Program:
Mainstage Productions –
- Budget:
-
$4,250,000
- Category:
-
- Population Served:
-
Program Description:
As western Pennsylvania’s largest producer and presenter of operatic programming, Pittsburgh Opera produces five operas for four perfomances each: four are presented in Pittsburgh’s historic Benedum Center and the fifth is a fully-staged production by our Resident Artists (see below) at the theatre in the Pittsburgh's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. The Company’s season attracts more than 30,000 audience members each year. Pittsburgh Opera produces works drawn from the art form’s diverse canon, complementing mainstays of grand opera with contemporary and/or infrequently performed repertoire. This varied repertoire of world-renowned work includes Verdi's La traviata and Puccini’s Tosca as well as works like Bizet's The Pearl Fishers and Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio that haven't been performed in Pittsburgh for nearly 30 years.
Program Long-Term Success:
Continue to grow Pittsburgh Opera’s audience and base of support, to increase its impact on the community economically and socially, and draw national and international attention to the region.
Program Short-Term Success:
Engagement of top-tier performing and creative artists; Partnerships with local or regional performing arts organizations; Introduction of eclectic and/or infrequently performed repertoire; Minimum attendance of 30,000 at mainstage productions; Increase number of subscriptions to 4,800 total (including renewed, lapsed, new); Meet or exceed subscription revenue goal of $1,395,000.
Program Success Monitored by:
Critical reviews, subscription/ticket sales, continued success in attracting top-tier creative and performing artist; expanded opportunities for artistic partnerships.
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Resident Artist Program
- Budget:
-
$470,000
- Category:
-
- Population Served:
-
Program Description:
Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist Program annually attracts more than 600 national and international applicants for fewer than 10 available positions.
During what is typically a two-year residency, Resident Artists perform principal roles in one fully-staged production each season, as well as cover principal roles and perform secondary roles alongside internationally-acclaimed artists in mainstage productions. In addition, these artists receive intensive training from resident and guest instructors in all facets of opera (languages, diction, voice, acting, movement, etc.). The 2011-2012 Resident Artists production will feature Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel, a darkly beautiful interpretation of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale.
Alumni are competitive in international vocal competitions and perform at some of the world's most renowned opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala.
Program Long-Term Success:
Advance the Resident Artist Program to help enhance Pittsburgh Opera’s reputation in the opera world, and encourage pride within the local arts community for our role in training emerging opera artists.
Program Short-Term Success:
Prominent casting of Resident Artists in the season’s productions; Minimum of fifteen (15) company-sponsored community performance opportunities in addition to the season’s productions; Minimum of three (3) Master classes by world-class artists; Attraction of recognized guest and resident coaches; Minimum of 500 applications for the Resident Artist Program.
Program Success Monitored by:
Critical performance reviews; quantity and quality of applicants; continued success in attracting top instructors in the industry; expanded performance opportunities.
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Education and Community Programs
- Budget:
-
$300,000
- Category:
-
- Population Served:
-
Program Description:
Pittsburgh Opera maintains a portfolio of education programs which: offer professional development opportunities for educators of all subjects and all grade levels; provide student experiences and materials which correlate to national and state curriculum guidelines; utilize partnerships with organizations in underserved communities to offer opera-related experiences for students and families.
Current opera patrons have access to an array of activities surrounding each production to maximize the experience of attending the opera. These include: Sitzproben, the first full run-through of a complete opera with orchestra and mainstage artists; Opera Up Close presentations offering musical analysis by the Company’s Music Director and a panel discussion with artists and director; Pre-Opera Talks providing back ground information and insights pertaining to each production; and Meet the Artist events at which General Director Christopher Hahn interviews the cast of each production and invites questions from the audience.
Program Long-Term Success:
Expand and fine tune Community/Audience Programs and Services to deepen current relationships and create new ones, resulting in an expanded audience and base of support.
Program Short-Term Success:
Minimum of nine (9) full-day Educator Workshops; Education programs that satisfy national and state learning standards; Minimum 20,000 served through education and community programs; Programs in diverse settings within at least eight (8) counties; Web site enhancements that take advantage of recent advances.
Program Success Monitored by:
Number served by programs and events; participant surveys; increased support by attendees; hits/numbers of visitors to the Pittsburgh Opera website and other online resources.
Program Success Examples: