Brown Opera Productions (BOP) is dedicated to the promotion and performance of classical vocal music both on campus and in the greater Providence, Rhode Island community and is a space for singers and musicians to collaborate on exciting classical performance projects. BOP produces a full-length opera every spring, and throughout the year produces concerts of classical vocal music on campus and in local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. As the name implies, the group is composed of Brown University students, who also work with RISD students at times. BOP does not charge admission for its performances but depends on individual donations.

[edit] Productions

[edit] The Fall Operetta

Every fall, BOP puts on a fully-staged operetta. In the fall operetta's inaugural year, BOP will perform Monsieur Choufleuri.[1]

[edit] The Spring Opera

A fully-staged, fully-orchestrated, completely student-run full opera put on every Spring. The directors, designers, production staff, and orchestra are all students.

Nemorino surrounded by the village girls. From BOP's Spring 2009 show L'elisir d'amore

[edit] The Children's Opera

Every year, BOP puts on an opera for children. Past productions have included a reduction of The Magic Flute, Hansel and Gretel and a student-written opera, The Frog Prince. The children's opera is only one of the many ways BOP reaches out to the Providence community. BOP has at least two nursing home concerts a year and is planning to launch an opera/classical music education program for surrounding Providence schools.

[edit] The Scenes Concert

BOP puts on short scenes from various operas and operettas, with staging, singing, and sets. In the past BOP has done scenes from many operas and operettas, including Porgy and Bess, The Magic Flute, Norma, The Threepenny Opera, Candide, and Monsieur Choufleuri.

[edit] The Fall and Winter Arias Concerts

These concerts are great opportunities for vocalists to debut or to just sing something they've been working on. Accompanists are provided, and people are encouraged to sing whatever they want, from Handel to John Cage, Puccini to Gershwin.

[edit] Production history

In the Fall of 2009, BOP produced Monsieur Choufleuri, an operetta by Jacques Offenbach.

In the Spring of 2009, BOP produced L'elisir d'amore, composed by Gaetano Donizetti in 1832.

In the Fall of 2008, BOP produced The Frog Prince, a new chamber opera for children by Jacob A. Greenberg. One of the duets: [2]

In the Spring of 2008, BOP produced Orfeo ed Euridice, composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck in 1762.[3]

In the Spring of 2007, BOP produced the Spanish opera Goyescas, composed by Enrique Granados in 1916.[4]

In the Spring of 2006, BOP premiered its first opera, The Medium, composed by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1946.[5]

[edit] External links

• BOP homepage at brown.edu
• Opera Providence website
• the Bel Canto Scholarship Foundation