New Orleans Opera Association

The New Orleans is the 1st city of opera in the United States with the first opera being staged in 1796. The NOOA stages 3-4 operas a year and has just moved back to its pre-Katrina theater. While not world-class, the operas are imaginatively staged and the principals are often up-and-coming stars.

I have now attended the student previews for several performances put on by the NOOA at the Mahalia Jackson theater, the most recent of which is Carmen, and I must say that I have greatly enjoyed all of them. The NOOA brings amazing local talent to the stage, such as Bryan Hymel (Madame Butterfly and Carmen), who has won both the Olivier and Beverly Sills Awards, Jake Penick (Carmen, regular appearances in Bon Operatit), and Sara McMahon (La Boheme). These singers are also excellent actors, and thanks to them one doesn't need to read the supratitles or have read a plot synopsis before the show to understand the action on the stage. The orchestra also plays wonderfully, heightening the drama and conflict of these performances. The stage crew also deserves praise because the sets are beautiful and incredibly detailed.If you're an educator, I urge you to take advantage of these student previews. For each 5 students you bring to the opera, you can bring 1 adult. The purpose of these previews is to create future generations of opera lovers, and I think this is an excellent outreach program. John Fink, who is in charge of the ticket requests is friendly and responsive, and he's happy to give out the tickets. Some of my fellow teachers and I have brought up to 37 students to the opera, so you can ask for large numbers of tickets. The NOOA also puts on events around town such as the monthly Bon Operatit and Opera on Tap programs or A Taste of Opera in the French Quarter. All of these events are free, and the performers are very talented. They sing a variety of show tunes, opera classics, and drinking songs which fit the Rusty Nail or the Puccini Bar in the 4 Points Sheraton perfectly. Simply put, the presence of the NOOA is yet one more reason to love New Orleans.

Opera in New Orleans is an institution dating back to the end of the 18th century. With such a rich musical history as New Orleans has it is only fitting that we are the first city of opera in the US.Now the New Orleans Opera Association has annual seasons (although the seasons run from fall into spring of the next year) and stage 3 or 4 operas each season. The chorus is filled with amazing local talent and while some of the principle roles are filled by high profile vocalists from out of state many are filled with our own New Orleans voices.Operas are usually staged in the Mahalia Jackson Theatre with few exceptions. For instance, this season's "Turandot" was done as a one performance only show at the Convention Center, but that is the exception and not the rule. Performances are usually Friday evening and Sunday afternoon and often preceded by a "nuts and bolts" lecture covering details about the plot, staging, etc. NOOA also participates in Opera on Tap, a national program as well as having several family friendly and kid friendly events throughout the season.Support the fine arts, local artists, and our rich heritage of opera here in New Orleans. You'll be glad you did.

Great opera house - needs help with PR!Please don't call the ticket office on Monday morning and hope for civility. Hangovers? General crossness at the hungry public? And don't write e-mails expecting an answer - this is not the Met.I have often felt the dichotomy between the inherent elitism of the opera world and the need to reach out to the general public in order to survive.It's too bad that they must deal with the unwashed masses, but we beg them to be nice.As to the performances themselves - absolutely no criticism. Looking forward to Un Ballo - if I can get some help buying tickets.

So very disappointed in the matinee at mahalia jackson theatre for the opera Samson and Delilah.The Only costume worth looking at was Delilah's.. there was no scenery, everyone had and their scores in front of them the entire time either in their hands or on a podium.The vocals were good, the orchestra was excellent.However, No dance for the bacchanal, the audiences looked at an empty stage while the orchestra played there should have been an exotic dance taking place at that time.New Ireland needs to step it up quite a bit to stay in business IMO.