North Carolina Opera

I teach AP European History at the high school level and touch on Wagner's Ring Cycle, because it serves as an allegory for Romanticism, Industrial Revolution, and Socialism vs. Capitalism. The opportunity to actually see Das Rheingold with my wife was a delicious treat for us. We enjoyed the performance. To say the very least, it was AMAZING !

Seats we good in the front balcony. Orchestra was good although a little overpowering and we couldn't hear the singers. My first true opera and it was a good experience. Cast was very good and I enjoyed the afternoon.

Blown away by the entire production -- each element was carefully crafted and thought out to reinforce the underlying concept around the theme "family secrets." I am excited to see the continued evolution of this work!

great singing, great orchestra, poor stage props and costumes

It was a great show with engaging visual effects. Our party enjoyed the orchestra and performers greatly.

This was my very first opera, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will certainly be back again. It has been a long overdue addition to my cultural scene.

wonderful production. Very well done and beautiful singers.

This performance was simply magnificent. The entire cast contributed to the success of the entire production. Cynthia Lawrence and Grant Youngblood were riveting. The scenery was the best ever seen here in NC, this made a substantial difference in the staging. All the voices were melodious, and the acting was stellar. Timothy Myers is simply amazing. He conducts the orchestra (which, as always, was fabulous) with such passion and expertise which really makes the entire production a genuine joy both to see and to hear. What a joy it is to have the "new" North Carolina Opera Company providing us with such opportunities to enjoy the operas in such a manner that the Metropolitan in New York seems to have been transferred here to Raleigh.

The debut performance from the new NC opera company was wonderful. Cynthia Lawrence came from the Met to play the title role of Tosca. I especially enjoyed the NC native (blanking on name) in the role of Scarpio. Overall great professional performance. We are so fortunate to have such a fine opera company in our back yard. Go see an opera!

The intermissions were too long, especially the second intermission. The last act is short, and they could have had a long pause instead for the scenery change. The performance was not over until 11:00 p.m.

This was my first opera and I was very impressed and the show was most enjoyable.

It was my first full opera I have ever seen! I have been listening to opera for a long time... Never have I ever seen nor heard anything so amazing... Thank you for making the night unforgettable!

I hope the new opera company keeps doing what they did with this production of TOSCA. The music was sensational and the singing truly world-class. The scenes were elegantly produced and performed. Well worth the standing ovation at the end.

Opera has arrived in North Carolina. This performance of a timeless classic was perfection with fabulous guest artists and home-grown local talent weaving a seamless magic of drama and music. I can't wait to see what this company does next!

Wonderful opera. Very disappointed that the theater did not print enough programs. We were unable to get a program and read of the opera and performers. The theater certainly knew how many tickets had been sold. Inescusable that there were not enough programs, especailly having paid $100.+ for a seat.

Both the orchestra and singing were great - better than I expected. My only nit is that Wagner wanted the orchestra to be hidden from sight: the audience should hear it, but not see it. I guess Meymandi concert hall does not have a pit. ( Even if it did, it would have to a large pit area to accommodate the Wagnerian sized orchestra.) So the orchestra had to share the stage with the performers - not what Wagner would have wanted, but it still sounded wonderful and the performance was great.

World Class in all way - Conducting, orchestra, soloist, Presentation

I have seen dozens of operas all over this country. The NC Opera performance of Das Rheingold was as wonderful as any production I have seen even at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. The orchestra was dazzling and the staging unique. I would highly recommend taking in future performances of the NC Opera by both opera novices as well as opera aficionados.

Congratulations to the orchestra, the singers and the regie. The splendid music from Rossini found a sober but accurate decor and the representation was a delight for the senses. Keep doing this more often is my recommendation.

As a longtime opera fan, I've seen/heard/experienced many of the classics in the repertoire more than once, and its always a wonderful surprise when a production unearths some nuance in the rich drama that I had missed. It is to the great credit of Stage Director Stephanie Havey and Conductor Timothy Myers in this production that they have put together something fresh and exciting, infusing the characters (and set) with personality, making a production of a familiar opera well worth re-experiencing. The cast and musicians were also well up to the demands, with no weak links, and I was particularly keen on the voices of Andrew Owens (Almaviva) and Cecelia Hall (Rosina).

NC Opera - great job - Have a Verdi or Mozart piece. Will be back

it is hard to capture in words just how wonderful this performance was. The conductor was captuvating can't wait to see him perform again. The musicians beyond excellent and the opera singers were absolutely wonderful. It was an unbelievable performance. At intermission I would go again!

We were so impressed by the quality of the performance - we will definitely be back!

