Opera Philadelphia

OPERA PHILADELPHIA IS COMMITTED TO EMBRACING INNOVATION AND DEVELOPING OPERA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, OPERA PHILADELPHIA DEBUTED A HYBRID MODEL WITH BOTH DIGITAL OPERA SCREENINGS AND LIVE PRODUCTIONS. A RECORDING OF "LA TRAVIATA "WAS SHOWN FOR FREE IN DILWORTH PARK IN SEPTEMBER AS PART OF A NEW INITIATIVE, OPERA IN THE PARK. THE OPERA PHILADELPHIA CHORUS PERFORMED IN TWO FREE CONCERTS: ONE AT WHARTON-WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST PHILADELPHIA, AND ONE AT DILWORTH PARK. AN AUGUST CONCERT AT THE MANN, "AN EVENING OF VOCAL FIREWORKS: AMICI E RIVALI," FEATURED SINGERS LAWRENCE BROWNLEE AND MICHAEL SPYRES. IN JANUARY, OPERA PHILADELPHIA PRESENTED TWO CONCERTS OF "OEDIPUS REX + LILACS" AT VERIZON HALL. THE FIRST PERFORMANCE WAS ALSO SIMULCAST ON THE OPERA PHILADELPHIA CHANNEL. THE CONCERT STREAM WAS AVAILABLE FOR FREE FOR THE NEXT MONTH AND HAD 3,365 VIEWS. IN THE SPRING, OPERA PHILADELPHIA BROUGHT LINDY HUME'S PRODUCTION OF "RIGOLETTO" TO THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC WITH FOUR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCES, FEATURING MANY SINGERS MAKING COMPANY AND ROLE DEBUTS.

ON THE OPERA PHILADELPHIA CHANNEL, THE COMPANY CONTINUED ITS ACCLAIMED DIGITAL COMMISSIONS SERIES WITH "TAKTAKSHOO" BY COMPOSER RENE ORTH AND LIBRETTIST KANIKA AMBROSE. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, A NEW FILM OF "LA VOIX HUMAINE" STARRING PATRICIA RACETTE PREMIERED AND HAS SINCE BEEN NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY. A RECORDING OF "THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO" WAS ALSO ADDED TO THE CHANNEL LINEUP. "REFLECTION & RE-VISION," A FREE SERIES THAT EXPLORES AND CHALLENGES TRADITIONAL IDEAS AROUND THE CANON, ALSO CONTINUED ON THE CHANNEL. IN JANUARY, THE CHANNEL PREMIERED "SVADBA," A NEW FILM PRODUCED BY AND CO-PRESENTED WITH BOSTON LYRIC OPERA.

IN MAY 2022, COMMUNITY INITIATIVES PRESENTED "RESONANT PHILLY," A GROUNDBREAKING, FREE RELAXED PERFORMANCE THAT COMBINED OPERA FILM SCREENINGS WITH ASL, AUDIO DESCRIPTION, AND VIBROTEXTILE WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY. AUDIO DESCRIPTION CONTINUED TO BE OFFERED FOR MANY OPERA PHILADELPHIA CHANNEL OFFERINGS AS WELL AS AT ONE PERFORMANCE OF EACH LIVE PRODUCTION. BRAILLE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED AT ALL LIVE PERFORMANCES. A DRESS REHEARSAL PROGRAM OF INTERACTIVE LEARNING MATERIALS WAS CREATED FOR CHANNEL PROGRAMS AND IN-PERSON PRODUCTIONS, REACHING STUDENTS FROM 51 PHILADELPHIA-AREA SCHOOLS. A HYBRID RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA BROUGHT ARTS CURRICULUM CENTERED ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PRACTICES TO 4TH GRADE STUDENTS AT FIVE SCHOOLS. BACKSTAGE PASS, A PROGRAM THAT EXPOSES YOUTH TO CAREERS IN TECHNICAL THEATER, ENGAGED WITH ITS PARTICIPANTS THROUGH WEEKLY SESSIONS AND SITE VISITS. T-VOCE, A FREE CHOIR THAT HELPS BUILD MUSICIANSHIP AND COMMUNITY, HELD IN-PERSON REHEARSALS, WORKSHOPS, VOICE LESSONS, AND TWO CONCERTS.