Opera Reading Project

OPERA READING PROJECT (ORP) PROVIDES FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE, PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR MINNESOTANS TO ENGAGE IN OPERA. ORP'S GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE (1) THE GENEROSITY OF THE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE IS SHARED WITH ALL; (2) STORYTELLING IS ENLIVENED THROUGH MUSIC AND (3) RESILIENCE IS BUILT THROUGH AND BEYOND THE CREATIVE PROCESS. TO FURTHER OUR MISSION IN OUR FY 2024 SEASON, WE PRESENTED 3 OPERA READING PROGRAMS WITH PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, ENGAGING AND EDUCATING 10-20 ARTISTS AND 100-200 ATTENDEES PER READING. THE OPERA READINGS WERE LA LIBERAZIONE (CACCINI); GIANNI SCHICCHI (PUCCINI) AND FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS (CATAN). WE ALSO PRESENTED SIX PAY-AS-ABLE COMMUNITY MUSIC EDUCATION CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON TO MAKE THE CRAFT OF OPERA APPROACHABLE AND INFORMATIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. TOPICS INCLUDED THE AGING SINGER, ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND AUDITION PREPARATION. FINALLY, WE PRESENTED A WELL-ATTENDED CONCERT OF STAGED OPERA SCENES AT THE LANDMARK CENTER THAT FEATURED UNDERREPRESENTED REPERTOIRE AND PERFORMERS. BOTH OUR OPERA READINGS AND COMMUNITY MUSIC EDUCATION CLASSES INCLUDED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND THE ELDERLY WITH OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, THE ST PAUL CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, PRESBYTERIAN HOMES AND THE ST. PAUL FARMERS MARKET.