The only opera's I have seen were in NYC. This was my first here in NC. I was incredibly impressed with this production. Incredible talent. My husband, a sports guy, had never been to the opera before. He was equally impressed and in awe of the voices and talent. He told me, yes, we can definitely do this again! WE WILL!

First time attending an opera. Everyone in our group of four found the Barber of Seville quite entertaining. All though seats became uncomfortable, we enjoyed the show. I can check "attend an opera" off my bucket list!

This was an amazing night out with my wife and it would be a great event for anybody to experience. Would love to take the kids some time for a day time show time. Looking forward to seeing more Opera in Raleigh!

We had a blast ! Opera can be so boring and soporific ... or it can be like the experience the NC Opera facilitates every time we go there : existing, funny, heart warming, terrific, just a really good time. You do not need to know a lot about Opera to be able to have a lot of fun. Subtitles give you a good idea of what is being said / sung and you get a nice booklet with every visit that informs you about the overall story-line. Seeing / hearing is very good even from those seats that are a little farther away from the stage. If there is one thing that can be improved then it is the bathrooms in the location. Despite that the actors were fantastic (i thought that the Count Almaviva was a little thin in the beginning but he gained a lot of confidence during the show), the costumes were very nice and the overall stage setting was very creative. The orchestra was outstanding and literally played their asses off :) Thank you to everybody for this unbelievable nice evening, really appreciated and we look forward to the new season schedule soon.

SINGING WAS GOOD, BUT PRODUCTION SEEMED STILTED AND INADEQUATE (BUDGET RESTRICTIONS, MAYBE). ORCHESTRA EXCELLENT, BUT ACOUSTICS DO NOT SEEM VERY GOOD IN THE AUDITORIUM. SUPERTITLES ADEQUATE, AT BEST, WITH LARGE PARTS OF DIALOGUE SKIPPED. WHAT WAS ON SUPERTITLES WAS AMUSING, AND I KNO3 THAT THE FAST PARTS OF ROSSINI'S MUSIC HARD TO PRESENT ON SCREEN. OVERALL, AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE EVENING, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I WILL GO TO FUTURE NC OPERA PRESENTATIONS.

This was the BEST production of Barber of Seville ever!! We were just blown away by how funny, how well-timed, how clever the action was, but also the singing was perfect, the orchestra was wonderful, the whole thing was truly a magnificent show. We liked it so well that we went again on Sunday. If you have not been introduced to NC Opera, you should be. We have traveled all,over the world for ooera, and this company manages to be the best every time. They are amazing.

Pretty good, although a bit slow at times and disappointing statue finale.

Excellent opera. Russian diction was good. Performers well suited for their roles.

Having been to several operas at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC, I wasn't sure what to expect here in Raleigh. What a great surprise. The performance was fabulous and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this venue to anyone. What a treat to have such high caliber talent locally. Bravo!

I had season tickets for many years for Dallas Opera. I have attended two previous operas in Raleigh since moving here. This was by far the best. The cast for excellent for all of the roles.

The NCO's production of Madama Butterfly was a perfect afternoon of music and entertainment. The ageless material was superbly presented in the time honored tradition of the operatic stage. The individual performances were sewn together seamlessly with an accomplished orchestra. NC Opera at it's best!

I enjoyed the opera, especially the atmosphere. I enjoyed how the opera house was broken down in 3 sets. Concessions, commons area where you could drink and listen to violinists (waiting/intermission), and then the actual seating/opera.

This performance was incredible. The set and costumes were fantastic, but the musicians (instrumental and vocal) outshone everything else. A truly moving performance!

I would and did recommend Madame Butterfly to my friends. The singing was impeccable, the stage beautiful and the orchestra wonderful. I would have gone the second day but I had previous engagements. Great! Keep up the quality NC Opera!

The Meymandi Concert Hall is not the most comfortable venue (seats rights behind each other rather than staggered and not enough knee room - starts to feel like you're in an airplane seat). The lead singer who played Cho-Cho-San was a little flat throughout the show, but the man who played the Consul made up for it with his perfect pitch!

While the performances were wonderful, all the noisy children running around, sometimes screaming, were not. I wish parents would either use such events as an opportunity to teach their children how to behave in public and be respectful, or leave them at home. It was a frustrating experience.

This place could take some "welcoming customer service tips" from DPAC! Very confusing lay-out, poor directional signs once you get in. Less than helpful staff. Enjoyed the opera but the venue sucks.

This NC Opera presentation of Don Giovanni was absolutely the best production of theirs I have experienced! The intimate setting that Fletcher Theater offers allowed the audience an upclose and personal role in the production. An outstanding cast shared the story perfectly through humor and joy. Another triumph by the North Carolina Opera!

