Greater Worcester Opera to Host 10th Anniversary Gala

Monday, May 27, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Last year's performance of Carmen.

In honor of its 10th anniversary, the Greater Worcester Opera will be holding two separate Gala Nights featuring the very best singers and performers it has to offer. The two performances of this historic production will take place on Friday, May 31st at the Eagle Hill Cultural Center in Hardwick and on Sunday, June 2nd at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. The Gala will be recorded and a DVD made available for purchase as well.

Attendees will be able to hear beloved arias and ensembles by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Strauss, Mozart, Donizetti, and more, from works such as Carmen, Die Fledermaus, La Boheme, Turandot, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and many more favorites. Participants will be going all out in this greatest hits concert, completely dressed up in costumes, singing and acting the music.

"Greater Worcester Opera usually does one big performance in the spring, and this is our annual offering. Because it’s our 10th anniversary it’s a special year for us, so we’re doing something a little different than we have in the past. This is our first performance in Mechanics Hall, and our first recording, and we’re very excited about both!" exclaims Elaine Crane, executive director of the Greater Worcester Opera.

The opera features many of the most talented singers from Central Mass and beyond—singers who are professionally trained, and also make their home right here in the local community. For a complete listing of these singers click here.

In addition, the performances are being directed by Olga Rogach, a world-class accompanist and music director. The performances are being produced by Elaine Crane and the dramaturge is Richard Kimball. Joseph Antognoni will be narrating, making sure the Gala is welcome to all audiences, both novices and connoisseurs of the art alike.

"Our narrations describe the music so it is more easily accessible to any audience," says Crane.

An Important Local Cultural Institution

This is just one of the many advantages to choosing to attend these particular operatic performances for local audiences.

"We keep the ticket prices as low as possible so that everyone can afford to come and hear live music, the way it is meant to be heard. Mechanics Hall and Eagle Hill Cultural Center are both beautiful venues and hearing a concert in them is a treat unto itself. Most of all, the benefit of local support for our hard-working organization cannot be understated—we cannot do what we do without our local audience," remarks Crane again.

The locally-centered nature of the Greater Opera Worcester, as displayed with these particular performances and others, is greatly important to the organization. They believe a vibrant arts scene is essential to maintaining a healthy and close-knit community, both for educational and entertainment purposes. As their Mission Statement reads,

"GWO strives to provide high quality, entertaining operatic productions to the audiences of Central MA, while at the same time providing valuable performing opportunities to the area's wealth of local, professionally-trained singers."

"This event advances our mission in that it provides live opera to a local audience, using local singers and musicians," says Krane.

The organization also takes pride in involving students in their productions, believing that this kind of educational experience for young singers is invaluable.

The organization hopes members of the greater Worcester community can return the favor in light of the recent economic downturn's effect on the arts. The Greater Worcester Opera can only continue if the people continue to support it.

"To be honest, this economy has been brutal to the arts, and we have not gone unscathed. Many other groups like ours (and larger groups like Granite State Opera, Opera Boston and others) have closed their doors in the past few years. We are still solvent but it is not an easy road, and this may or may not be our last big production for a while, depending on its financial outcome. So, we are really depending on music lovers and arts supporters to come out and hear GWO do what we do best!" the executive director of this great organization says.

The performance of the 10th Anniversary Gala on May 31st will take place at 7:30 pm and the performance on June 2nd will occur at 2 pm. For more information please click here.