I am an opera fanatic, and have attended probably 200 all over the world in theatres both grand and modest. Today, however, I had the inestimable pleasure of perfect seats at the Central City Opera house to witness the most perfect rendition of The Barber of Seville I've ever seen. Everything was simply perfect; the set, the costuming, the musicians, the director, and above all, the perfectly cast singer/actors. There was not one weak link among them. They not only sang the parts perfectly, they were physically perfect for their roles. I don't know why the DCPA has so much trouble casting (especially sopranos), but the CCO simply nailed each and every one; no fat sopranos or geriatric tenors bumbling around the stage playing the parts of lithe heroines or young militiamen. My hat's off to the casting director!! (The ONLY suggestion I'd make (and this is nigh on trivial) is to ask the musicians in the pit to PLEASE aim their music stand lighting down toward them instead of aiming it up in the eyes of the first five rows of the audience; the light was blinding. Thanks.) It is ABSOLUTELY worth the drive up to Central City to see this production if you can still snag tix at this late date. You'll be glad you did. read more

Central City Opera House - Centra City Opera Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Central City, Colorado

From the Front of the House to the Back of the House all the seats afford a perfect view of the stage and the acoustics are awesome. We attended The Pirates of Penzance and from the opening scene to the finale we were totally entertained. The cast was amazing and the delivery of the songs and music were nothing but fantastic. Considering the Opera House was open a year before Gilbert and Sullivan premiered it in 1879 it was a perfect match and we were spoiled by the production and the ambiance of the house! read more

Central City Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Central City, Colorado

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Gorgeous opera house in a fantastic little town. ADA seating was near to the side door, they put me on an end like I needed to be for some other health concerns. The chairs are wide enough to accomodate a plus sized individual without feeling squished or like you're bleeding over onto another chair. Good padding. Temperature was good for the fancy clothing we wore though I did need the little shawl I brought, which they also warned about in advance. All around, it was a wonderful trip, an AMAZING show. Great venue, wonderful performers, 100% thrilled this was my first venture into going to a show not just watching a recording of one. (Also Central City... Flash... I'm a nerd, I know, but it made me smile!) read more

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When: CC opera only performs in The month of July. Check their website calendars. You CAN buy box office tickets on site. Not too crowded. Where: located uphill next to Teller House. Parking was $15 in the lot or you can park free down by main st. Teller House bar was open for those wanting drinks for the show. What: The light in the piazza. Mother and daughter vaca in Firenze, Italy. How: I haven't been to many live operas so I can't really judge the quality but I will give the performers 10 stars for amazing voices sung at 10,000 feet elevation. Pro tip: expensive seats are towards the middle back. For some reason the sound travels better in the back. read more

What a great experience! I encourage all to attend the opera at CCOH! It was like stepping back into time, when entering this venue. Central City Opera is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country. The acoustics were great, the setting intimate. We felt very welcomed upon entering. During intermission you spill out into a beautiful garden courtyard. This place is great for date night, girls night, or for someone that wants a little culture. Tips: check out the Teller House, which is attached and the Art Gallery across the street. read more

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Backstory: When I was a teenager, I used to work in Central City-- back when it was an amazing tourist town--the streets bustling with people, gift shops, saloons, museums, operas, mine tours, live music, LKC news, and kids eating cotton candy, jawbreakers, and ice cream. The streets are now quiet except for slot machine noise coming out of historic buildings and the bell ringing coming from the Opera cryer. The Copper Broiler, where I worked, is long gone but the taste of their juicy hamburgers will never leave me. The Cherry Cricket would have competition if Muriel and Claude were still alive and in business. I'm not sure why I never saw an Opera in Central City, but when I saw Carmen advertised on Yelp I was so excited and finally made it happen! The Drive: On Bastille Day what could be better than a trip up the hill to the Central City Opera House for a presentation of Carmen in French? I always take highway 6 for the drive up the hill. It is relaxing--with windy roads, tunnels, and the sounds of Clear Creek on the left and right. Parking was easy peasy at the Century Casino. It is about 50 minute drive from Washington Park using this route in light traffic and about a 5 minute walk to the Opera House from the Casino. The Opera: Carmen was fantastique!! The singing and the music were excellent and the sound was amazing. Carmen, Don José, Micaëla, and Escamillo had solid performances as did the rest of the performers! The orchestra was top notch! The Opera House itself is beautiful, full of rich tradition, with comfortable seating and cool air. The intermission space is an inviting outdoor garden that is large and open for relaxing conversation. The Facts: The only issue I had, was the inability to read the prompter that provided the translation to English. Size does matter. (I could make out some of the single lines but none of the double lines) At intermission, after an hour and a half of giving myself an ocular focusing headache, I asked an usher if I could move seats for the remainder of the performance since I could not read the prompter. He said "I understand your difficulty reading the prompter, but I can't let you move since it is against policy." He directed me to speak to the House Manager to see what he thought. I found the house manager outside and explained my situation and asked if I could move to one of the 9 empty seats on the side(a worse seat for the performance but closer to the prompter.) While smiling at me he indicated that I was not allowed to move seats and that those seats were reserved for late-comers arriving from Boulder since there was an accident on the highway. That's funny I always thought patrons were not allowed to enter late, period. (To his credit there was a legitimate accident the previous day where almost everyone was late) I'll remind everyone that his comment came an hour and a half after the start and with the sincerity of a high schooler professing that his dog had swallowed his homework. The matinée was also not a sold out by any means since I had many seating options at the box office on Colorado Blvd earlier that morning. Throughout the rest of the show the 3 rows of 3 seats remained empty as I had surmised. The Summation: I refuse to take any stars away from the show or the performers even though I only halfway understood the show--it is an opera and I came mainly for the score not the plot. 5 stars to the cast and crew. 4 stars for the Usher for showing a little empathy, 3 stars to my high school French teacher for some basic knowledge, and 1 star to the House Manager for being himself and not recognizing his job is about empowerment and making a logical decisions based on the facts at that moment in time. Recommendations: If you are coming to the show bring binoculars if you are sitting beyond row J--low powered on a stick would do the trick. The Association should double the size of the prompter. This device is so far above the stage and would not take away from the performance if it were bigger. The shorter the glance needed the more time available to watch the amazing performances. Err on the side of a spectacular experience for all. read more

