Opera America

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Opera America, officially OPERA America, is a service organization in North America promoting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera. Its members include opera companies in America, such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, and The Dallas Opera; Opera America also includes international affiliated opera companies such as the Canadian Opera Company and Opera Australia, businesses, educational institutions, libraries, foundations, guilds, and opera artists such as singers and composers.

[edit] Hallmarks of Opera America

Opera America's services have seven "hallmarks" [1]. First is Timely Information, which is dedicated towards online and print newsletters and bulletins. Next, Opera's Advocate involves the raising of the profile of opera through formal programs. After this is Dedication to New Works, which is the encouraging of the creation and presentation of new works. The development of artists, administrators, and technical theater professionals is taken care of through the next hallmark, which is Professional Development. Regional Meetings promote opera at a more local level. Next is Collaborative Projects, which is the research and sharing of information with other arts companies. Finally, Authoritative Knowledge: the analysis of the opera industry of North America including performances activity and financial patterns. This results in an Annual Field Report and many studies available to member companies.

Opera America also seeks to provide information to enhance the enjoyment of opera by adults and children. Music! Words! Opera! is its education curicculum for grades K-12. Adult learners can participate in online courses on specific operas, or read about the 20 most popular operas in Cornerstones.

[edit] Cornerstones

With the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Target Foundation, Opera America worked with Boston Lyric Opera, The Minnesota Opera Company, and Sarasota Opera to create Cornerstones, a Web site listing and giving information about the 20 most performed operas in North America. These are:

1. Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini

2. La bohème by Giacomo Puccini

3. La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi

4. Carmen by Georges Bizet

5. The Barber of Seville by Gioacchino Rossini

6. The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

7. Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

8. Tosca by Giacomo Puccini

9. Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi

10. The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

11. La Cenerentola by Gioacchino Rossini

12. Turandot by Giacomo Puccini