Chautauqua Opera Company

05/08/2026

Opera is hitting the road! 🚌

Chautauqua Arts Education & Chautauqua Opera Company present Opera in the Schools: The Barber of Seville in California. Adapted by Kristine McIntyre from Rossini's The Barber of Seville, this fun, kid-friendly twist on the classic brings music, laughter and a little chaos to classrooms across Chautauqua County.

Follow Figaro as he helps Count Almaviva win Rosina’s heart - despite a language barrier and a very determined Aunt Bartolo. Will true love prevail? 💌🎶

Featuring our amazing cast:
🎤 Lindsey Weissman as Rosina
🎤 Rosamund Dyer as Aunt Bartolo
🎤 Gabriel Chona Rueda as Count Almaviva
🎤 Christopher Walters as Figaro

Led by Stage Director Joshua Borths and Music Director Kerry Byard, with Music Supervisor José Meléndez joining the team for the first time - this program brings together incredible artistry on and off the stage.

This production is off to thirteen Chautauqua County schools May 13–21 - spreading music, storytelling, and joy to young audiences!

Preview performance will be Monday, May 11 at 1:30pm in Fletcher Music Hall at Chautauqua Institution. This performance is free and open to the public.

.dyer

02/27/2026

📣 BIG NEWS! 📣

We’re thrilled to share that Steven Osgood will be returning to The Metropolitan Opera next season to conduct two performances of the highly anticipated world premiere of LINCOLN IN THE BARDO - the new opera by Missy Mazzoli & Royce Vavrek, based on George Saunders’ Booker Prize-winning novel.

Last summer, Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Opera Company hosted an orchestral workshop of this monumental work. The audience at a sold-out Norton Hall were the first to ever hear excerpts of the opera with full orchestra, when Maestro Osgood led an unforgettable workshop presentation with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Opera Conservatory students, the Chautauqua Opera Company Young Artists, and Christine Goerke as The Reverend (who will also premiere the role at the Met) - a milestone in the opera’s development.

🌟 Stay tuned for more information as this landmark production takes the Met stage!

For complete dates, casting, and to purchase tickets, check out the 🔗 below! https://bit.ly/3ZOUTar

02/20/2026

🎉BIG NEWS for Chautauqua Opera🎉

As part of a major investment in the arts for the 2026 season, Chautauqua Institution has received a $40,000 general operating grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), along with three additional $10,000 grants supporting visiting artists whose work will be developed and presented this season.

We’re proud to share that one of those NYSCA Support for Artists – Music grants will support IDA BY LAMPLIGHT, a new opera by Jeremy Gill and Jerre Dye.

This powerful world premiere explores the early years of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, celebrating the pioneering contributions of Ida Tarbell and Kate Kimball — leaders whose vision helped shape Chautauqua’s enduring mission.

Join us for the world premiere this summer as we bring this remarkable story to life!

🗓 July 22
📍 Amphitheater

Learn more with the 🔗 below
https://bit.ly/4quGESL

02/18/2026

We’re thrilled to share this announcement from Chautauqua Institution: Tickets for our 2026 season are on sale NOW! 🎶🙌🎶

See full details below and grab your seats ⬇️ ⬇️

Tickets are ON SALE NOW for Chautauqua Opera Company and the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory's 2026 season! 🎶🙌🎶

Chautauqua Opera Company’s 2026 season features a historic triple-bill — The Music Shop, A.E. Reverie, and the world premiere of Ida by Lamplight.

Plus: three new opera workshops with the Opera Company's 16 Young Artists, giving audiences a rare look at works in development.

The stage is set, and we can’t wait to share the magic of another season with you!

🎟 tickets.chq.org

02/03/2026

✨ Summer 2026 Hiring! ✨
Join the Chautauqua Opera Company for a summer of music, art, and lake sunsets! We’re seeking arts-loving humans for two seasonal roles:

🎶 Management Associate
💻 Marketing & Management Assistant

What’s waiting for you?
✔️ Paid summer positions
✔️ Housing provided
✔️ Hands-on experience at a historic Young Artist program
✔️ Work where art, music, and sunsets collide!

Curious about arts management? Singers, stage managers, and instrumentalists—this is your summer to explore, create, and grow.

👉 Apply now via the link below or email [email protected] for details.
https://bit.ly/4k6mUDF

12/19/2025

We’re proud to introduce the Chautauqua Opera Company 2026 Young Artists! 🎶🙌🎶

This exceptional cohort includes 16 singers, representing some of today’s most exciting emerging voices.

