Central City Opera Guild’s 38th Annual L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique in the Glenmoor Country Club Neighborhood November 14th and 15th

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Central City Opera

Contact

Kathy Terry
PR Chair, L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour & Boutique
303-596-5732, kesterry@gmail.com

Valerie Hamlin
Director of Marketing, Central City Opera
303-292-6500, ext. 108, vhamlim@centralcityopera.org

DENVER, Colo. (October 22, 2014) – The 38th L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique returns this holiday season to Cherry Hills Village and features five magnificent homes in the Glenmoor Country Club neighborhood. This much anticipated two-day walking tour is Friday, November 14th and Saturday, November 15th, from 10am until 4pm. This popular fundraising event, organized by the Central City Opera Guild, is considered one of Denver’s signature holiday events.

Each home on the Tour will be lavishly decorated by one of Denver’s premier floral and tabletop designers. Designers participating this year include City Floral, Compleat Lifestyles (formerly Compleat Gourmet & Gifts, The Ruffly Rose, Swank Stems, T’DA and Twisted Tulip.

Sponsors of the 38th L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique include presenting sponsor Coldwell Banker Devonshire, as well as Media Sponsors: The Denver Post, Colorado Expression and The Villager Newspaper. Gold Sponsors are The Chandler Family and Land Title; the Silver Sponsor is Thurston Kitchen and Bath, and Bronze Sponsors are Bellview Station, Blue Lotus Outdoors, The Nessinger Family, Lori Rickert/State Farm, Steele Street Bank, Mr and Mrs. Daryl Stewart, Tesla Motors Inc., and Suzanne Pacetti & Kathy Wells.

Candlelight, music, cocktails and an elegant evening buffet will set the stage for the Patron Preview Party and Tour on Thursday, Nov. 13th from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees at this annual party will get the first opportunity to tour the L’Esprit homes and the only chance to view them at night. Guests at the Patron Preview Party will be  delighted to have an opportunity to test drive one of the two Tesla Motors cars available that night as well as to see the spectacular outdoor light display that Blue Lotus Outdoors has designed for one of the homes. The Boutique will be open that evening and guests will have the first opportunity  to purchase the special treats the vendors have gathered just for this event.

Tickets for the Patron Party are $250 for benefactors, $150 for patrons and juniors (under 35) for $90 and are available by invitation or may be purchased through Central City Opera by calling Alicia Holt at 303-331-7014.

The Boutique, Marché de Noël, held in Glenmoor Country Club, will be open on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and features unique holiday shopping and many one of a kind treasures. Guests may also enjoy lunch or afternoon tea and scones.

Tickets for the Home Tour are available in advance for $23 through Central City Opera (contact Alicia Holt at 303-331-7014) and at local King Soopers locations. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for $25. Admission is FREE for the Boutique, where tour maps will also be available. For more information, please visit www.lesprithometour.com.

Proceeds from the L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour and Boutique support Central City Opera including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the historic Opera House and  more than thirty additional historic properties in Central City, and its education and community engagement programs. These programs serve more than 80,000 people each year through performances in schools, community centers, senior residences and theaters.

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Central City Opera Guild (CCOG) was established in 1974 to assist Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising.  The Guild’s many programs include: Take a Child to the Opera Days, the Opera House Gardens, Victorian home preservation, Apprentice Artist support and opera preview dinners. For more information, please visit www.centralcityopera.org/guild.

CENTRAL CITY OPERA ANNOUNCES ITS 2014 SPRING FUNDRAISER: THEATRE OF DREAMS GALA April 5

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Gala

Contact

Kelly Nelson, Publicist
303-909-5716; kelly@citruspr.com

Valerie Hamlin, Director of Marketing
303-292-6500, ext. 108; vhamlin@centralcityopera.org

Featuring America’s Got Talent Finalists: FORTE

Denver, Colo. (Nov. 21, 2013) — Central City Opera announces the Theatre of Dreams Gala, an elegant evening in a beautiful downtown Denver venue to raise money for the company’s opera and musical theater productions and year-round programs. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at the newly renovated McNichols Civic Center Building located at 144 West Colfax (corner of West Colfax and Bannock) in Denver.

