Opera

Colorado: A Vibrant Hub for Music and Performing Arts

Opera and Music Festivals

Colorado boasts a rich musical heritage, with the Central City Opera House taking center stage as the fifth oldest opera company in the United States. This historic venue, a testament to Colorado’s mining past, hosts over 40 captivating performances annually.

Summer transforms Colorado into a symphony of music festivals. The acclaimed Aspen Music Festival and School offers a diverse lineup of over 350 performances, ranging from classical symphonies to intimate chamber music, opera, and choral masterpieces. Durango, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, and Vail also host renowned summer music festivals, while Telluride’s Bluegrass Festival in June ranks among the nation’s finest.

Denver’s Performing Arts Scene

Denver’s vibrant art scene revolves around the Denver Performing Arts Center, a four-square-block hub that houses world-class institutions such as the Colorado Ballet, Opera Colorado, the Denver Center Theater Company, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Visitors can immerse themselves in a wide range of dynamic concerts and performances, including opera, ballet, theater, and symphony.

The Denver Center Theater Company, the region’s largest resident professional theater company, presents nearly a dozen plays in repertory from fall through early summer. Its innovative Colorado New Play Summit fosters the development of exceptional new American plays for the stage.

Outdoor Amphitheaters and Historic Venues

Just west of Denver, the iconic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater offers a concert experience unlike any other. Carved into the surrounding red sandstone, it has provided a breathtaking outdoor setting for legendary performers from the Beatles to U2.

Colorado’s thriving theatrical scene welcomes visitors to explore its historic venues. The Creede Repertory Theatre presents a rotating schedule of performances in repertory during the summer and early fall. In Cripple Creek, the historic Butte Opera House showcases live professional theater, musical entertainment, and classic melodrama year-round.

Performing Arts Schools and Camps

Steamboat Springs is home to the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp, the nation’s oldest continuously operated performing arts school and camp. Founded in 1913 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 73-acre campus welcomes aspiring actors, playwrights, and musicians, as well as those seeking inspiration in its Rocky Mountain setting.

Musical Heritage and Historic Theaters

Leadville’s Tabor Opera House, built in 1879 to entertain the town’s mining magnates, now hosts musical and theater performances, while the Hippodrome Theater in Julesburg continues to operate thanks to dedicated community volunteers. This landmark theater, built in 1919, embodies the transformative power of motion pictures in small rural towns.

Annual Festivals

Each January, the Boulder Bach Festival celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, while the Colorado Shakespeare Festival honors the Bard of Avon in June with renowned performances in Boulder.

Early Life and Education

Jessye Norman, a world-renowned soprano, was born into a segregated society in Georgia. Despite the challenges of her upbringing, she pursued her passion for music, attending Howard University on a full scholarship. She later studied at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the Peabody Conservatory.

Professional Debut and Rise to Stardom

Norman made her professional debut in 1969 in Berlin, captivating audiences with her extraordinary vocal range and versatility. She quickly became a rising star, performing at major opera houses around the world, including Milan’s Teatro alla Scalla and London’s Royal Opera House. In 1983, she made her acclaimed Met debut as Cassandra in Berlioz’s Les Troyens.

Embracing Diversity and Social Engagement

Throughout her career, Norman was a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts. She credited African-American predecessors like Marian Anderson and Dorothy Maynor with paving the way for her success. Norman also pursued social engagement projects, such as the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, a free after-school fine arts program in her hometown.

Vocal Excellence and Accolades

Norman’s voice was described as “a grand mansion of sound” by critic Edward Rothstein. She possessed an extraordinary range and a captivating presence that filled every space she performed in. Her artistry earned her numerous accolades, including five Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and Kennedy Center Honors.

Influences and Legacy

Norman’s vocal versatility allowed her to excel in a wide range of roles, from classical opera to jazz and spirituals. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of Aida, Carmen, and Isolde in Tristan and Isolde. Her legacy continues to inspire young musicians and opera lovers around the world.

Later Years and Legacy

Norman continued to perform and advocate for the arts until her untimely passing in 2022 at the age of 74. Her cause of death was septic shock and multiple organ failure following a 2015 spinal cord injury. Despite the challenges she faced, Norman’s legacy as a groundbreaking soprano and a champion of diversity lives on.

Colorado: A Vibrant Destination for Music and Performing Arts