This is the single best opera production in Raleigh since we moved here in 2010. In our lives, we've attended the better part of 100 operas, all around Colorado, in Santa Fe, at the Met, and had the privilege of singing in some choruses as well. Against that background, this one still stands out. The fabulous singing in all the roles, the production value, and the wonderful Fletcher theater, all combined for something really special.

1st time @ the opera, we were not too sure what to expect. It was Wonderful! What amazing voices these artists have. I had to at first drag my spouse as a gift for me and now we both can't wait to go out on a date again. It honestly could not have been a more beautiful evening out. Something completely different and very memorable. Everyone should try it at least once!

Donna Anna was unfortunately screechy, but the others were good. Many of the tempi were ridiculously fast so singers couldn't get the words out and stay with the orchestra. Latecomers (it seemed like at least 50 people) were seated during recitations about 30 minutes after the start. It was unforgivable. Never would have happened at the Met. Only recommending because there is no other opera here.

The cast of Rigoletto really brought their A game. The singing was fantastic and very entertaining.

It was a wonderful performance by the North Carolina Opera. The sound was awesome and my seats were great too. I have never been to a bad performance by the NC Opera. I always enjoy myself.

Rigoletto is a great opera for those who are not sure they like operas. It is a good story with familiar songs (music that everyone has heard before). Except for the strange and totally superfluous second intermission and one loud and long set change, the show runs smoothly and the patron is always engaged. The seating is tight and cramped. At 90 bucks a crack, this was disappointing. But, the DECPA has easy access and parking is plentiful. The actress who portrayed Gilda was amazing. She was beautiful in appearance and her voice was magical. A memorable performance.

We were amazed and delighted by the heights the performance achieved. Musically and emotionally overwhelming! Jacqueline Echols is superb - her Cara Nome was absolutely beautiful. Malcolm Mackenzie was a powerful Rigoletto. The Duke had a beautiful voice; the whole cast was excellent. The orchestra sounded excellent and the conductor did a perfect job. We'll be eager to see more NC Opera productions.

It was my first opera, and it was fantastic! I appreciated the translation screen.

More elaborate than I expected, what a wonderful surprise. First time opera in Raleigh. Rigoletto and Gilda were suberb. Great performance, I will definitely do this again.

Great performance overall, both the orchestra and actors. Now let s bring down south Nabucco and Aida.

Rigoletto is a tragic opera. It is not funny. But if you want a fun time at the opera, you should see this show. The conductor worked hard for his money - he never let the tempo drag. The singers were technically excellent. The acting and staging made sense and enhanced the story line. Choral singing and dancing were seamless. My companion who usually naps soundly during any opera, stayed awake and enjoyed the show! There was a little unprofessional banging and clanging backstage during a scene change, but other than that, it was first rate. Next NC Opera show - I'll be there. You should try it too.

The performers were spectacular. Very engaging and I would definitely return for another show.

The talent in this group is remarkable. I am never disappointed.

First time going to the Opera, great experience. Enjoyed the whole ambiance of the theater.

Great orchestra, choir, singers. Screenplay was correct.

We had a wonderful experience, especially for me, a first-time opera attendee. The theater and the setting enhanced an absolutely delightful performance by an amazingly talented cast. Bravo from Southport!

The Pearl Fishers opera was amazing! Not only was were the settings beautiful and the singing wonderful we were able to see dancers from the NC Ballet who added to the drama. The NC Opera Orchestra's music really added to the opera as "live" music always does. The costumes were very colorful. Thanks!

All four of us were greatly impressed with the singing, the staging, the scenery, the whole performance. Thanks to NC Opera for performing a less-well known opera.

The orchestra and the voices were spectacular throughout.

The music was excellent and the performers gave sterling display from the leads to all the supporting cast. The sets were also wonderfully done.

Such a beautiful Opera. Talent was amazing, orchestra was fabulous, just wanted to close me eyes and listen. The stage and lighting were breath-taking.

This was an excellent production- very good pricipal singers, full orchestra, robust chorus, nice scenery and costumes, even some ballet! See this opera by Bizet if you ever get another chance. The music is drop-dead gorgeous and the plot is so lame you don't have to even try to understand it. NC Opera is great.

This was our first opera event and it was very enjoyable. There is not a bad seat in the facility, and the cost is reasonable. The performers were excellent, and the production was well done. Our only complaint was that the supertitles were not presented consistently. Frequently, the translations were late, or failed to show up, and there were several places where there appeared to be no attempt to provide translation. Some of those instances were places of repetition, but it was not clear if that was always the case. Otherwise, we had a lot of fun.

