What To Expect In The 2024-2025 Season
The 24-25 Opera series begins with a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific and is presented in collaboration with Wright State University’s School of Fine and Performing Arts. A favorite among opera and musical theatre fans alike, South Pacific features Dayton Opera artists alongside an ensemble from Wright State, with Neal Gittleman conducting the Philharmonic performing the musical’s glorious score. South Pacific is a fantastic way to kick off the Dayton Opera Season. (Sept. 21 and 22, 2024; Schuster Center).
The Opera series continues in December with Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, a heartwarming tale of kindness and generosity. The show will be directed by Kathleen Clawson with Neal Gittleman conducting the Dayton Philharmonic. The opera follows the story of three mysterious kings who follow a star to bring gifts to a wonderful child, only to encounter a poor shepherd boy and his mother along the way. The Dayton Opera Chorus and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company join in this perfect beginner’s opera, which is a joyous way to usher in the holiday season for the entire family. (Dec. 6 and 8, 2024; Schuster Center).
In 1990 three great operatic tenors gave a legendary concert of the best arias in the canon. More than 800 million viewers tuned in, and the recording of this concert became the best-selling classical album of all time! Dayton Opera pays homage to this historic event with Three Tenors, Encore! as three rising stars on the operatic stage perform much of the same repertoire of the original concert, led by Dayton’s own, Howard Watkins, as musical director and pianist. (February 2, 2025; Schuster Center).
DPAA’s Opera season concludes with Verdi’s grand opera, Aida, on the Schuster Center stage. Kathleen Clawson directs this intimate story of forbidden and unrequited love enmeshed in a struggle for imperial power between Egypt and Ethiopia. Full of large, lush, musical moments, Aida is a beautiful collaboration of Dayton talent with Neal Gittleman conducting the Philharmonic and Opera Chorus and dancers from Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. (April 4 and 6, 2025; Schuster Center).