PR - Pop-Up Opera

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JULY 3, 2020

WILMINGTON, Del. — With theaters across the country closed due to COVID-19, OperaDelaware has found a novel way to bring live music to Delawareans — mobile Pop-Up Opera concerts.

Thanks in part to in-kind support from the EDiS Corporation, OperaDelaware’s mobile opera trailer had its first "tour" on July 2, offering 15-minute outdoor programs at the Newark and Delaware campuses of ChristianaCare, as well as The Country House retirement community in Greenville. Three Wilmington residents with international opera credits (Grant Youngblood, baritone; Jason Berger, tenor; and Gina Perregrino, mezzo-soprano) were accompanied by OperaDelaware’s Head of Music Staff, Aurelien Eulert. Live, real-time supertitle translations were sent directly to listeners' mobile devices through the LiveNote(™) platform. (For more information, visit operade.org/livenote.)

“We are grateful to ChristianaCare for allowing us to kick off this program in such a beautiful way by saying ‘thank you’ to our healthcare professionals. We hope these short concerts provided a moment of peace and inspiration to those who are working so hard to keep our community safe,” said OperaDelaware’s General Director, Brendan Cooke.

In June, OperaDelaware — now celebrating its 75th anniversary — held several successful Drive-Through Arias concerts in the parking lot of its Riverfront Studios, and the company plans to offer more outdoor programs in addition to Pop-Up Opera soon. Like many performing arts organizations, OperaDelaware had to cancel several of its regular season performances due to the pandemic, including its Festival at The Grand, which brings patrons and artists from over 30 states to Wilmington each spring.

“The pandemic has created a difficult landscape for so many people, and the arts sector has been hit particularly hard,” said Cooke. “Even if organizations can successfully navigate the challenges of physically-distanced seating in a theater, there is simply no safe way to rehearse right now. Fortunately, artists and companies throughout the country are coming up with creative ways to connect with their audiences, and we’re delighted to borrow this mobile strategy from our friends at Opera Memphis.”

“Opera singers are facing a long road ahead, with months of cancellations until the pandemic is under control,” continued Cooke. “Programs like this allow us to compensate artists for their talents in some small way, while bringing the joy and beauty of live music to those who need it most."

For more information on upcoming outdoor concerts or to book your own Pop-Up Opera performance, visit operade.org or email bcooke@operade.org.

###

For photos and video of the performances at ChristianaCare’s Newark campus, please see: https://christianacare.imagerelay.com/fl/624f55b2f9d44e11b7eed61f2449dafe.

OperaDelaware celebrates its 75th anniversary season in 2019/20. The 11th oldest professional opera company in the nation, OperaDelaware opens the door to bold, vibrant and creative operatic programming that enriches the community, transforms audiences, and encourages dialogue.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Press contact: For interview requests, please email us at info@operade.org or call 302-658-8063.

Organizational images: Available for download here

 Advertising inquiries: For advertising and sponsorship information, please contact Mary Wilcosky at mwilcosky@operade.org.