October 26- November 2 Events
Week 4: Backstage Tour with Florida Grand Opera
Join us for an awesome Opera-tunity to learn first-hand what goes on behind the scenes of an opera production. You’re invited to our Operatober Week 4 Event: an exciting Backstage Tour of Florida Grand Opera ‘s 2025 production of Carmen!
Enjoy interviews of cast and production staff as they share a glimpse into the world of characters, choreographers, conductors and more, through rehearsals to opening night.
Click Here to view on YouTube!
Great Lakes Region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, Wisconsin)
Events TBA
Gulf/Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina)
(Alabama)
WHEN: October 28, 2025, 7:30 PM CST
WHAT: The University of Alabama Opera Theatre presents “Italian Aria Cabaret.”
WHERE: Bryant-Jordan Hall, 285 Kilgore Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL
HOW: Free
# # # #
Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)
(Tennessee)
WHEN: October 24, 2025, 7:30 PM EST; October 26, 2:30 PM EST
WHAT: Knoxville Opera presents Bizet’s Carmen.
Living life on her own terms in sultry Seville, the drama starts when Carmen catches the eye of the soldier, Don José, and desire quickly turns into obsession. Add in the swagger of star bullfighter Escamillo, a touch of jealousy, and one of the most iconic scores in opera history.
As irresistible as its heroine, Bizet’s Carmen is a masterpiece of operatic drama and unforgettable music—including the iconic Habanera and Toreador Song. Join us at the Tennessee Theatre for this classic tale of passion, freedom, and fatal consequences.
Sung in French with projected English Translations.
WHERE: 604 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
HOW: Tickets start at just $35. Order tickets online here https://knoxvilleopera.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/
# # # #
North Central (Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan)
(Nebraska)
WHEN: October 27, 2025, 7:00 PM CST
WHAT: Opera Omaha presents “Masterclass with Murrella Parton.”
Join soprano Murrella Parton, who sings Berta in The Barber of Seville, for a free masterclass and short performance.
Soprano Murrella Parton makes her Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. Ms. Parton has performed in opera houses and concert halls around the country to acclaim, including her recent debut with Opera Theatre of St. Louis singing Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. She was a recipient of a Sullivan Award from the prestigious Sullivan Foundation in 2023, was a finalist for the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition (2021), won the Grand Prize at the Orpheus Competition (2020), and has received awards from the Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition, Cooper Bing Competition, and Vero Beach Rising Stars Competition.
In 2022, she made her debut with Santa Fe Opera singing Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia to much acclaim. Recent projects include Older Alyce in Glory Denied, Sheva/Hannah in Enemies, A Love Story, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Ginevra in Ariodante, Elettra in Idomeneo, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Sabina in
WHERE: Omaha Conservatory of Music, 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132
HOW: Free and Open to the public.
# # # #
(Nebraska)
WHEN: Oct 28, 2025, 6:00 PM CST
WHAT: Opera Omaha presents “Opera in Conversation | After the Curtain Call.”
An open response conversation with Omaha artists reflecting on their experience of The Barber of Seville.
This Opera in Conversation, “After the Curtain Call,” will open an artist response conversation with Omaha artists and creatives reflecting on their experience of the production and connections to their own artistic practice, while encouraging the audience to share their reflections from the opera.
WHERE: Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport Street Omaha, NE 68131
HOW: Admission is FREE, advance registration is requested. Click Here to Register Online
Media Notification: Photography and Video will be captured at this event. By attending, you agree to allow Opera Omaha to use your image in social, archival, and promotional materials.
# # # #
(Minnesota)
WHEN: Saturday, November 1, 2025 4:00 PM CST (performance starts at 7:30 PM CST) Minnesota
WHAT: Minnesota Opera presents “For the Love of Opera.”
Celebrate the start of a new season with an elegant evening of music, dinner, and community at Minnesota Opera’s Opening Night Gala. This one-night-only event welcomes opera lovers from far and wide to gather in support of the artists and stories that light up our stage.
