WHO WE ARE
Long Leaf Opera is the North Carolina Triangle's longest running professional opera company, now entering its fourteenth season. We are also the area's "premiere" company, having presented more regional, national, and world premiers than any other company in the State. (The Triangle embraces Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, as well as a number of growing communities among those cities.)
Founded in 1998, Long Leaf Opera has as its mission the production of fully staged works written originally in English. It is the only professional company in the nation -- indeed, in the world -- with that unique mission statement.
A second, but very important part of our mission statement is to maintain a culturally inclusive company, from the pit to the stage to the scene shops to the board room. We specifically highlight American composers, but encourage the production of works from around the world. We commission new operas and activally recruit new talent, but we also preserve the best from the past.
Long Leaf Opera -- affectionally known to our friends as LLO --welcomes anyone into our family who wishes to give of their time, their talents, or their financial resources for the betterment of the community and the nation. If you're looking for an artistic home, this is it!
SEASON AUDITIONS
To audition for our upcoming season, go to our "Audition" tab above for all the information you'll need. It's easy, it's fun, and it's a great way for us to get to know each other! October 1, 2, and 8 in Carrboro at the ArtsCenter, 300 Main Street and October 9 in Durham at the Legacy Studios, 608 N. Duke Street. The Saturday times are 10 - 11:30 am and the Sunday times are 2 - 4 pm. Any questions, call 919-968-9595. See you there!
LOOKING FOR A HOME?
We have grown from a regional niche company to a company with a national and international reputation. Our singers now come from major houses across the United States and Europe. We are known for innovative programming and high production values.
We are also known for nurturing young opera singers and composers on their way to the top. We sponsor, on alternating years, a national vocal competition and a new works, one-act opera competition. We have attracted entrants from all fifty states and from seven foreign countries.
COME, JOIN US!
BRAVO TO OUR MAESTRO!
We are delighted to announce that Benjamin Keaton, our founding maestro and conductor of the majority of LLO productions since inception, was chosen by Opera America as one of four recipients of its Trustee Awards for 2010-11. The prestigious award came as the climax of a glittering three day celebration in New York City, at the end of which, the award was presented at a banquet at the University Club on Fifth Avenue. Maestro Keaton was cited not only for his extraordinary financial contributions to the arts, but for his untiring efforts to ensure the quality and cultural diversity of Long Leaf Opera over the years. We are honored by the recognition from Opera America and profoundly grateful to the Maestro himself for his generosity of time, talent, and financial support for American composers and their works! Bravo, Maestro!
The presentation:
From L to R: Anthony Freud, Chairman of Opera America’s Board of Directors and General Director of Houston Grand Opera; Benjamin Keaton, Long Leaf Opera trustee; and Frayda Lindemann, Vice Chairman of Opera America’s Board of Directors. Photo by Jon Simon, courtesy of Opera America.
Fourth Annual National Vocal Competition April 21, 2012
This is the year for our popular national vocal competition. It happens every two years and the last time it was helf, it drew over a hundred entrants from all fifty states -- and several foreign countries! Please see elegibility details, forms, and deadlines, which may be found in the "Competitions" tab above, or by clicking here. Informatin is also available at YAP Tracker.com.
A HOME FOR YOUR OWN
COMMISSION?
Long Leaf Opera hopes to establish an endowment reserved exclusively for the commissioning of new operas which will find their fully staged world premiers on our stage. You can make a lasting gift to someone special by donating an entire commission or by joining with others to do so. Please go to our tab,
"Donate & Support"
to find out more about this wonderful possibility of creating a permanent home for our own American composers.
IF NOT YOU,
WHO?
Long Leaf Opera
Sign up for our newsletter!
Email Marketing You Can Trust
SUNG IN ENGLISH,
FELT IN ITALIAN!
WELCOME TO OUR
2011 - 12 SEASON
*
Our Fourteenth Season in The Triangle!
News!
Long Leaf Opera, the Triangle’s oldest professional opera company, is honored to announce its new appointment as the resident opera company for The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC (www.artscenterlive.org), and is pleased to announce its fourteenth season:
AMAHL, December 9, 10, 11 and 16, 17, 18, 2011
Long Leaf’s critically acclaimed holiday opera production, Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlos Menotti, returns by popular request. A perennial favorite with children and adults, this show stars some of the state's finest singers, including Denise Payton, Carl Johnson, Robert Williams, and Thomas Link. The first opera ever commissioned for television, Amahl has been called “the most beautiful music ever written about the most beautiful story ever told.” It is also the largest role ever written for a boy soprano. The hero, a young crippled child, and his mother are visited one winter night by three strangers on their way to deliver gifts to a new born infant. When the mother attempts to steal their gold for her own starving child, retribution follows -- until a miracle occurs -- a miracle that never leaves a dry eye in the house. Tickets for this production are a perfect holiday gift for families and individuals of all ages. In English. Eight performances over two weekends: Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 at 7 PM; Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at 3 PM and 7 PM; Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 at 3 PM; The ArtsCenter in Carrboro. This production will be made possible by a generous grant from the Strowd Roses Foundation. Tickets for this opera go on sale November 1, 2011 through the ArtsCenter (see more information on the Ticket Information page above).
VOCAL COMPETITION, Saturday, April 21, 2012
Long Leaf Opera's Fourth National Vocal Competition is the company’s fourth increasingly-popular competitive search for the best in young professional singers under the age of thirty-five. Ten semifinalists, selected from fifty states and -- as of 2010 -- several foreign countries, will sing traditional European and English language arias, competing for three cash prizes and a contract to sing a major role with the Long Leaf Company. During the day and evening, each contestant will perform a total of four works, judged by a panel of internationally-known judges. All events will be in the sanctuary of Christ Methodist Church, Southern, Village, Chapel Hill, NC, on Saturday, April 21, 2012. The contest begins at 2 PM; the final judging, and company concert will begin at 730 PM, followed by a reception. Tax deductible donations are strongly encouraged. For directions to Christ Church, or for more information on contest entry forms and prizes, see this website. This competition will be made possible by a generous award from the N. E. Pendergraft Foundation. ( The Competition is a free gift to the community, but we always appreciate generous contributions. )
A SHIPWRECK OPERA, June 1, 2, 3, 2012
LLO is proud to present the world premiere of A Shipwreck Opera, the winner of its most recent New Works competition. The score is by acclaimed New York composer, John B. Hedges with libretto by national bestseller, Aimee Bender. Guest performers from across the country, together will a chorus of local singers and dancers, will bring this new work to life. A thought-provoking and tender new look at relationships young and old, past and the future, there is abundant magic here for all ages. In English. For four performances only: June 1 at 7 PM; June 2 at 3 PM and 7 PM; and June 3 at 3 PM. At The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.. This production is made possible by two generous anonymous out-of-state foundation grants. Tickets will go on sale in late April of 2012.
