Palm Beach Opera

Palm Beach Opera is a professional opera company located in West Palm Beach, FL and is a member of OPERA America [ [http://www.operaamerica.org/about/membership/states/fl.asp OPERA America — The National Service Organization for Opera ] ] and Americans for the Arts. Founded in 1961 as Civic Opera of the Palm Beaches, the organization is currently in their 46th season. Palm Beach Opera currently offers four fully staged opera productions during an annual season at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The company's 2008-2009 season productions include: Verdi’s "Rigoletto", Bellini’s "Norma", Mozart’s "Le Nozze di Figaro" and Puccini’s "La Boheme".

Resident Artist Program

The Palm Beach Opera Resident Artist Program functions as a stepping stone to a successful career as opera singer for post-graduate and emerging singers. Under the guidance of the Palm Beach Opera’s Music and Artistic Staff, emerging opera singers experience a season in a professional opera company. The 5 month residency provides strong performance opportunities while allowing young artists to development and polish essential stagecraft and performance skills, aided by musical and career advice of an experienced artistic staff. Special consideration is given to Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition winners.

Vocal competition

For the last forty years, Palm Beach Opera has ended their season with the finals of a vocal competition for young opera singers. After a rigorous elimination process, 14 selected finalists are chosen from the advanced and junior divisions to compete for combined prize money of $85,000 before an expert jury. Notable past finalists include Monica Yunus.

Education

Palm Beach Opera is committed to the bringing the glory of opera to the community. We offer a variety of educational programs for all ages.

"Opera Rehearsal 101" is open to middle & high school groups of 10 or more with teacher supervision. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 pm at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Latecomers will not be admitted to the theater so be sure to arrive early! Student and teacher guides are provided to each group prior to attending the performance.

"Concerts in the Classroom" allows children to experience the magic of opera without leaving the classroom! Palm Beach Opera’s Resident Artists will sing arias and ensembles from favorite operas and discuss elements of opera with students. Palm Beach Opera will customize the repertoire for maximum relevance to curriculum.

"PBO Studio" was create for High school students who are enrolled in a theater or vocal program or who intend to pursue music, theater or technical theater in college or after graduation. Participants have behind-the-scenes access to performances and rehearsals, interaction with artists and stage personnel, voice lessons with PBO artistic personnel and visiting artists (performance focus only), and hands-on technical production experience.

"Lunch & Learn" is an adult education program featuring a delightful lunch and an informative and insightful look inside upcoming operas. Each program will be presented by member’s of Palm Beach Opera’s Artistic and Production team, with a selection of arias performed by our Resident Artists.

"One Opera in One Hour" first started during the 2006-07 opera season, the One Opera in One Hour program was conceived by Artistic Director Bruno Aprea in an attempt to bring opera performances in to the heart of CityPlace, to the Harriet Himmel Theater, giving the public a taste of opera in a non-traditional setting and free of cost. It also constitutes one of the main performance opportunities for Palm Beach Opera’s Resident Artists in addition to their participation on the main stage. In abridged versions of operatic works, featuring the opera’s musical highlights, Palm Beach Opera’s talented Resident Artists get a chance to explore the characters in a more intimate approach, making use of minimal staging and props, but focusing intensely on the dramatic development of the characters.

Overtures, Young Friends of Palm Beach Opera

Overtures is a group of young professionals between the ages of 25 and 49 who share an interest and curiosity about opera. Overtures provides a mix of social activities and educational experiences to broaden members appreciation of opera. Now in its third year, Overtures is hosting Bohemian Rhapsody, dinner and silent auction to raise funds to support Palm Beach Opera Resident Artists in a Family Opera Performance. This season's Family Opera is a performance of "La Boheme".

Palm Beach Opera Guild

The Palm Beach Opera Guild is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation for opera, and to enriching the lives of young people in our community through opera education. Proceeds from the Guild’s special events support the Opera’s education and outreach programs including Opera is Elementary, Opera Rehearsal 101, Swing and Sing Summer Camp, and our new adult programs such as Lunch & Learn, and One Opera in One Hour.In addition, the Palm Beach Opera Guild Encouragement Awards were established in 2006 to assist young singers who take part in the Opera’s Annual Vocal Competition. Finalists who do not win a major award are presented with an honorarium to offset their expenses. As these artists are emerging in their careers, this unexpected support is well appreciated.

Watch and Listen

To see a clip of Palm Beach Opera's 2007 production of Rossini's "L'Italiana in Algeri" click here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd_J9mZwWN0 Watch Here]

External links

* [http://www.pbopera.org/ Official Site of Palm Beach Opera]
* [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2008/03/30/s3c_traviata_0330.html Palm Beach Post 2008 article]
* [http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/arts/content/arts/opera_review0330.html Palm Beach Daily News 2008 article]

References