Gala patrons and guests will be treated to an evening of fine food and exceptional live musical entertainment. The attire is “Creative Black Tie,” and the event will include a cocktail reception & seated dinner with musical guest FORTE, a multicultural tenor trio whose performances on NBC’s 2013 America’s Got Talent captivated millions and launched the group into the national spotlight. Capping off the night will be a rockin’ after-party hosted by CCO’s YP group, The Scene.

The event will be held at the stunning downtown McNichols Civic Center Building which was renovated and re-opened in 2012 as a contemporary hub for arts and culture for the people of Denver. Built in 1909, the breathtaking Greek revival building originally housed the Carnegie Library.

The Gala will honor Barbara Ferguson and the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Ms. Ferguson is being honored for her longstanding commitment to Central City Opera, her financial support to the organization and many volunteer hours, including her involvement in founding the CCO Guild. Barbara was the first President of the CCO Guild, which celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2014. The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, which was created from the estates of May Bonfils-Stanton and Charles E. Stanton, has been a generous contributor to Central City Opera over the years. When they were alive, May provided funding to establish the garden and terrace linking the Teller House to the Opera House, and Ed lent his considerable design expertise to restoration of Victorian authenticity in the public rooms of the Teller House. The Foundation has multiplied their generosity to Central City Opera, most notably with important grants to name and sustain CCO’s artists training program.  The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation strategically invests in imagination and innovation in Colorado because they believe that cultivating the creative spark is vital to making the community an exciting place where people want to live, work and thrive. Since its founding, the Foundation has distributed over $54 million in charitable contributions.

Theatre of Dreams Gala tickets are $250 per person and young professionals (ages 21-35) can purchase tickets for $150. Single Patron tickets with preferential seating are available for $350. To purchase tickets, call Alicia Holt at 303-331-7014.

About Central City Opera
Central City Opera (CCO) revises its special events schedule in 2014 to focus on one major fundraiser in the spring: Theatre of Dreams Gala. This event will replace Central City Opera’sMusic & Martinis and Party for Preservation fundraisers, and will celebrate and support all of Central City Opera’s programs which include: world-renowned opera and musical theater performances; the preservation and maintenance of the Opera House and more than 30 other Victorian-era properties; the nationally acclaimed Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program; and educational and community engagement programs, which serve more than 100,000 people each year through performances in elementary and secondary schools, community centers, senior residences and theaters.

About FORTE
FORTE is a multicultural, operatic tenor trio whose performances on NBC TV’s 2013 America’s Got Talent captivated millions and launched the group into the national spotlight. Their self-titled debut album was just released on November 11, 2013 on the Columbia label.

Having met just days before their first audition for America’s Got Talent, the trio mesmerized millions on the eighth season of the reality competition series. Solo artists in their own right, Josh Page, Sean Panikkar and Fernando Varela combine their individual talents to create FORTE’s one incredible, multicultural vocal force. For more information on FORTE, visit fortetenors.com.

Sean Panikkar’s operatic journey includes a strong connection to Central City Opera. In 2003, Sean was a Studio Artist (singers between the ages of 21 and 25) in CCO’s prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Artists Training Program. CCO is thrilled to welcome Sean back to the stage in Colorado. For more on the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, visitwww.centralcityopera.org/artiststraining.

Central City Opera 2014 Festival
Central City Opera’s 2014 Festival runs June 28 through August 10 featuring Mozart’s beloved opera, The Marriage of Figaro; Jake Heggie’s opera Dead Man Walking, based on the true story and famous book written by Sister Helen Prejean about her relationship with Lousiana death row inmate Joseph De Rocher which was also an award-winning movie; and Rodgers and Hammerstein II’s glorious musical The Sound of Music performed in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Subscriptions to see all three shows in the 2014 Festival are now available for purchase starting at just $56. Single tickets for each production will be available in January of 2014. For more information, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the Box Office at 303-292-6700.

