2023 in Review

Cincinnati Opera joyously welcomed audiences back to Music Hall for an enchanting and emotionally-charged 2023 Summer Festival. The season featured beloved classics Lucia di Lammermoor and The Barber of Seville, along with the exhilarating world stage premiere of The Knock, Studio Sessions, and our bold new Madame Butterfly. Cincinnati Opera was also delighted to host incredible community events such as Opera Raps, Opera Storybook Hour, Opera in the Park, Screen & Sky: Opera Returns to Summit, Community Open Dress Rehearsal, Pride Night, and Sensory-Friendly Rehearsal, plus young professional events from Divas and Diamonds, Singers & Spirits, to Opera is a Drag. It was an exciting, heartfelt, and dazzling season for all.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our audiences, donors, volunteers, and community for their tremendous support in preserving and promoting Cincinnati's vibrant arts scene. Enjoy this recap, and we eagerly look forward to welcoming you back to Music Hall next year!

DIVAS & DIAMONDS

Young opera lovers gathered at Richter & Phillips to kick-off the Cincinnati Opera season with live operatic performances, delectable snacks, and drinks provided by local vendors.

Photos by Paige Pederzani

SCREEN & SKY

Cincinnati Opera returned to Summit Park for an afternoon of music and drones.

Photos by Philip Groshong

OPERA IS A DRAG

Opera is a Drag mixed opera and drag performers together in a hilarious and slightly off-kilter presentation of our season opener, Lucia di Lammermoor.

Photos by Paige Pederzani

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Our first production of the season. The power and emotion of Lucia di Lammermoor enraptured audiences at Music Hall.

Lucia Raven McMillon
Edgardo Santiago Ballerini
Enrico Anthony Clark Evans
Raimondo Griffen Hogan Tracy
Normanno Terrence Chin-Loy
Arturo Sahel Salam
Alisa Kayleigh Decker

Conductor Renato Balsadonna
Stage Director Jose Maria Condemi
Costume & Scenic Designer Philip Witcomb
Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase
Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier
Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus
Production from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

Photos by Philip Groshong

THE KNOCK

A new opera enjoyed its world stage premiere in Music Hall’s Wilks Studio. Composer Aleksandra Vrebalov and librettist Deborah Brevoort created The Knock, a moving opera about military families receiving the worst possible news.

Lt. Roberto Gonzalez Armando Contreras
Joella “Jo” Jenner Mary-Hollis Hundley
Aishah McNair Briana Elyse Hunter
Alto/Commanding Officer’s Wife Stephanie Sanchez
Soprano 1 Felicity Tomkins
Soprano 2 Erin Keesy

Conductor Stephanie Rhodes Russell
Stage Director Alison Moritz
Scenic Designer James Rotondo
Costume Designer Trevor Bowen
Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase
Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Photos by Philip Groshong

COMMUNITY OPEN DRESS REHEARSAL: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

We threw open the doors of Music Hall and welcomed the community to a special dress rehearsal of The Barber of Seville at Music Hall.

Photos by Philip Groshong

The BARBER OF SEVILLE

Audiences laughed and hummed along with the funny and memorable melodies of The Barber of Seville.

Figaro Rodion Pogossov
Rosina Emily Fons
Count Almaviva Alasdair Kent
Doctor Bartolo Peixin Chen
Don Basilio Nicholas Newton
Berta Kendra Beasley
Fiorello Thomas Dreeze
Officer Samuel Smith

Conductor Christopher Allen
Stage Director Christopher Mattaliano
Scenic Design Allen Moyer
Costume Design James Scott
Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase
Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier
Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus
Scenery from Minnesota Opera
Costumes from Washington National Opera

Photos by Philip Groshong

PRIDE NIGHT

Our 15th Pride Night was an evening of advocacy for visibility and equality, honoring Julie Johnson and Julia Wesselkamper. This glamorous party included dancing, drag queens, themed cocktails, and delectable desserts!

Event Chair Dr. Stephen A. Ferguson
Event Chair Nicholas W. Puncer

Photos by Paige Pederzani

STUDIO SESSIONS: EMILY FONS

Emily Fons delighted audiences at Wilks Studio with a beautiful selection of her repertoire.

Photos by Philip Groshong

STUDIO SESSIONS: nmon ford

Nmon Ford enchanted audiences at Music Hall’s Wilks Studio with selections from his self-written house music opera House of Orfeus.

Photos by Philip Groshong

MADAME BUTTERFLY

The 2023 Summer Festival season reached its conclusion with Puccini’s classic opera Madame Butterfly. An all-Japanese and Japanese American creative team collaborated to craft a fresh production, infusing a new perspective into this poignant opera.

Cio-Cio-San Karah Son
B.F. Pinkerton Adam Smith
Suzuki Nozomi Kato
Sharpless Nmon Ford
Goro Julius Ahn
Prince Yamadori Jacob Zhou
The Bonze Peixin Chen
Imperial Commissioner Randell McGee
Kate Pinkerton Kayleigh Decker
Trouble Jet Sebastian

Conductor Keitaro Harada
Stage Director Matthew Ozawa
Scenic Designer dots
Costume Designer Maiko Matsushima
Lighting Designer Yuki Nakase Link
Wig Master James Geier
Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus
A co-production of Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Utah Opera

Photos by Philip Groshong

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