The Cincinnati Opera’s 105th anniversary season kicks off June 12

As summer begins to heat up in Cincinnati, so do the arts. Music lovers flock to Riverbend, dancers step into Salsa on the Square and shoppers stroll through handicrafts at City Flea. At the Cincinnati Opera, theatergoers will be entertained beginning June 12. Performing classic opera—and even some musical theater—the summer season is for experienced operagoers and newbies alike, according to the company.

The opera’s 105th anniversary season, this summer will see the company showcasing a handful of the standards of classical opera, a Broadway staple, some original cabaret-style performances and even traveling to several churches and temples.

“It’s going to be a very magical escape opportunity in the middle of our crazy world,” says Katie Syroney, director of Communications at the Cincinnati Opera. “We have some of the best artists in the world performing on the stage [in addition to] the extraordinary visuals, amazing dancing and incredible singing.”

The company’s three flagship productions will take place at Springer Auditorium at Music Hall and include Rigoletto (June 12 and 14) and Tosca (June 26 and 28), two productions that are “just really, really intense, beautiful heartbreaking tragedies,” Syroney says. Featuring some of the most famous arias in operatic history, attendees can expect to hear classes like “La donna é mobile” from the former.

“Opera can sometimes seem intimidating,” Syroney says. “But we want people to feel the opposite. Everyone is welcome to give us a try and we want to make it as easy as possible.” Perhaps a sign of the opera’s desire to increase its appeal, the company will produce Fiddler on the Roof. The classic musical will “be told in a new way,” Syroney says, while still including all aspects that make the production a classic.

While the three productions may be the most traditional of the offerings from the opera, they are far from the only. The organization’s Studio Sessions will return this summer, allowing the performers within the company to create original programming, oftentimes leaning into the creators’ lived experiences. “It’s very personal for each of the artists. You won’t find them anywhere else,” says Syroney.

The Studio Sessions will see these artists dive through various topics, musical numbers and eras. Soul and Sound serves as a tribute to the brilliance of the Harlem Renaissance while Anthony Clark Evans in Recital will see the baritone showcase a selection of handpicked songs and arias. From Avenue A to Broadway will take visitors through the music scene of 20th-century Manhattan.

In addition to the performances Cincinnati Opera offers in theaters and auditoriums throughout the city, the company is coming to spectators through its Opera Goes to Church! program. Collaborating with houses of worship throughout the city, this program blends gospel, jazz and classical music in free concerts throughout the summer.

“This is a summertime tradition—we’ve been around for 105 years and if you’ve never come, there’s no time like the present,” Syroney says of the upcoming summer programming. For those looking to take advantage of the present moment, tickets are on sale now at cincinnatiopera.org.

“When you step inside the venue, you’ll find it to be a really festive atmosphere where you can grab a glass of champagne, maybe a little snack and just be wowed by the performance,” she says.