Celebrating its 82nd year in 2014, Central City Opera is the nation’s fifth-oldest opera company, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado’s official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in its annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community service programs; and to preserve and maintain the Opera House and 30 other Victorian-era properties.###

 

L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour Coming to Crestmoor Park – November 22-23

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Central City Opera

Contact

Kathleen Meyers, L’Esprit Co-Chair
303-589-8302, kmeyers2005@aol.com

Pam Gatz, L’Esprit Co-Chair
303-322-0938, psgatz@comcast.net

Kelly Nelson
Publicist, Central City Opera
303-909-5716, kelly@citruspr.com

DENVER, Colo. (October 17, 2013) – The much anticipated L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique returns this holiday season to the Denver metro area for its 37th annual year. Tours begin Friday, November 22, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and continue during the same hours on Saturday, November 23 in Denver’s Old Crestmoor Park Neighborhood. The Boutique, which will be held at the Christ Church United Methodist (690 Colorado Boulevard, Denver), will be open both Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Organized by the Central City Opera Guild, this popular fundraiser is considered one of Denver’s signature holiday events and benefits Central City Opera.

This year’s two-day walking tour will feature six magnificent homes in the Old Crestmoor Park Neighborhood, beautifully decorated for the holidays by the metro area’s most accomplished and renowned florists and table designers. Considered one of Denver’s most sought-after neighborhoods, this charming area features a diverse offering of architectural styles, including English Tudors, two-story Colonials and Georgians. All of the homes are within walking distance of each other. New this year is a beautiful outdoor lighting display by Sturgeon Electric at one of the homes. Sturgeon Electric’s founder, David Sturgeon, in 1914, is known as the first person in Denver to display outdoor Christmas lights because his very ill son was unable to go downstairs to see the lights in the living room that year.

Denver’s premier floral and tabletop designers participating in the 2013 event include: BOUQUETS, City Floral, Hutch & Fig, Wild Flowers, Flower Power, The Lark, The Twisted Tulip, Swank Stems, Celebrated Gatherings and Compleat Gourmet.

Sponsors of the 37th L’Esprit Home Tour and Boutique include presenting sponsorColdwell Banker Devonshire, as well as The Denver Post, Colorado Expression, The Villager Newspaper, Land Title Guarantee Company, SOPE: Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, Sturgeon Electric, and Thurston Kitchen and Bath.

Candlelight, music, cocktails and an elegant evening buffet will set the stage for the Patron Preview Party and Tour on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees at this annual party will get the first opportunity to tour the L’Esprit homes and the only chance to view them at night. This year, the Patron Party will also feature a breathtaking and festiveSturgeon Electric outdoor lighting display, which will be unveiled during the event. Area historians document that the practice of outdoor Christmas lighting began in Denver with David Dwight ‘D.D.’ Sturgeon, founder of Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. It has been told that in 1914, Sturgeon wanted to make Christmas special for his son David, who was ill and bedridden at the time and couldn’t see the Christmas tree lights in the family living room. Sturgeon took some ordinary light bulbs, dipped them in green and red paint and strung them up on a pine tree outside his son’s bedroom window for him to enjoy. Neighbors who had marveled at his tree joined together to light up their own yards in the years following, starting what is now a holiday tradition.

Tickets for the Patron Party are $250 for benefactors, $150 for patrons and $90 for junior patrons (age 35 and younger) and are available through invitation or may be purchased through Central City Opera by calling Alicia Holt at 303-292-6500 ext. 114.

Tickets for the Home Tour are available in advance for $23 through Central City Opera (contact Alicia Holt at 303-292-6500, ext. 114) and at local King Soopers locations. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for $25. Admission is FREE for the Boutique, where tour maps will also be available. For more information, please visit www.lesprithometour.com.  

Proceeds from L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique support Central City Opera’s programs including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the Opera House and more than 30 other Victorian-era properties, and its Education and Community Engagement programs, which serve more than 80,000 people each year through performances in elementary and secondary schools, community centers, senior residences, and theaters.

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Central City Opera Guild (CCOG) was established in 1974 to assist Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising. Its many programs include: Take a Child to the Opera Days, the Opera House Gardens, Victorian home preservation, Apprentice Artist support and opera preview dinners. For more information, please visitwww.centralcityopera.org/guild.

Central City Opera Guild Presents Annual Girlfriends’ Day in Central City and the First Overture Night in Denver

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Central City Opera

Contact

Kelly Nelson, Publicist
303-909-5716; kelly@citruspr.com

Valerie Hamlin, Director of Marketing
303-292-6500, ext. 108; vhamlin@centralcityopera.org

Denver, CO (June 13, 2013) – The Central City Opera Guild (CCOG) presents its annualGirlfriends’ Day at the Opera event in Central City, along with a new event titled Overture Night before a performance of Show Boat at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The dates for these fun and festive events are: Tuesday, July 23, including a performance of Rossini’s beloved The Barber of Seville, and Thursday, August 8, including a performance of Kern and Hammerstein II’s Show Boat.