As a recent arrival in Raleigh with a love for opera I must confess I had some reservations about my first visit to a performance by the NC Opera. The reservations were dispelled from the opening notes of the overture. I was really impressed by the the caliber of all the singers and musicians as well as the staging. I will certainly be coming back for more.

NC Opera's Marriage of Figaro was superb. The singing was incredible. The orchestra was perfect. The staging was wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyable. Only wish I'd known I would have to look up for the English subtitles. Third row was fabulous except for a stiff neck.

We truly enjoyed the talents of the Opera performers and the wonderful Orchestra. Together they did a wonderful job with this Opera. So much talent on stage and in the orchestra. The venue is very nice as well. Looking forward to seeing the ballet there this coming week. Great to have such talent and great venue right here in Raleigh, NC. Thank you to all!!! Linda

All four of us were greatly impressed in all ways. The orchestra, the singers, the stage, everything. I was especially impressed with the man who played the count. Not only was he a top-notch singer, but he showed real acting ability. We sat close enough to see all the facial expressions!

After seeing the film "Amadeus Mozart" and the seen when the star is on his knees explain one scene to the Lord.

Great opera show. I will definitely return for future shows.

My wife and I enjoyed the opera very much. The cast were great and keep you intrigued with not only their wonderful voices but also with their actions and mannerisms .Plainly stated wonderful.

The Meymandi Concert Hall is a wonderful venue for this 1960s original Technicolor low-budget film, Hercules in the Haunted World, which was cleverly committed to music by Patrick Morganelli. It has laughable special effects: rock monsters, vampires, zombies, and the use of creative of rock throwing by Hercules. As the flamboyant sandal-clad characters portray their own take on mythology, one is drawn into the story by the impressive score. The nine singers, all outstanding, included gifted tenor John Cashwell, who teaches locally at the Raleigh Music Academy, Timothy Sparks, an instructor in Voice at UNC, and Scott Macleod, Director of Vocal Studies from High Point University. It is always a pleasure to see North Carolinians represented well, even if some ARE transplants, especially since none of the singers could see the screen yet their timing was impeccable. It was a campy and entertaining event, filled with fiendish fun. A well spent afternoon.

The combination of the movie and opera was very interesting. I don't know if the same effect would have been available had a modern movie been used. The older movie was much more "stagey" and I think lent itself more t the mixing of genres.

I enjoy some opera, but not particularly this one. The costuming wasn't much, and the "semi-staging" was really less than semi. The psychedelic screen didn't add much. The orchestra was good. In my opinion, the voices were below average; of course I really am not an expert.

The production was captivating. Performances were outstanding and the sets were beautifully designed. All of my senses were engaged from beginning to end. And, the voices and singing....not to be missed. It was worth braving the cold, rain, and ice to attend! Bravo!

Such a high quality production. The principals were amazing as was the conductor.

This is one of the most loveable operas because of the many beautiful arias. The story itself is touching and the soprano gave one of the best performance I have seen in this opera. Excelent as well both male characters.

Performance was absolutely stunning. If there was a flaw, no one could name it. Voices were wonderfully selected.

ALL performers were outstanding, even the children. I have to give the 2 top stars some more attention. Angela Fout, the amazing Mimi, was beautiful, and her singing was awe inspiring. Eric the tennor was convincing, in his role, and an exceptional tenor. The sets were pastel and visulaly stunning, the orchestra was notable, and the production was simply excellent!

Being a personal friend of tenor Mario Chang it was a real pleasure to see -and hear- him. The whole ensemble made justice to a beautiful opera!

The cast exceeded my expectations. Muzetta was the best. I thought Rudolfo ran through the most important aria in the first act.

We took our grand daughter to the Sunday matinee performance and along with both of us she was thrilled. The sets were remarkable. Mimi's ability to deliver such superb sounds from sitting and prone positions amazed us. Two days later we watched a You Tube replay of La Boheme at the Lincoln Center in NYC, and NCO's sets were better than Lincoln Center's. The overall performances were comparable with the exception of Colline's fourth act aria which was far superior at NCO.

The artistry of all the cast was wonderful. They not only were superb musicians but they acted their roles effectively. Orchestra was equally excellent. I found the production lost momentum with the 2 long intermissions. I liked the translation as an aid to following the story line but felt that paying attention to them sometimes distracted from appreciating the music

The entire experience was special. Cast was superb, and scenery was amazing.

