Chiaroscuro: From the Italian chiaro (light) and scuro (dark), chiaroscuro is a term used in opera to describe a technique where singers navigate the contrast between light and darkness in vocal expression to convey emotional depth and dramatic intensity.
This video contains discussion of mental health and suicide.
Operatic stories do not shy away from topics of suicide, trauma, bullying, isolation, and challenging social dynamics and relationships.
CHIAROSCURO [key-ah-roh-skoo-roh] Light in Darkness is Central City Opera’s new youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention program. Featured during the 2025 National Opera Association Conference, CHIAROSCURO: Light in Darkness is a reframing of traditional opera scenes to tell the stories of four
teenagers navigating the challenges of growing up surrounded by social media, exposure and confronting life situations like bullying, cyber bullying, sex shaming, gender identity, community expectations, self-esteem and acceptance.
This program aims to destigmatize mental health struggles through relatable stories and characters to raise awareness, inspire resilience and hope. The performance is followed by a post engagement Q&A to spark a conversation and connect audiences to mental health awareness and social emotional learning resources from expert
partners. Through compelling fresh performances and colorful digital art, we hope to share this artform in a relevant way and to serve our community beyond the beauty of the human voice as an instrument.
If your school is interested in bringing CHIAROSCURO to its students, please reach out to our Education department at [email protected].
Director’s Note
CHIAROSCURO is a reframing of traditional opera scenes into the everyday of teens’ lives and the challenges they face as they navigate in times of light and darkness. It is a mental health program for suicide prevention portraying relevant issues and stories of resilience.
Chiaroscuro is the optimum goal of vocal technique in opera. It is what we strive to achieve and showcase in the operatic artform. It is also the art of sorting and making the best out of living in a world full of obstacles and finding our inner strength to conquer and overcome them.
Chiaroscuro is our effort to make our artform relevant and to serve our community beyond the beauty of the human voice as an instrument, and to speak out as the voice and heart of young life.
Special Thanks To:
