Opera Colorado Unveils MACBETH, THE SNOWY DAY And More for 2026–27 Season

Opera Colorado has announced its 2026–27 Season, featuring mainstage operas, touring programs, and community events. The season includes works by Verdi, Mozart, and new operas for young audiences. Performances will take place in Denver and across Colorado.

The 2026–27 Season will mark the first full season planned by Barbara Lynne Jamison in her role as Ellie Caulkins General Director and CEO. Jamison said the season was designed with a focus on community engagement and accessibility. “At its heart, this season is about serving our community,” she said. “Opera gives us a powerful way to spark joy, curiosity, and connection—one of the things I love most about it is how it brings people together. We've designed this season with an open door: we want you to feel welcome and capture your imagination.”

The season will begin in September with the Artist in Residence Showcase, which will introduce Opera Colorado’s next group of apprentices through a program featuring opera, musical theater, and related repertoire. A second showcase performance will take place in Colorado Springs in early October.

In October, Opera Colorado’s Opera On Tour program will launch with Earth to Kenzie, a one-act opera with music by Frances Pollock and libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo. Sung in English and performed with live piano accompaniment, the fully staged production will tour schools and community spaces throughout the region beginning in fall 2026. The opera centers on themes of empathy, resilience, and strength in the face of adversity.

The first mainstage production of the season will be Macbeth, with music by Giuseppe Verdi and a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy. Set in 11th-century Scotland, the production will examine ambition, power, and the influence of collective voices in shaping fate. Performances will take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on November 7, 10, 13, and 15, 2026.

In February 2027, Opera Colorado will present The Snowy Day, based on the Caldecott Medal–winning book by Ezra Jack Keats, with music by Joel Thompson and libretto by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Designed for families and first-time operagoers, the production will be staged at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on February 27 and 28, with a student performance scheduled for February 25.

The spring opera will be The School for Lovers (Così fan tutte) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Set during the Regency era, the production will explore trust, temptation, and emotional vulnerability through Mozart’s comic score. Performances are scheduled for May 1, 4, 7, and 9, 2027.

Additional season programming will include themed events such as Prophecies and Pastries, a Macbeth-inspired tea event in October; Spirits + Songs later that month; Sip + Sing events at Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club in March 2027; and the Opera Colorado Gala in May. Educational and engagement offerings will include student dress rehearsals, backstage access programs, opening night dinners, and pre-show talks ahead of each mainstage performance.

Opera Colorado noted that casting and creative teams for the season will be announced at a later date. Discounted subscription packages for the 2026–27 Season are currently available, with additional event details expected to be released beginning February 3 at the company’s website.

2026–27 SEASON LISTINGS

Artist in Residence Showcase — September 26, 2026

Artist in Residence Showcase (Colorado Springs) — October 4, 2026

Opera On Tour: Earth to Kenzie — Beginning Fall 2026

Prophecies and Pastries (Macbeth-themed event) — Sunday, October 11, 2026

Spirits + Songs — Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Student Dress Rehearsals — November 5, 2026 and April 29, 2027

Backstage Pass — November 12, 2026 and May 6, 2027

Opening Night Dinners — November 7, 2026 (Macbeth) and May 1, 2027 (The School for Lovers)

Pre-show Talks — One hour prior to each mainstage performance

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

Verdi’s Macbeth — November 7, 10, 13, and 15, 2026
Ellie Caulkins Opera House

The Snowy Day — February 25 (student performance), 27, and 28, 2027
Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Mozart’s The School for Lovers (Così fan tutte) — May 1, 4, 7, and 9, 2027
Ellie Caulkins Opera House

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sip + Sing at Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club — March 9 and 10, 2027