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MADAMA BUTTERFLY with RAQUEL GONZALEZ as Butterfly, was the best MADAMA BUTTERFLY performance I have ever seen! I have seen MADAMA BUTTERFLY at Met; and also, at Opera Colorado. But, this Central CITY performance with RAQUEL GONZALEZ was the best I have ever seen, She was better than OUTSTANDING! I was glued to the edge of my seat. Toward the end she pulled out the knife, I found myself crying for her. RAQUEL is truly an outstanding Opera STAR! The entire OPERA COLORADO staff did an outstanding Job. The music was exceptional; as were the other actors and actresses DO NOT MISS THIS EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE Sincerely, Edward Altman Jr. read more

What a fantastic experience at the CC Opera House! First of all, the town is just cute as a button! You really feel like you stepped back in time! I went on a cold and rainy evening, so I didn't get the chance to explore very much, unfortunately, but I loved what I saw. The Opera House itself is straight out of the '90's... the 1890's! Loved the attention to detail inside. We saw The Barber of Seville. The production was extremely professional, easily on par with anything you'd see in a top tier city's opera company. The sets, the costumes, and especially the performers were all first rate. There is also a lovely outdoor courtyard that would have been nice to hang out in during the intermission if the weather had been more cooperative. read more

I have wanted to go to the Central City Opera House for the longest time so when my violin teacher got me a discount ticket I finally made the trip. The drive is really pretty but Central City is just plain weird and icky. The streets are a maze and traffic was a nightmare. However, once inside the opera house it was showtime and they know how to put on a show! I sat in the balcony but I had a great view and the sound was amazing! I love the old building and the staff was very helpful. I wish that I could have seen more of the orchestra because most of them were hidden from view under the stage. I will definitely be back because the Central City Opera House is a show stopper! read more

Central City Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Central City, Colorado

I usually try to go to the Opera once a year and seeing it in Central City is always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I had never heard of Orpheus which is really an Operetta with maybe a little too much bawdiness for the regular opera goer. The story line is built around the Greek gods and has lots of twists and turns so knowing Greek mythology is a plus. We went to the presentation prior to the opera in the stables across the street and were given a nice overview of the operetta. I think this is great for anyone who is not familiar with a story line. Orpheus started a little slow but really built as the story continued. I thought the scenery, costumes and presentation were great as well as the voices. I would recommend this as a fun way to see opera in an intimate setting., read more

I love opera and Madama Butterfly is my favorite opera! I had the privilege to see my favorite opera there last week. It was done superbly! Excellent opera! I used to live in Central City as a teenager, and I'd just admire the people going to the opera. And now, I was one of them. Felt great! No bad seats in this opera house! read more

The quality of the productions is excellent and the artistic commitment of the staff is world-class. I hope to return for year to come.

The Central City Opera House has a long, storied history, one that rivals many historic sites around Colorado. Look into it, I won't rehash what has been well documented but for even the most casual opera fan this little gem of a theater should not be missed. Past performances of the Barber of Seville or An Italian Girl in Algiers had left me feeling giddy, but Rossini has that impact on many people. This time it was Britten's masterwork The Turn of the Screw. The opera house is the perfect size for the form. Minimal electronic amplification is needed (if any at all) and the audience is truly drawn into the small space for an engulfing experience. In years past the opera house could be unbearably hot in the summer, but they have remedied this with modern HVAC upgrades - wonderful improvement. The ushers, ticket takers and street callers do their jobs with aplomb, courtesy and a welcoming smile. There is typically more going on than just the opera, including post-events or the pre-opera talk given across the street in a rehearsal space. The Teller House right next door offers libations at intermission or various refreshments can be had at the small side courtyard carts. Try to see something here if you can, it's a great experience. read more

Central City Opera is a Colorado gem. They've always had good singers and musicians, but in the past few years they've gone above and beyond. A few years ago they staged a Baroque opera with two contra-tenors. When was the last time you heard anything like that, even in New York, SF or Chicago? The house itself is small, which means you really can't get a bad seat. Acoustics are great. Now that you can park at the big Casino just a few blocks away, parking is no longer an issue. If you are there on a Saturday night, they might have an Après Opera event at the Teller House Bar. If they do, GO SEE IT! It features singers doing songs they love, and it's great fun. And it's free. Just, for the love of God, don't order any food there [see my review of the Face Bar at the Teller House for an explanation] read more

Terrifically talented singers and musicians but the location and the facilities leave a lot to be desired. Central City the town is a sketchy armpit, filled with casinos and tourists. There is not one decent restaurant or any place at all to get a snack during intermissions. Kevin Taylor does operate a restaurant next door but I don't understand when it is that they actually offer food. They could at least offer popcorn or chips or something to tie opera goers over. The ushers are volunteers and generally overzealous with the bell ringing (Hint: a 20 minute intermission should be plenty of time to get a drink, but they start ringing the bell five minutes after the intermission starts). Lots of patrons whisper loudly throughout the productions and the overall experience is not very sophisticated. Some people even wear shorts! I highly recommend checking it out because you can see a lot of rare opera productions here but it's too long and arduous of a drive to become a regular subscriber. read more