Opera Carolina
Encyclopedia
Opera Carolina is a professional opera company located in Charlotte, North Carolina
. The company reaches over 75,000 people from North Carolina
and South Carolina
.
Founded in 1948 by the Charlotte Music Club, Opera Carolina is a product of the 1986 merger of the Charlotte Opera Association and North Carolina Opera, combining main stage, educational, and touring operations. Professional leadership has become precedence throughout the company, with such men as Artistic Directors Richard Marshall and Charles Rosencranz, and General Director James Wright. Since the year 2000, Opera Carolina has been under the direction of General Director and Principal Conductor James Meena.
Opera Carolina is a member of Opera America
and is supported by the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the National Endowment for the Arts
, and the North Carolina Arts Council. Opera Carolina presents four main stage productions, featuring the Opera Carolina Chorus and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
, in the Belk Theater located in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
. Opera Carolina also presents an annual Valentine's Day Concert, Love Notes, held at Dana Auditorium, Queen's University. Opera Carolina's season begins in October and runs until mid April.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The company reaches over 75,000 people from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Founded in 1948 by the Charlotte Music Club, Opera Carolina is a product of the 1986 merger of the Charlotte Opera Association and North Carolina Opera, combining main stage, educational, and touring operations. Professional leadership has become precedence throughout the company, with such men as Artistic Directors Richard Marshall and Charles Rosencranz, and General Director James Wright. Since the year 2000, Opera Carolina has been under the direction of General Director and Principal Conductor James Meena.
Opera Carolina is a member of Opera America
Opera America
Opera America, officially OPERA America, is a service organization in North America promoting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera...
and is supported by the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, and the North Carolina Arts Council. Opera Carolina presents four main stage productions, featuring the Opera Carolina Chorus and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Charlotte, North Carolina. As the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the central Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony plays approximately 100 performances each season and employs 100 professional...
, in the Belk Theater located in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It opened in 1992 and is named in honor of the people of the state of North Carolina and the Blumenthal Foundation established by I.D. Blumenthal who founded RSC Brands, the largest private donor to the...
. Opera Carolina also presents an annual Valentine's Day Concert, Love Notes, held at Dana Auditorium, Queen's University. Opera Carolina's season begins in October and runs until mid April.