Having seen previous performances of the North Carolina Opera, I expected this performance to be very good, but it was much better than expected. All 6 of the main singers were excellent as was the orchestra, costumes and sets. This was my first year to get season tickets and I will continue to do so. I would greatly prefer a different venue since Memorial Auditorium has poor seating and acoustics.

This was my first opera show to attend and I was very impress. I do not consider my self a classical music connoisseur I'm just a fan and there for I only value some of the opera music. I know all of the major operas by heart and I have them on my mp3 player in many different versions and voices, from world famous sopranos and tenors to names you've never heard of. Verdi has my heart in many of his compositions. In this performance of La Traviata the most loved songs where delivered with power and fulfill every one of my expectation, however the one performance that push it above my expectation was the beautiful sopranos performance of " Ah fors'e lui" . In my opinion her version of this sweet yet powerful love song was delivered to the quality level of Maria Callas. I could close mu eyes and feel the passion and the tenderness, the power and the sweetness of that song. Soprano Jacqueline Echols has a powerful voice but sweet and warm more in Maria Callas style so she can really bring Verdi's gentle passion in his love operas to life and touch the very core of her audiences heart. I absolutely love it! Beyond expectation performance. I wish I could find a recording with her voice in "Ah fors'e lui', I like it better than Anna Netrebko interpretation or Angela Gheorghiu, Sumi Jo, and many other world famous sopranos. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Puccini's masterpiece was brilliantly rendered by the NC Opera. Excellently staged and featuring talented artists, the show was marvelous. Particularly engaging was Musetta, who must have been born for the role. Brava! One of the best small engagement operas I've seen.

What a treat! Our first time attending a NC Opera performance. Costumes and set were beautiful and the artists superb. Jacueline Echols (Violetta) was phenomenal and we could have listened to her beautiful voice for hours. Also impressive was her vocal abilities while laying down!

I very much enjoyed the NC Opera Company's production of La Boheme. The sets were lovely, and the performers did a wonderful job. And, of course, the music of La Boheme is timeless and beautiful.

Very good effort. Enjoyed the stage set and costumes, and thought the production was well sung and acted. The fellow who played the father stole the show.

This was my first opera, and what an amazing performance. The costumes, sets, and the amazing singers were phenomenal. I don't know how long-time fans felt about it, but I truly welcomed the presence of supertitles above the stage. It helped me follow the story and it was not distracting.

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance. BRAVO!

Rodolpho seemed a bit wooden in his interactions in the last act and there many times when the staging was too predictable ( children running in a straight line, stopping all at once) There just didn't seem to be any passion or surprise or liveliness to contrast with the sadness. I know all of this is about the drama and not the singers. And one of them was sick. PS the sub-titles are very distracting to me, but I know some people like them and others don't bother to bone up on the libretto or story. Maybe if they were not centered but off to the side they would be less obtrusive.

This was my first visit to the NC Opera. It was a fantastic time. The performance was great, the music was great, and this is the best theater in the area. I wish I could come to this theater for more shows, but I will be back to the opera.

It was very entertaining. Violetta and Giorgio were my favorites! The farewell between these two in the beginning was a bit long. (this was my only criticism besides the woman who sat behind who kicked my seat at least 6 times. The simplicity in the stage design was so effective. And the music was superb!!! I really enjoyed LaTraviata!!!!!

The principal singers were outstanding, especially the soprano and baritone leads and the tenor was good as well. The sets were well designed and the supporting cast was excellent.

This was a great opera to see. I went with my sister for a nice evening out, and this production truly delivered. Eric Barry, Eric Barry, Eric Barry...Angela Fout, Angela Fout, Angela Fout. Amazing opera singers...doesn't get any better than these two! The singing was amazing - Eric Barry is absolutely incredible! Angela Fout is beautiful and funny and sings like an angel. Troy Cook, Jacqueline Echols, Solomon Howard, John E. Orduna & Kurt Melges were all wonderful and amazing singers as well. Eric Barrys' Rodolfo and Angela Fouts' Mimi were truly top notch performances. I was so choked up at the end, I could barely speak. In awe is all I can say. I highly recommend this opera to anyone who loves the opera or just wants to enjoy some great talent. Loved it!

This was my first experience at the opera and La Boheme is the only opera I have ever wanted to see. It exceeded all my expectations! Not only were their voice performances stunning, their delivery made the whole stage take on a magical energy. The cast is fantastic.

From the staging to the costumes to the voices, once again an outstanding performance by the NC Opera

This was my very first opera. I am a senior in high school who is planning to pursue a career in classical music and this opera was superb, it has left me with the desire to make it the first of many, many operas that I will attend.