• Faith Adams, Soprano
• Sarah Rachel Bacani, Soprano
• Tyrese Byrd, Tenor
• Gabriel Chona Rueda, Tenor
• Joel Clemens, Baritone
• Sydney Dardis, Soprano
• SarahAnn Duffy, Mezzo-Soprano
• Sarah Dyer-Jones, Mezzo-Soprano
• Audrianna Hughes, Mezzo-Soprano
• Brian Linares, Bass
• Ryan Michki, Tenor
• Sara Nealley, Soprano
• Jared Peterson, Bass
• Christopher Walters, Baritone
• Kelsey Watts, Soprano
• Lindsey Weissman, Mezzo-Soprano

Join us in welcoming these incredible artists to the 2026 season - we can’t wait to hear them shine on the Chautauqua stages! Learn more with the 🔗 below!

https://bit.ly/4p2iIW8

12/18/2025

🎶2026 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT🎶
We are excited to share the productions that the Chautauqua Opera Company and Conservatory will bring to the stage this summer!

2026 Opera Company Productions
🎼 A triple bill: The Music Shop (Richard Wargo), A.E. Reverie (Kamala Sankaram & Jerre Dye), Ida by Lamplight (Jeremy Gill & Jerre Dye)

🎼 Sarah in the Theatre (Mark Adamo)

🎼 Anne of Green Gables (Danika Lorèn & Royce Vavrek)

🎼 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Herschel Garfein)

2026 Opera Conservatory Productions (Chautauqua Institution Schools of Performing and Visual Arts)

🎼 Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)(Mozart)

🎼 A double bill: L’Enfant Prodigue (The Prodigal Son), Les Mamelles de Tirésias (Claude Debussy & Francis Poulenc)

From emerging artists to seasoned professionals, this season offers a rich mix of new works and beloved repertoire.

10/25/2025

🎶Happy World Opera Day! 🎶

Today, we celebrate opera's power to inspire, connect, and transform, and we’re proud to be part of that global story.

For Chautauqua Opera, 2025 has been a year of artistic triumphs, bold storytelling, and community engagement, with sold-out performances and unforgettable moments with our incredible Young Artists, cultivating the next generation of operatic talent and opera lovers.

Here’s to the future of opera - and all who make it sing!

10/21/2025

🎉 Alumni Spotlight 🎉

We are thrilled to celebrate tenor Nathan Bowles, a 2023 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist, competing in the prestigious World Opera Competition, Operalia, in Sofia, Bulgaria, from October 20-26.

During his time with us, Nathan distinguished himself as a talented young artist, covering roles like SWEENEY TODD and Don José in LA TRAGÉDIE DE CARMEN. Now, he is entering one of the world’s most celebrated opera competitions. Nathan continues to impress with his artistry, passion, and dedication.

Join us in cheering him on as he shares his incredible talent with a global audience. We’re so proud to be part of his journey! 👏✨

09/16/2025

🌟 What’s Next for Our Young Artists 🌟

We’re kicking off a new series where we’ll be featuring what’s ahead for our incredible 2025 Young Artists starting with Joel Balzun!

This next season is shaping up to be unforgettable for Joel as he just concluded his role debut as Tonio in I PAGLIACCI with the Pacific Opera Project this past weekend!

Up Next:
🎶 BRAHMS REQUIEM – Wichita Grand Opera (Sept 27, 2025)
🎶 Dvořák’s TE DEUM – San Luis Obispo Master Chorale (Nov 23, 2025)
🎶 Tonio in I PAGLIACCI – Amarillo Opera (Apr 11, 2026)
🎶 World Premiere by Dale Trumbore – featured in spring recitals

"I'm excited to debut Tonio and the BRAHMS REQUIEM - two bucket list pieces for me, especially Tonio," Joel shared. "The Dvorak TE DEUM was my first ever oratorio solo, back in graduate school at Eastman. It is a full-circle moment to be debuting an important role in the same season as revisiting an old friend."

👏 Congrats, Joel - we can’t wait to follow your journey!

💜Looking back at Chautauqua:
“My summer at Chautauqua has been surprising at every turn. The nurturing environment, high level of professionalism and great collegiality between everyone all made for a great season. I truly feel I've advanced as an artist and professional musician while being here.”

Stay tuned for more “What’s Next” updates from our extraordinary 2025 Young Artists!

Chautauqua Opera Company

09/14/2025

We’re proud to see the Chautauqua Opera family shine on stage and behind the scenes!

Pacific Opera Project's production of PAGLIACCI features not only the thrilling drama of Leoncavallo’s masterpiece but three Chautauqua Opera Young Artist Alumni: Nathan Bowles ('23), Joel Balzun ('25) and Arnold Livingston Geis ('17, returning in '23 as a Festival Artist)! Additionally, Chautauqua Opera Company's Audio Engineer E. Martin Gimenez is bringing his expertise to the production, which concludes its run this weekend.

👏 These talented artists trained, performed, and grew here at Chautauqua Institution, and it’s inspiring to watch them share their gifts with audiences far and wide.

We love celebrating the impact of our alumni and team wherever opera takes them! 💜🎶

Pacific Opera Project Chautauqua Institution Chautauqua Opera Company