My sister and I recently had a very special experience at the Cincinnati opera. Fiddler on the roof is one of our favorite musicals/movies of all time. We grew up watching it and know every word to every song. We have seen the play on stage multiple times. The Cincinnati opera is the first opera in the world to ever re-work the show for an Opera House. The show will now be done at operas around the world. Getting to be one of the first people to see that was a really neat experience that I will always treasure. The Opera House itself is beautiful. My only complaint is that we were sitting on the side balcony and it is rather difficult to see the side of the stage you were sitting on because the people next to and in front of you lean forward to try to get a better look as well, so I do feel we missed a little bit of the details. I would absolutely still go see another show here, but would choose different seats! read more

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While attending *Salome* at Cincinnati Music Hall, I experienced a level of discomfort that ultimately led me to leave before the performance ended. One of the first things that stood out to me was that the only obviously Black performer on stage appeared in a role where they were restrained with ropes around their hands. Later, a decapitated Black male mannequin head was brought onto the stage. Regardless of the artistic intent behind these choices, the imagery was deeply unsettling. As a Black audience member sitting in an auditorium that was predominantly white, I could not separate these images from their historical and social implications. Seeing a Black person depicted in bondage and a severed Black head displayed on stage evoked painful associations that made it difficult for me to continue engaging with the performance. The timing also amplified my reaction. With Juneteenth occurring the following day, and given the current political and social climate surrounding race in the United States, these choices felt especially inappropriate and insensitive to me. While I understand that opera often contains disturbing themes and that artistic productions may reinterpret historical works, I believe productions should also consider how certain imagery may be received by contemporary audiences. Ultimately, the experience made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable rather than immersed in the performance. Because of that, I chose to leave before the opera concluded. My criticism is not necessarily about the intentions of the production team, but about the impact these staging choices had on me as an audience member. read more

A trip to Cincinnati Opera is such a fun night on the town. Music Hall is such a beautiful and historic venue. It is so fun to see everyone dressed in their best fits. Then of course, the quality of the operas absolutely leave you in awe. A fun and inviting experience for all! read more

Cincinnati Opera is a lot of fun and while I did not expect to like opera, it was truly a great experience. Opera is for everyone, including me now. read more

I have seen two performances at Cincinnati Opera this season and they have both been amazing! The casting and staging were both wonderful! :) read more

Just wow. My boyfriend is from New York City and he used to go to the MET with his father and I was so happy that the opera in Cincinnati was incredible so I have somewhere to take him! I went to see Romeo and Juliet with him, and as a French-speaker I was so happy to see that it was being performed in French. Subtitles were in a place that was very visible for the entire theatre (not exact translation but that makes sense for simplicity). The singing and performance overall was breathtaking. There was so much emotion behind the performers and you could see the story without even reading the subtitles. In addition to that, it was a wonderful date night. It was an excuse for me and my boyfriend to get really dressed up and head to Cincy. We will definitely be coming this summer for their season. They are putting on the Barber of Selville (prequel to Le Mariage de Figaro) and I cannot wait to see it performed!! read more

As a Cincinnati resident, I feel so lucky to have a top-notch Opera program in my very own city. I attended my first opera in Cincinnati several years ago and I always find at least one performance each season that I can't wait to see. I like how they have a mix of classic, traditional operas with at least one more modern or less well-known work. I can't claim to be an opera expert, but the sets, costumes, and performances are always impressive and enjoyable. There are great ticket deals available through Enjoy the Arts or via student discounts, but even face-value tickets are still a good value. I recommend sitting on the balcony level for the best view of the stage and super-titles, as close to the center as you can get. Music Hall is a beautiful venue (even if the seats aren't the most comfortable), regardless of where you sit. The most recent performance I attended was Aida (July 2013) and the production was incredible. Lush and lavish costumes and set, incredible symphony, and memorable vocal performances. Plus, the overall experience of going to Music Hall is even better now with the beautiful Washington Square park and new underground parking lot across the street. read more

Came here to watch Madame Butterfly with my Boyfriend's mom, courtesy of Yelp (Thanks Cindy & Yelp!) It was my first opera experience ever--I've never even been to the Met before! The venue itself is amazing. They had some live music out in the front before the show to keep people occupied, and they sell chocolate goodies & wine inside. Driving there is a little hectic as the event nears--we got there at seven and we weren't able to park in the garage across the street. There's lots of parking lots nearby though, so it wasn't much of an issue. We were lucky to have amazing seats in the balcony, the views of the chandeliers outside made me feel like I was in some party at a throwback movie. The orchestra sounded great, and the set/lighting design for Madame Butterfly was absolutely gorgeous. There's so much talent to be seen here, and while three hours seemed daunting, it didn't feel that long. Would love to come here for the 2015 season. It's a must have experience for Cincy newcomers! tl;dr great talent, gorgeous opera. read more

