One of the finest artistic institutions in the nation is set to open its doors once again as the New Orleans Opera announces its upcoming season in bold, bombastic fashion with a presentation of Puccini’s Tosca. A classic opera steeped with love, passion, and political intrigue set in the heart of Rome, Tosca is the perfect entry point for the operatically curious. But that’s not all. On opening night, the Mahalia Jackson Theater will be transformed into ‘A Night In Italy’. Featuring a mini-museum dedicated to the history of Tosca prior as well as specialty drinks, music, and a romantic evening in front of the fountains after, a visit to the opera on September 27 becomes the date perfect night. At $100 all-inclusive for two, the New Orleans Opera joins high drama with delightful cocktails, transforming Armstrong Park into the Piazza Navona.
“Opera is the original transformative art form and we want to make it easy for people to experience that for themselves,” says Lila Palmer, General & Artistic Director of the New Orleans Opera. “Our ‘Night In Italy’ offers New Orleanians the chance to travel through time for the price of two tickets to the opera and have themselves a date night to remember with cocktails on the terrace, Italian ices, and themed drinks; basically the full piazza experience right here at home.”
Founded in 1943, the New Orleans Opera Association is dedicated to upholding one of the richest forms of creative expression in the world, one with deep ties to the city, and looks to expand its reach into the future through innovative retrospection and unique exhibition.
“Most people don’t know that New Orleans was the place where much of opera was first performed in the United States,” says Palmer. “This city has always treated opera as a cutting-edge form of entertainment and expression with a tradition that dates back centuries. It is our hope to bring that back for a modern audience in new and exciting ways.”
Following Tosca, The New Orleans Opera is presenting ‘Samson and Delilah’, another classic of the medium that premiered in New Orleans 130 years ago this year. A form that is as innovative and prescient as any, opera in New Orleans is constantly reinventing the past and offering audiences the chance to reclaim a piece of their culture through the expression and performance of world-class performers.
“When you are watching a soprano baring her soul on stage, you are really watching an athlete ply her trade at the highest level,” says Palmer. “The opera was created as a place for friends and couples to enjoy a drink and a show in a communal environment. It’s not about eating your greens, it’s about going out for a good night on the town and sharing that experience with others.”
To learn more about the ‘Night In Italy’ and to get your tickets to this exclusive, all-inclusive event, please visit neworleansopera.org/night-in-italy/.
