Rigoletto, Carousel and Dido and Aeneas will remain lineup for next season
DENVER, Colo., May 4, 2020 – Due to ongoing safety concerns around COVID-19, Central City Opera’s Summer Festival will be postponed until summer of 2021. The scheduled lineup of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, Verdi’s Rigoletto and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas will remain the same next season.
“This news is extremely disappointing, but the decision is in the best interest of our audience, artists, staff and the community,” said Central City Opera General/Artistic Director Pelham “Pat” Pearce. “The COVID-19 crisis is drastically impacting the livelihoods of hundreds of performers, musicians and technicians who bring stories to life on our historic Opera House stage. We are heartbroken audiences won’t experience their work this summer.”
Current ticket holders will have the option to donate the cost of their ticket back to Central City Opera’s newly established COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will support the organization’s commitment to pay all of its 2020 Festival artists and staff a portion of their contracts and assist CCO during this unprecedented time. Donations will be matched up to $100,000 by Carousel Performance Sponsors and long-time CCO supporters, Pam and Dutch Bansbach. Additional matching support will be provided by the Central City Opera Board of Directors. Full refunds and transfer of tickets to 2021 are also available to patrons.
“Central City Opera is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our patrons and partners,” said Pearce. “We look forward to the time when we can safely gather together again to raise our voices and celebrate the healing power of the arts.”
For questions about ticketing options, visit https://centralcityopera.org/2020-festival-update or call the Box Office at (303) 292-6700 or email boxoffice@centralcityopera.org. Current ticket holders can fill out this form in order to expedite their decision. To make a donation to the Central City Opera COVID-19 Relief Fund, go here.
About Central City Opera
Founded in 1932, Central City Opera is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country and is renowned for its exquisite world-class productions, competitive and robust young artist training program and creative educational and community engagement activities. Its summer festival, only 35 miles west of Denver, takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in the Colorado mountain town of Central City, where the company owns and maintains 27 Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878. For information, visit centralcityopera.org. For tickets and more information, call (303) 292-6700 or email boxoffice@centralcityopera.org.