Girlfriends’ Day in Central City – The Barber of Seville: Tuesday, July 23 — The day begins with a buffet lunch at Noon in the Terrace Room at Central City Opera’s Teller House prepared by Lifestyles Catering, followed by a short opera preview at 1:50 p.m. at the Williams Stables Theatre. Guests will then proceed to the Central City Opera House for the 2:30 p.m. matinee performance of The Barber of Seville. Tickets for Girlfriends’ Day, including lunch and the opera are $79 each, and may be purchased by calling the Central City Opera Box Office at 303-292-6700. Parking is available in the Teller House lot (adjacent to the Opera House) for $12.
Rossini’s comic opera about the matchmaking barber Figaro is set among the everyday characters and places of 17th century Seville, Spain. Figaro’s advice and actions lead to the adventures and mistaken identities for which the opera is known.  It will be performed in Italian with English supertitles above the stage.
“Girlfriends’ Day appeals to music lovers as well as business women who want to experience a beautiful summer day in Central City with friends, clients and colleagues,” says Denise Sanderson, CCOG President.

Overture Night in Denver – Show Boat: Thursday, August 8 — An event for girlfriends or for a date night, guests will enjoy refreshments before the show at the Westin Denver Downtown Hotel’s V’s Lobby Lounge from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., followed by the 7:30 pm performance of Kern and Hammerstein II’s Show Boat at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tickets for this special Denver evening are $79, which includes one theater ticket and assorted appetizers and two drink tickets at V’s Lobby Lounge (additional cocktails may be purchased at the bar). Tickets may be purchased by calling the Central City Opera Box Office at 303-292-6700. Parking is available at the Tabor Center garage for $6 or at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Kern and Hammerstein II’s popular musical features favorites like “Ol’ Man River,” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.”  This story of the workers on a Mississippi show boat combines the lightness and spectacle of musical theater with the serious themes of racial prejudice and tragic love. The show is performed in English.
“Since the run of Show Boat will be in Denver at the Buell Theatre, we hope to attract new patrons to Central City Opera, one of the longest-running opera companies in the country celebrating 81 years in 2013,” says Sanderson.

One of the premiere summer music festivals in Colorado and a leader among opera festivals internationally, Central City Opera’s 2013 Festival runs June 29 – Aug. 11. It opens with two new productions in the Central City Opera House including Rossini’s comedic opera featuring a matchmaking barber, The Barber of Seville and Ned Rorem’s opera,Our Town, based on the classic Pulitzer Prize winning play by Thornton Wilder about life in small town America.  The CCO Festival then comes to Denver with a new production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s story of love on the Mississippi, the glorious American musical, Show Boat, which will only be performed at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The ultimate opera experience, each production features internationally acclaimed artists, visually stunning sets and costumes and a professional live orchestra. For more information on the 2013 Festival, go to www.centralcityopera.org.

The Central City Opera Guild, established in 1974, assists Central City Opera through work in historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fundraising. Visit www.centralcityopera.org for more information.
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CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD PRESENTS PARTY FOR PRESERVATION

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Central City Opera

Contact

Pam Gatz, Event PR Chair 303-322-0938; psgatz@comcast.net

Kelly Nelson Publicist, Central City Opera 303-909-5716; Kelly@citruspr.com

WHO: Central City Opera (CCO) Guild will host a fun evening with cocktails, dinner and dancing on Thursday, April 18th to raise money for CCO’s Historic Properties in Central City.

Central City Opera owns and maintains 32 historic buildings, including 27 residences built in Central City between 1860 and 1900. They are part of the Central City/Black Hawk National Landmark Historic District and require a significant amount of maintenance and upkeep. These historic properties house Central City Opera artists and staff each summer and also serve as rehearsal and performance spaces for the Festival.

WHAT: This is a fundraiser to benefit a treasured landmark building owned by Central City Opera:  Nicholas House, built in 1875.  Each summer, apprentice artists from around the world live in Nicholas House as part of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program. Nicholas House is on the verge of being uninhabitable, with significant foundation damage and structural deterioration. The goal is to raise the funds needed to renovate this house to current building code.

Co-Chairs: Kitty Koch and Kim Morss Dehncke

Honorary Chairs:  Meg and Ed Nichols
2013 Honorees:  Nancy Parker and El Pomar Foundation

PARTY for PRESERVATION offers a festive backdrop for patrons to learn about the CCO Historic Properties. The preservation of these Historic Properties is integral to the original charter of the organization from 1932, and remains a key component of Central City Opera’s mission today.

The evening will feature dinner, drinks and dancing plus an opportunity to buy items on the renovation wish list.

Patron tickets are $150 and Junior Patron tickets (under 40) are $75.  Tickets can be purchased beginning March 4th through Alicia Holt in the Central City Opera Development Office: 303-331-7014, aholt@centralcityopera.org For additional information, please visit our website www.partyforpreservation.com.

WHEN:  Thursday, April 18, 2013
Cocktails 6:30 pm
Dinner & Dancing 7:30 pm

WHERE: History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

During cocktails, guests will enjoy touring History Colorado Center’s high-tech and hands-on exhibits.  Mountain and sunset views  will provide a magnificent twilight backdrop for party patrons to enjoy dinner, dancing and a celebration of the generous achievements of Nancy Parker and El Pomar Foundation in supporting Central City Opera.

WHY: Proceeds will benefit Central City Opera’s Historic Properties, with specific funds directed to renovating Nicholas House.

Central City Opera Guild was established in 1974 to assist Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising. Its many programs include: Take a Child to the Opera Days, the Opera House Gardens, Victorian home preservation, Apprentice Artist support and opera preview dinners. For more information, please visit www.centralcityopera.org/guild.

 

Photos available upon request.

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CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD PROUDLY PRESENTS OPERA ROCKS: A SLEW OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR KIDS

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Central City Opera

Contact

Christina Dinegar, Opera Rocks Co-Chair 303-278-9541; christinadinegar@q.com
Ericka McDaniel, Opera Rocks Co-Chair 303-798-8923; emcdaniel5@earthlink.net
Kelly Nelson, Publicist 303-909-5716; kelly@citruspr.com

Denver, Colo. – Central City Opera Guild announces Opera Rocks, a series of fun and interactive events to engage children and introduce them to the art of opera:

Storytelling through Opera and Art

On Sunday, April 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Central City Opera Guild will present Storytelling through Opera and Art at the Denver Art Museum (DAM). Children and their families will be captivated by a magical afternoon in the stimulating surroundings of the Denver Art Museum.

Opera and art tell stories in unusual ways– through singing, music, painting, sculpture, photography and textiles. Participants will spend an afternoon with Central City Opera artists at the Denver Art Museum as they bring the elements of storytelling to life through music and theater activities, including a performance of The Great Opera Mix-up and some Mad-Lib style games, followed by a visit to the Fox Games installation where families can create a mini stage set inspired by the artwork. Participants will then have access to all of the galleries at the DAM.

The price is $10 per person and includes free Museum access following the program. This event is ideal for children ages 5 to 12 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Storytelling through Opera and Art will be held in the Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum, located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock in Denver. For directions, contact (720) 865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org. Parking is available at the Cultural Complex Garage located at 12th Avenue and Broadway. Tickets can be purchased through the Central City Opera Box Office at (303) 292-670 or www.centralcityopera.org/art.

Opera Inside Out

Central City Opera Guild presents Opera Inside Out, a behind-the-scenes experience for families on Tuesday, June 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., starting at Williams Stables Theater, 113 Eureka St., Central City.

Opera Inside Out opens with a short family performance presented by Central City Opera’s Education and Community Engagement artists. The program will progress with age-appropriate activities (for children 6-12 years) and a tour of the historic Central City Opera House, including views from all areas of the intimate 550-seat space.

The behind-the-scenes opportunities continue with a backstage tour that includes the orchestra pit and the adjoining Cast House with views of the singers’ dressing rooms, the costume shop and the wig and make-up studios. Families will discover the inner workings of opera through this up-close experience. Interactive games and activities will also be included. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased through the Central City Opera Box Office at (303) 292-670 or www.centralcityopera.org/insideout.

Take a Child to the Opera

On Thursday, July 18 from 11:30 – 5:00 p.m., the Central City Opera Guild will present Take a Child to the Opera, for a full day of fun and the opportunity to see a family matinee performance of The Barber of Seville at 2:30 p.m.

Families can enjoy a historical scavenger hunt around Central City, bring a picnic to enjoy in the Opera House Garden, learn about the famous Barber of Seville from Central City Opera singers, participate in interactive theater games and head to the opera with a special gift. Perfect for ages six and older.

Central City Opera will present an all-new production of The Barber of Seville from June 29 to July 27. This Italian comic opera in two acts about a matchmaking barber is set among the everyday places and characters of 17th century Seville, Spain. The opera follows Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo, who plans to marry her so he can have her dowry. But Rosina is in love with the poor student, Lindoro, who has been serenading her and is really the Count Almaviva in disguise. Figaro, the barber of Seville, is employed by Almaviva to help him meet Rosina. Figaro’s advice and actions lead to the adventures and mistaken identities for which the opera is known. The Barber of Seville will be performed at the Central City Opera House in Italian with English supertitles. The Family Matinee features Central City Opera’s talented members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program in lead roles.

Take a Child to the Opera tickets, which include the opera performance of The Barber of Seville, are $25 for children and $30 for adults. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/takeachild for tickets and more information.

Central City Opera’s Education and Community Engagement artists have presented performances and workshops in more than 125 communities across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Each year, the Central City Opera Ensemble presents more than 150 performances and workshops in schools, senior centers and communities large and small. These performances provide opportunities for audiences to hear and learn about less familiar works along with old favorites and for new audiences to be introduced to the art form of opera.

The Central City Opera Guild, established in 1974, assists Central City Opera through work in historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fundraising. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/guild for more information.

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CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD PRESENTS: 2013 OPERA TEASER

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Central City Opera

Contact

Kelly Nelson, Publicist kelly@citruspr.com 303-909-5716
Valerie Hamlin, Director of Marketing vhamlin@centralcityopera.org 303-292-6500, ext. 108

WHO: The Central City Opera Guild (CCOG) will host an entertaining evening of cocktails, dinner and a glimpse into the 2013 Central City Opera Festival on Thursday, March 14. Monies raised will support Guild efforts to assist Central City Opera with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising. WHAT: The 2013 Opera Teaser offers just a taste of the Festival's 81st season. Attendees can indulge themselves and their music loving companions with a seated dinner and high quality entertainment provided by the Central City Opera Ensemble singers. Popular arias will be featured from – The Barber of Seville, Our Town and Show Boat. A round of opera trivia may also be enjoyed at each table throughout the evening. Tickets prices: $150 for a Patron Ticket*; $70 for General Tickets; and $65 for Guild Members. Those who donate a $100 contribution (fully tax-deductible) will be serenaded with their favorite aria, ballad or tune by one of CCO's talented artists. Tickets are available online at centralcityopera.org or by calling the Box Office at 303-292-6700. WHEN: Thursday, March 14 Cocktails (cash bar) – 6:00 pm Dinner – 6:45 pm Program – 7:30 pm WHERE: Denver Country Club 1700 East First Avenue, Denver CO 80218 WHY: Proceeds benefit the CCOG's efforts to support CCO including historic preservation, education, cultural and social events. *Patron ticket includes an $80 tax-deductible donation. Central City Opera 2013 Festival Central City Opera House – June 29 to July 28 Rossini's comic opera about a matchmaking barber, The Barber of Seville, opens the Festival in Central City on June 29 and runs through July 27. Ned Rorem's operatic adaptation of Our Town, about life, love and loss in small town America, is the second offering opening July 6 and running at the Opera House through July 28. Central City Opera Comes to Denver's Buell Theatre – August 6 to 11 Central City Opera then comes down the hill to Denver for seven performances of Kern and Hammerstein's Broadway classic musical, Show Boat featuring "Ol' Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," at the Buell Theater in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Two and three pack subscriptions for the 2013 Festival are available now and offer the best discounts and seat selections with a savings of up to 30% off single ticket prices before May 1st. Subscriptions start at just $30. Single tickets, starting at $20, go on sale March 1. In addition to its slate of operas for 2013, CCO will continue to present innovative initiatives that will engage a broader audience. Attendees will again find exciting enhancements to their Central City experience. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700. Central City Opera Guild was established in 1974 to assist Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising. Its many programs include: Take a Child to the Opera Days, the Opera House Gardens, Victorian home preservation, Apprentice Artist support and opera preview dinners. For more information, please visit www.centralcityopera.org/guild. ###

