5 challenges for Opera Colorado during its 25th season

Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 5, 2007 at midnight

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Opera Colorado was born in 1983 and, against all odds, enjoyed a relatively happy childhood within the circular peculiarities of Boettcher Hall. Now 25, on Friday the company opens its third season in the posh Ellie Caulkins Opera House with a sense of accomplishment - and more than a few new challenges.

1 James Robinson's production of La Traviata is not exactly a breath of fresh air - it was presented at Boettcher Hall in 2004. Will the venue change (and Verdi's glorious music) be enough to bring back opera- goers, many of whom also attended Central City Opera's Traviata this summer?

2 Samuel Ramey sang his first opera as a chorus member at Central City in 1963. Now a superstar, he'll make his Opera Colorado debut in Donizetti's charming comedy, Don Pasquale. But will Ramey - better known for portraying such tough guys as Mephistopheles, Scarpia and Attila - let loose in this silly comic romp?

3 Speaking of Pasquale, this tale of real love and mock marriage has been transferred by director David Gately from early 19th-century Rome to the American West - smack-dab in time for the National Western Stock Show's cowboy invasion. Talk about grand ol' opry. But will it fly?

4 Throughout his storied career, James Morris has been linked with the title character of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. At the Ellie, he'll be appearing in two concert performances of Dutchman. But will opera- goers take to Wagner as delivered by singers in tuxes and evening gowns?

5 When it premiered in 1987, John Adams' Nixon in China signaled a shift in modern operatic storytelling. Here were Nixon and Mao and Kissinger - and they were singing! It was a huge hit, as much for its novelty as for its full-blooded minimalist score. But does this political saga still reverberate? And will local audiences, more comfortable with traditional fare, respond to Adams' thoroughly modern music?

Season 25

• La Traviata by Verdi (7:30 p.m. Friday and Nov. 13 and 15; 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 18). With Pamela Armstrong, Garrett Sorenson and Scott Hendricks; James Robinson, director; Stephen Lord, conductor.

• Don Pasquale by Donizetti (Feb. 8, 10, 12, 15, 17). With Samuel Ramey, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Norman Reinhardt; David Gately, director; Lord, conductor.

• The Flying Dutchman by Wagner (April 18 and 20). With James Morris, Hasmik Papian, Stuart Skelton, Dale Travis, Judith Christin. Lord, conductor.

• Nixon in China by John Adams (June 7, 10, 13, 15). With Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova, Joseph Kaiser, Patrick Carfizzi, Tracy Dahl; Robinson, director; Marin Alsop, conductor.

• All performances in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Tickets are $28 to $157 for all productions except Flying Dutchman ($40 to $60).

• Information: 303-357-2787

Marc Shulgold is the music and dance writer. Shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5296

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