Opera south
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OperaSouth, Inc. is a vanguard performing arts group that performs in Atlanta, Georgia and throughout the Southeastern United States. The organization was formed in 2006 by a dynamic group of opera professionals that came together with ideas for a solution to Atlanta’s lack of consistent high caliber and cutting edge theatrical entertainment. Holding true to the belief that opera is not only relevant but potentially the ultimate art-form, they want to prove that it can and should be accessible, moving, and entertain everyone.
As the company is based in metro Atlanta, many of their performances are focused in the metro area and especially downtown. They are currently the only opera company that performs in the city of Atlanta, thus filling a cultural void in one of the largest cities in the world. However, as a steward of their craft, they feel it necessary to take their product to the audience: OS tours shows in communities big and small throughout the southeast and makes a concerted effort to reach audiences in assisted living facilities.
The artistic staff of OperaSouth say that their progressive approach to theatre is necessary for the survival and subsequent growth of the art-form. As they put it, "When we fail to make magic, we will gladly pass the torch to another group of artists. Until then, we are progressively opera."
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[edit] Progressively Opera
The 501(c)3 non-profit organization is known for producing cutting edge performances of modern and traditional works.
The mission of OperaSouth is to strive for the highest artistic excellence while producing a diverse repertoire which entertains and inspires our audiences as well as being engaging and educational. As a leader in our musical community, we will support and nurture emerging talent locally and nationally.
[edit] The Performances
OperaSouth’s operas consist of both modern and traditional works that have relevant and avant-garde content. They address social issues such as life, death, betrayal, passion, and faith.
Their ever popular restaurant series, “Edible Opera”, is held at some of the finest dining facilities and always contain themed content and meals to produce a wonderful diet of entertainment. A must for everyone!
[edit] The Performers
OperaSouth’s singers are professionals from Georgia and around the nation.
The OS orchestra consists of members of smaller professional ensembles indigenous to Atlanta as well as some of the most respected arts organizations in town. As artists, they work not only in the realm of classical music, but in rock, folk, drum and bugle corps, Irish, jazz, southern gospel, film composition, and experimental, to name a few.
[edit] Philosophy
Opera is the ultimate art-form. It takes each stand-alone art-from such as acting, dance, art, orchestra, and singing and combines them to make a magical form of entertainment. If done badly, it can bore to the brink of tears. If done correctly, it can be accessible, moving, and entertain everyone.
OperaSouth’s official web-site opera
[edit] Opera in Atlanta in Brief
Atlanta has always had a sordid love affair with opera. The first shows performed in Atlanta pre-date the Civil War. The venues were primarily makeshift facilities modified for operatic performance.
Reconstruction saw the formation of the Atlanta Opera House and Building Association. They obtained the southwest corner of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street and began to construct a five-story opera house. By 1868, they were out of money. Instead of hosting great operas, Atlanta’s first opera house, the Kimball Opera House as it was later known, instead served as Georgia’s state capitol from January 1869 to July 1889.
In 1870, DeGive’s Grand Opera House opened. The cheap seats were $0.25. DeGives struggled with presenting touring companies because of the inflated cost of train travel through the incompletely reconstructed South.
By 1910, the Metropolitan Opera began touring through Atlanta and the South began a 76 year love affair with its Yankee brethren. The summer Met tour became a weeklong event that drew many of the South’s wealthiest citizens and even more socialites. It was so popular that it began to even draw an international crowd. It is reported that during Atlanta’s golden age of opera, the majority of the social elite would attend the first act and then leave at intermission for drinks and an evening of partying. Eager young students would often crowd outside the theatre in hopes of gaining partially used tickets and catch the remainder fo the show. This yearly pinnacle event thrived until the Met disbanded its touring shows in 1986.
Along the way, many local Atlanta artists attempted to create a company solely for Atlanta. Some of these were the Atlanta Chamber Opera (1960’s), Georgia Opera (1970’s), Atlanta Lyric Opera (1976), and Atlanta Civic Opera (1979). All are defunct. However, in the 1980’s, the Capital City Opera (1883?) and the Atlanta Opera (1986) were formed. Both organizations were able to survive in Atlanta longer than any previous endeavor.
Capital City was a vanity project that survived on the fringes and eventually dissolved with the advancing age and disillusion of its founder in 2007.
Many of the ex-Met tour patrons followed the growth of the Atlanta Opera. The company saw tremendous growth as a result. Unfortunately, the company became a victim of social, political, and arts politics as it survived with inconsistent results and eventually moved to the north suburbs to Marietta, Georgia in 2007.
As a result, OperaSouth was formed in 2006 and its progressive ideas of touring and producing thought provoking works marks a new era for opera.
[edit] References
Atlanta History Center New Georgia Encyclopedia
