perez, a former Opera Chorus member, was our gracious host. We hope to have many future events in this charming restaurant.
For a synopsis of Die Fledermaus, click here.
A collection of nine short operas that are funny, heart-breaking, cute, serious ...everything you want from opera in 10 minutes or less.
Opera Shorts was developed by Christian McLeer and NVO's Monica Harte, co-founders of Remarkable Theatre Brigade in New York City. Shorts were recently performed in Carnegie Hall. The plots range from the ridiculous (heroes zapped by a giant flying squid!) to the sublime (castaways on a raft and their rescue) and current (on-line dating).
For a sample YouTube of one opera, Kindergarten, click here.
