Opera Grand Rapids is changing the game. They are reaching out to current opera fans as well as hoping to introduce themselves to an entirely new audience, as they announce an exciting new season and experience. For the first time ever, Opera Grand Rapids is offering a collective opera experience with events staged closely together in the spring, getting their momentum from even more offerings throughout the year.

The season's principal opera this coming season is Shakespeare's timeless story of young love, "Romeo and Juliet" by French composer Charles Gounod. It's just in time to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 1616.

To enlighten and entice audiences, both devoted and new, to different forms of opera experiences, Opera Grand Rapids is staging several more intimate, eclectic operas and events in complementary venues fit for enjoyment of the works. Kicking off the season will be a gala concert featuring the beautiful sounds of Verdi's renowned "Requiem." Additional operas include "Orpheus and Eurydice" by the German composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, and a fun and unique staging of the light-hearted operetta, "The Student Prince."

Mandl/Getty Images
Mandl/Getty Images
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They are also introducing a recital series that will begin with "Winterreise," Franz Schubert's 24-song cycle of unrequited love. Additional recitals will include musical adaptions celebrating the work of the great poet and playwright, William Shakespeare.

These performances will be supplemented with master classes, youth outreach, panel discussions, and even surprise community performances.  The Opera will also bring in prominent and entertaining opera scholars, performers, and directors to encourage a diversity of engagement among the community.

Assisting Opera Grand Rapids' artistic direction will be an artistic advisory committee of conductors, composers, directors, choreographers and others who can contribute their collective expertise with classical, contemporary and operatic-fusion works.

The plan they have put in place aims to generate fresh excitement in the opera audience and the audiences yet to be discovered.

Complete information and tickets are available by logging on to Opera Grand Rapids.

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