Central City Opera Guild’s 36th Annual L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique: November 16 & 17

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L’EspritGuildJointLogos

Contact

Margaret Baker, L’Esprit Co-Chair
303-910-0706, magsbaker@aol.com

Nona Warburton, L’Esprit Co-Chair
720-244-8943, nonadenver@aol.com

Kelly Westergren, L’Esprit Co-Chair
303-883-4913, kelly@kellywestergren.com

Valerie Hamlin, Director of Marketing, Central City Opera
(303) 292-6500, ext. 108, vhamlin@centralcityopera.org

November 16 & 17

DENVER, Colo. (September 27, 2012) – The celebrated L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour and Boutique returns this holiday season to the Denver Metro Area for its 36thannual year. Tours begin Friday, November 16, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and continue during the same hours on Saturday, November 17 in one of Denver’s top neighborhoods, the 7th Avenue Historic District. The Boutique, which will be held at the Christ Church United Methodist (690 Colorado Boulevard, Denver), will be open both Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This popular fund raising event, organized by the Central City Opera Guild, is considered one of Denver’s signature holiday events and benefits Central City Opera.

This year’s tour will feature five beautiful homes on the Historic 7th Avenue Parkway decorated for the holiday season with festive tabletop settings and décor. Denver’s premier floral and tabletop designers participating in the event include: Celebrated Gatherings, City Floral, Hutch & Fig, Wild Flowers, Flower Power, The Lark, The Twisted Tulip, and BOUQUETS.

Sponsors of the 36th L’Esprit Home Tour and Boutique include presenting sponsorColdwell Banker Devonshire, as well as The Denver Post, Colorado Expression, The Villager Newspaper, Land Title Guarantee Company, Raymond James, Newmyer Contracting, Inc., Rickenbaugh Auto Group, Ireland’s Finest, Lori Rickert State Farm Insurance, and Intergeneration Foundation.

Candlelight, carolers, cocktails and an elegant buffet will set the stage for the Patron Preview Party and Tour on Thursday evening, Nov. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees at this annual party will get the first opportunity to tour the L’Esprit homes and the only chance to view them at night. Tickets are $250 for benefactors, $150 for patrons and $90 for junior patrons (age 35 and younger) and are available through invitation or may be purchased through Central City Opera by calling Alicia Holt at 303-331-7014.

Tickets for the home tour are available in advance for $18 through Central City Opera (contact Alicia Holt at 303-331-7014) and at local King Soopers locations. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for $20. Admission is FREE for the Boutique, where tour maps will also be available. For more information, please visit www.lesprithometour.com.

Proceeds from L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour and Boutique support Central City Opera’s programs including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the Opera House and more than 30 other Victorian-era properties, and its Education and Community Programs, which serve more than 80,000 people each year through performances in elementary and secondary schools, community centers, senior residences, and theaters.

7th Avenue Historic District

Primarily built from the 1890’s to the 1930’s, the East 7th Avenue Historic District is the largest in Denver with its boundaries stretching from Logan Street to Colorado Avenue, and from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue. Between Steele and Harrison Streets, the district is limited to the 7th Avenue Parkway. Today the East 7th Avenue Historic District retains much of its original character and charm and continues to thrive as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. Pre-WWI construction styles were primarily Mediterranean Revival, Neoclassical, and Colonial Revival, though the district is home to quite a variety of architectural styles that lend to its unique character. All homes on the tour are considered historically significant, yet have been updated to meet the demands of modern living while meticulously preserving many unique characteristics of each home.

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Central City Opera House Association Guild (CCOHAG) was established in 1974 to assist Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, with historic preservation, education, cultural and social events, and fund raising. Its many programs include: Take a Child to the Opera Days, the Opera House Gardens, Victorian home preservation, Apprentice Artist support and opera preview dinners. For more information, please visit www.centralcityopera.org/guild.