Greater Worcester Opera To Host 10th Annual Summer Concert Series

Friday, July 19, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

A scene from the Greater Worcester Opera's performance of Carmen.

The Greater Worcester Opera will be presenting its 10th Annual Summer Concert Series beginning next Wednesday, July 24th. The popular event features a variety of singers performing themed selections which are sure to delight. All proceeds go directly to GWO's upcoming season. All concerts are on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the air-conditioned Briarwood Community Center in Worcester.

This year’s concert roster includes Broadway Melodies (July 24), American Songbook (July 31), Operetta- G&S & More! (August 7) and Opera Gala (August 14). Each concert features a different cast of singers. There will be some new faces this year along with favorite friends, and they all promise to be great performers.

"The Summer Concert Series is one of GWO’s major fund-raising events of the year. It’s goals are two-fold—to raise money for our upcoming season, and also to provide great entertainment for our local audience and a place to sing for our local singers," says Elaine Crane, Executive Director of the Greater Worcester Opera.

"The concert series is very popular, and with good reason! We feature a variety of music (themed concerts) and also a unique roster of singers for each event, so there is both quality and variety. It’s also a nice cool place to come and hear live music on a summer night."

What to Expect

Here’s a little bit about each concert: Broadway Melodies on 7/24 will feature show tunes from the musical theatre, spanning classic shows to modern hits (Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Spamalot, Beauty & the Beast, and many more); American Songbook on 7/31 will feature vocal standards from the golden age of singing (songs such as “Fly me to the moon”, “I’ve got you under my skin”, “Unforgettable”, “Someone to watch over me”); Operetta~ G&S and More! on 8/7 will feature beloved tunes from the Gilbert & Sullivan canon (Pinafore, Pirates, Gondoliers, Princess Ida), along with other showstoppers from works such as The Student Prince, Candide, and The Merry Widow; and Opera Gala on 8/14 will feature an evening of arias and ensembles from the world’s greatest operas (Tosca, Romeo et Juliette, Il Trovatore, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Traviata… hit after operatic hit!).

This is a golden opportunity for the Worcester community to support local arts and the favor for making help making a more vibrant and entertaining place to live. This is especially important when many arts organizations and programs are struggling to keep their head above water.

"This concert brings live music to our community at an affordable price, promotes community support of local arts, and gathers local singers in a place where they can use their gifts and talents right here at home," says Crane

"The variety of music and high quality of the singers are a stand-out. Also, all our concerts are narrated by our music historian, Rick Kimball, so each piece is introduced with interesting background information which really enhances the audience experience."

Tickets are just $10 per concert ($5 for students). Light refreshments are included, and bring along a few extra dollars for the 50/50 cash raffle. The Briarwood Community Center is located at 65 Briarwood Circle in Worcester.

For more information please visit the Greater Worcester Opera's website.