With signature cocktails, an exclusive meal, premium access to the season-opening performance of Così fan tutte, and a lively after-party to close out the night, the evening offers an unforgettable experience for you and your guests—while securing a vibrant future for opera in Minnesota.
WHERE: COCKTAIL RECEPTION, DINNER, & PROGRAM- The Saint Paul Hotel,
350 Market Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102 (Complimentary Valet Parking)
COSÌ FAN TUTTE & AFTER-PARTY- Ordway Music Theater. 345 Washington St, St Paul, MN 55102
HOW: Order tickets online https://mnopera.org/season/2025-2026/gala/
# # # #
(Nebraska)
WHEN: November 2, 2025, 11:30 AM CST
WHAT: Opera Omaha presents “Bagels & Sometimes Bach” at Gallery 1516.
Bagels & Sometimes Bach is Gallery 1516’s Sunday morning music series which runs during the spring and fall. Join us each Sunday for a new performance by some of Omaha’s best musicians and performers!
WHERE: Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, NE 68102
HOW: Free
# # # #
Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Vermont)
(New York)
WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 7:00 PM EST
WHAT: The Opera Guild of Rochester presents “Bravo Night,” featuring young artists from Finger Lakes Opera. Finger Lake Opera Young Artists return to astound us with their vocal talents in this free to the public event. Bravo Nights feature a selection of operatic arias and musical theater selections in a casual atmosphere.
WHERE: Little Cafe, 7 Pitkin St., Rochester, NY
HOW: Free
# # # #
Northwest (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming)
Events TBA
South Central (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas)
(Texas)
WHEN: October 24-November 15, 2025
WHAT: Houston Grand Opera presents the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
It’s been 50 years since HGO first presented the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, restoring the “folk opera” to its creators’ full original vision in a landmark production that earned HGO both a Tony and a Grammy. Now, audiences have the chance to again experience the cherished American classic that set HGO on its path as a trailblazer, presented in an acclaimed production from director Francesca Zambello.
Set in the Jim Crow South, in the fictional Charleston slum of Catfish Row, the opera shares the story of Porgy, a disabled beggar, and Bess, a woman struggling with addiction, who fall in love. With a moving score that seamlessly blends jazz, spirituals, blues, and classical music into timeless songs like “Summertime” and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” Porgy and Bess offers an unforgettable portrayal of resilience, community, love, and hope against all odds. HGO’s production features a cast of opera giants, led by bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as Porgy and soprano Angel Blue as Bess.
Internationally acclaimed conductor James Gaffigan takes the podium, with Richard Bado conducting the Nov. 11, 13, and 15 performances.
WHERE: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX
HOW: Order Tickets online https://www.houstongrandopera.org/on-stage/porgy-and-bess
# # # #
(Texas)
WHEN: October 30-November 14, 2025
WHAT: Houston Grand Opera presents Puccini’s Il Trittico.
Gripping drama, heartfelt emotion, and clever comedy: Il trittico comes to HGO in the company’s first-ever full presentation of Puccini’s masterful trio of one-act operas. Led by acclaimed director James Robinson, the evening begins with Il tabarro, a tale of passion and betrayal set on the Seine, where the lives of a barge captain, his young wife, and her lover intertwine in a tragic crescendo.
Next, Suor Angelica delves into the desperation of a cloistered nun with a haunted past, whose story—reset by Robinson in a children’s hospital—culminates in heartrending redemption. The night concludes with the director’s stylish, Felliniesque take on the brilliantly witty Gianni Schicchi, the tale of a cunning conman who turns a family’s greed into a delightful farce, featuring what is perhaps Puccini’s best-loved aria, “O mio babbino caro.”
This production boasts a powerhouse lead cast that will take on multiple roles across the three operas: soprano Corinne Winters in her company debut, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, and tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz. Maestro Patrick Summers conducts.
WHERE: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX
HOW: Order Tickets online https://www.houstongrandopera.org/on-stage/il-trittico
# # # #
Southwest (Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah)
Events TBA
Sept. 27-October 4 Events October 5-11 Events October 12-18 Events
October 19-25 Events