Established in 1932, the Central City Opera (CCO) is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country and is renowned for its world-class productions, competitive young artist training program, and community engagement activities.

Its summer festival takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in Central City. The company owns and maintains twenty-seven Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878. Much of Central City would not exist, were it not for CCO.

CCO just announced its 2024 Summer Festival including three timeless operas. Discover the rich tapestry of love, drama, and community at the Central City Opera, June 29 through August 4.

Experience the hilarity of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta The Pirates of Penzance, savor the grandeur of Puccini’s beloved The Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del West), and embrace Kurt Weill’s iconic American opera, Street Scene.

Swashbuckling adventures and hijinks await! Set against the backdrop of Cornwall’s coastline, The Pirates of Penzance is a comedic operetta that revolves around a young man mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates due to a communication mishap.

As he completes his contract with the pirates, he yearns for love and an honorable life. After humorous encounters with a group of young women and a crafty ruse involving the pirates’ soft spot for orphans, a surprising revelation about the young man’s true apprenticeship commitment is revealed. Enjoy unexpected twists and a heartwarming resolution that connects loyalty, duty, and societal expectations.

Amidst the fever of the Gold Rush, The Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del west) by Giacomo Puccini paints a vivid picture of life in a mining camp.

In Central City Opera’s rendition, the opera unfolds in Central City in the 1840s, incorporating folk music to evoke the spirit of the West.

At the heart of the story is the owner of the Polka Saloon, who finds herself in a complicated love triangle with a newcomer and the local sheriff. Amidst confrontations and moments of high drama, loyalty and love are tested, as Puccini’s masterpiece seamlessly weaves romance, danger, and the promise of a fresh start.

Taking place over two sultry summer days in New York City, Kurt Weill’s two-act American opera Street Scene delves into the lives of the multiethnic residents of a tenement building, showcasing their hopes, dreams, and struggles.

Throughout the story, musical numbers range from operatic arias to jazz and blues, reflecting the fusion of cultures and emotions present in the tenement setting. Street Scene presents commentary on the challenges faced by immigrants, the impact of poverty, and the complexities of love and relationships in a densely populated urban environment.

A free pre-performance lecture is available 45 minutes prior to every main stage performance.

Subscription packages include, The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan and The Girl of the Golden West by Puccini. Subscribers have early access to purchase tickets for the third main-stage production, Kurt Weill’s opera, Street Scene.

New subscriptions go on sale January 2, 2024.

Subscriber benefits include:

• The best seats at the best price

• Savings of more than 20% off the regular ticket price

• Keep your seats into the future - your seats are renewable each season, so you can enjoy them for years to come

• 20% off additional main stage single tickets for your guests

• Discounted rates for Festival Extras

• Priority access to added Festival Events

• 10% subscriber discount at the Central City Opera Gift Shop

Central City Opera House is located at 124 Eureka Street in Central City, Colorado, 80427. For more information, visit centalcityopera.org. For tickets and subscriptions, email boxoffice@centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.