Community Initiatives
As part of our ongoing mission to enrich Pittsburgh and the tri-state area, Pittsburgh Opera strives to make opera intellectually and financially accessible to a diverse audience, offering both high quality opera productions and several free community events throughout the season.
| Brown Bag Concert Series | Pre-Opera Talks |
| Opera Up Close | Meet the Artists |
| Art Song Recitals | Master Classes |
| Film Series |
Brown Bag Concert Series
The second Saturday of each month,
September 2009 - April 2010 at 12:00 PM
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters
2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip
FREE and open to the public
In the cozy new performance space at Pittsburgh Opera’s headquarters (2425 Liberty Avenue) in the Strip District, friends, families and Pittsburghers of all ages are invited to come enjoy an intimate concert of some of opera’s most popular arias as well as a mix of Broadway, musical theater and other surprises. These concerts are a wonderful opportunity for an informal introduction to opera. Guests can even meet the performers after the show!
Bring a lunch or order a gourment boxed lunch from Right By Nature. Gourmet lunches start at $9 for adults and $5 for children. Lunches must be ordered in advance.
Call (412) 454-6200 to pre-order. Click Here for a menu.
Additional information about each Brown Bag Concert’s theme will be available in the calendar section of our website.
| Brown Bag Concert Dates: Saturday, September 12 Saturday, October 10 Saturday, November 14 Saturday, December 12 Saturday, January 9 Saturday, February 13 Saturday, March 13 Saturday, April 10 |
Local and Sustainable Food and Beverage Sponsor Right By Nature is located at 2305 Smallman Street For more information, call (412) 454-6200 or visit www.rightbynature.net |
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Opera Up Close
The Sunday before the opening of each production
September 2009 - April 2010 at 2:00 PM
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters
2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip
FREE and open to the public
Pittsburgh Opera is proud to host another season of its popular and free Opera Up Close presentations. These entertaining and insightful programs are offered five times per season in Pittsburgh Opera’s new headquarters (2425 Liberty Avenue) in the Strip District, at 2:00 PM the Sunday before the opening of each production.
| Eugene Onegin | Carmen |
| September 20, 2009 2:00 PM | March 14, 2010 12:00 PM |
| Falstaff | The Marriage of Figaro |
| October 18, 2009 2:00 PM | April 18, 2010 2:00 PM |
| The Rape of Lucretia | |
| January 24, 2010 2:00 PM |
Each Opera Up Close begins with an in-depth musical analysis of the opera with Maestro Antony Walker and other guest conductors. Guests will be informed and entertained as the Maestro plays the piano, sings a few lines and tells anecdotes. After a short intermission where guests can enjoy light hospitality and chat with the Maestro, a moderated discussion panel will conclude the afternoon’s events. The panel of directors and star performers will give the guests an up-close and intimate behind-the-scenes peek into the world of opera ranging from deep, insightful analysis of each character to the light-hearted, comic stories of their personal experiences. Guests will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel and meet the artists afterward.
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Art Song Recital Series
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters
2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip
FREE and open to the public
The Pittsburgh Opera Art Song Recitals have previously not been open to the public. This season, these high-level, one-hour performances of art song literature will be free and open to the public. The Pittsburgh Opera Guilds from Sewickley, Fox Chapel, South Hills, and the City serve as reception hosts at these events.
| Sunday, November 8, 2009 |
| Soprano Danielle Pastin and Baritone Dan Kempson |
| Sunday, November 22, 2009 |
| Soprano Shannon Kessler and Tenor Noah Baetge |
| Sunday, January 3, 2010 |
| Mezzo-Soprano Katherine Drago and Tenor James Flora |
| Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
| Mezzo-Soprano Lindsay Ammann and Bass Liam Moran |
All performances will be presented in Pittsburgh Opera’s new headquarters (2425 Liberty Avenue) in the Strip District.
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Pre-Opera Talks
Benedum Center Lower Level
One hour before each performance curtain
FREE to all ticketholders
Ticketholders are invited to attend a Pre-Opera Talk one hour before each performance’s curtain in the Main Floor/Orchestra section of the Benedum Center. Learn about the composer, the story and some juicy details about the opera! These talks are free to all ticketholders. For more information, call (412) 281-0912 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.
Eugene Onegin - September 26, 29, October 2, 4, 2009
Falstaff - October 24, 27, 30, November 1, 2009
The Rape of Lucretia - January 30, February 2, 5, 7, 2010
Carmen - March 20, 23, 26, 28, 2010
The Marriage of Figaro - April 24, 27, 30, May 2, 2010
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Meet the Artists
Benedum Center Lower Lobby
Immediately following Tuesday's performance
FREE to all Tuesday performance ticketholders
Ticketholders for each Tuesday performance are invited to join Pittsburgh Opera in the Lower Lobby of the Benedum Center immediately following the performance to enjoy light refreshments while listening to General Director Christopher Hahn and the stars of the production tell stories and give insights into the opera, their characters and their personal experiences. This event is free to all Tuesday performance ticketholders. For more information, call (412) 281-0912.
Eugene Onegin - September 29, 2009
Falstaff - October 27, 2009
The Rape of Lucretia - February 2, 2010
Carmen - March 23, 2010
The Marriage of Figaro - April 27, 2010
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Master Classes
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters
2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip
FREE and open to the public
Expert instruction is an integral part of the training Resident Artists receive as part of the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Program. While most instruction is given in private, Pittsburgh Opera hosts public Master Classes throughout the season to give the community an opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the instruction of the Resident Artists.
| Thursday, October 1, 2009 | Thursday, April 14, 2010 |
| Mezzo-Soprano Susanne Mentzer | Soprano Sari Gruber |
| Thursday, March 25, 2010 | DATE |
| Maestro Antony Walker | Mezzo-Soprano Marianne Cornetti |
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Film Series
Point Park University Collaboration
New to the lineup of Pittsburgh Opera community events in the 2010-2011 season is the Pittsburgh Opera Film Series, hosted in collaboration with Point Park. Guests are invited to enjoy films inspired by the season’s operas and gain insights into how opera has affected popular culture. The series begins with a screening of the Warner Bros. Cartoon “The Rabbit of Seville,” followed by “A Fish Called Wanda.” Other selections include “The Last Emperor” and “Danton,” among others.
Specific details for each film screening will be released at a later date.
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Community Relations Contact
Allison M. Ruppert
Marketing and Community Relations Manager
412-281-0912 ext. 262
aruppert@pittsurghopera.org