The Best Way To See The Opera
Opera Company of Philadelphia
1420 Locust Street, Suite 210
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893 - 3600
www.operaphila.org
The Opera Company of Philadelphia is the city's only opera company that produces grand opera. On stage at the Academy of Music, the nation's oldest Grand Opera House, the Opera Company of Philadelphia delights audiences with a range of classic through contemporary, 21st century operas.
If you have limited experience with the opera, you need to know that most performances are not in English. They're sung as originally written--mostly in Italian, French, or German. However, a great feature at the Academy offers English translations on an electronic title board above the stage.
You can listen and read at the same time. It is of particular value when humor is incorporated in the story of the opera. Now, you can laugh too!
The best way to prepare to see the opera is to go to the Opera Company of Philadelphia's website and read the story synopsis. Some operas have complicated characters and plots. It helps if you know where the story line is going.
With the Academy of Music at Broad and Locust in Center City Philadelphia, you can find many restaurants with pre-theater menus.
Make a 5:30 pm reservation for dinner before an 8 p.m. curtain, and you can relax over your meal, stroll to the Academy and relish the magic that is about to unfold.
The 2012-2013 season opens with La bohème.
La bohème - by Giacomo Puccini
September 28th at 8 p.m., 30th at 2:30 p.m., October 3 at 7:30 p.m., 5 at 8 p.m., 7 at 2:30pm
at the Academy of Music
Sung in Italian with English translations
For more information: www.operaphila.org
Curtis Opera Theater
1726 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
telephone: (215) 893-5252
www.curtis.edu
The Curtis Opera Theater and the Academy of Vocal Arts present full seasons of opera performances.
The Curtis Opera Theater is a venue of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia's world renowned music school. Most performances are presented at Curtis' Field Concert Hall, at 1726 Locust Street in Philadelphia.
You can learn more about performances with Curtis students and alumni in opera productions and in recitals at its website: www.curtis.edu or call 215-893-7902.
The 2012 season opens with Purcell, Weill, and Berio on October 4 at the Curtis Opera Studio at 1726 Locust Street.
Academy of Vocal Arts
1920 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-735-1685 phone
www.avaopera.org
The Academy of Vocal Arts offers gifted singers from around the world tuition free vocal and opera training and financial support during that training.
What that means to opera lovers in the Philadelphia region is yet another opportunity to see rising stars in intimate venues. Many of AVA's students have gone on to become internationally known.
The Academy of Vocal Arts brings its performances into the community. Not only in Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater and the Kimmel Center, as well as at the Helen Corning Warden Theater at 1920 Spruce Street, but also on The Main Line and Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Haddonfield and Camden, New Jersey.
The 2012 season opens with Il Barbiere di Siviglia on November 3, 2012.
For more information: www.avaopera.org or call 215-735-1685.