The Cincinnati Opera is the second oldest opera company in the United States. That is a little known fact that brings claim to fame to this world class opera company. The company produces fantastic operas. I've enjoyed everyone that I've seen. The costumes and the sets are fantastic and more than impressive. The season is usually during the summer as they occupy the time in Music Hall that the Symphony and the May Festival are not using. The season attracts patrons from all over the country. I know some people that come down from Dayton because they think Cincinnati's Opera is much better than Dayton's and I agree. The season coming up is really exciting. Madame Butterfly starts it off, and I must say this is the one I'm most excited about. Then comes Lucia di Lammermoor. Next is Florencia en el Amazonas, then La Traviata. What are you waiting for? Get your tickets now! read more

The opera is amazing. It has everything - gorgeous scene design, compelling stories, outrageous characters, heart-rending singing, beautiful music and talented dancing. Two hours at the opera can feel like 15 minutes, because there is so much to arrest your attention. My husband and I are on our second year of being Cincinnati Opera subscribers, and we will likely continue for many years to come. If you haven't been to an opera (or haven't been to a good one...), I encourage you to give it a shot. We did, and we're hooked. There are typically four performances in the summer. Call the box office at (513) 241-2742 for advice about which one you should see and which seats you should buy. They are very friendly and passionate about opera. P.S. Yes, operas typically are not in English. But have no fear, there are English supertitles, which makes it easy to follow along. read more

It would be 5 stars, but they just don't offer enough operas in a season. I would take another star away for parking last season, but that was just a temporary thing, and should be resolved by this season with a new garage across the street. Yet to be absolutely fair, I usually walk there when I'm visiting the box office. I also tend to do this in the "off" season, which means I have to use the phone on the wall to ask them to send someone to the box office. Even given that inconvenience, I can usually get all my business concluded on my lunch break. I have always found the Opera Box Office extremely helpful and willing to work with you so everyone is happy. If you want the absolute most flexibility, the will call desk is even more helpful and flexible if you arrive early enough before the show (you were going to see the opera insights anyway right?) read more

Cincinnati Opera - Performing Arts Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This past weekend I had the chance to attend Madame Butterfly at the Music Hall. My review here, isn't so much for the show itself---which I thought was great, heart-wrenching, emotional, and beautiful, but it's for the atmosphere and the people that night. I wrote earlier about the Opera's recent efforts to reach a larger audience and welcome the younger generations of the Cincinnati area. To reiterate, we (younger people) have a couple options. Students can get tickets for $10 to any show--the day of the show. Young professionals can also get discounts if they already belong to a YP group or if they join the Center Stage group (see this link: http://www.cincinnatiopera.org/centerstage ) there are a lot of options. Lastly, they offer subscriber discounts and Sunday remaining tickets went for $50. My point is...for someone who is a fan of the arts and has a background in communication with emphasis in PR, organizational communication and marketing it is great to see such hard work to welcome a larger population and a variety of people to such a timeless art. Opera was seen as being only for the elite--and this group is going out of it's way to make sure that everyone has the chance to experience a night at the opera. The work is paying off and I hope with each show comes more and more young and old wanting to experience and support a truly beautiful art and a beautiful building. For those of you that went I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and for those that haven't yet---give it a try! There are still 3, classic operas coming including Lucia, Florencia and La Traviata. I recommend taking advantage of the deals offered and giving it a whirl. If you plan on watching the Reds tonight, look out for one of the stars of an upcoming opera, Mark Panuccio-he'll be singing the national anthem and he's a local! read more

La Calisto was phenomenal. It was a hilarious, skillful, and joyfully inappropriate romp through Greek mythology complete with drag. The execution was fantastic with incredibly skilled performers who were not afraid to not take themselves too seriously. A standing ovation to the cast, the director, the conductor, and everyone else involved. read more

Just finished the La Calisto and it was witty, raunchy and all around excellent. It pushed the boundaries of what is usually a serious medium. From the costumes, to the blocking, to the absolute mastery of comedic timing, we were thoroughly enchanted by Calisto, Jove (in drag) to the hot, adorable hot Satirino. How anyone can have such amazing cleavage in a satyr costume is beyond me. read more