News and Press

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Recent press

Hilarity and Heart in a True Story(s)
April 16, 2024 Review

Two women posing against a white background, one with short blonde hair and wearing a textured jacket, the other with long dark hair and a black top.
Promotional image for Donizetti's opera "Maria Stuarda" with a focus on two ornate crowns. The event dates are February 26, 28, and March 2, with "Opera Baltimore" written in the corner.

“'It's a really great way to exercise kids' empathy muscles,' Kalbacker adds. 'They immediately feel that emotion. All kinds of theater does that, but in particular, opera has a sort of key to the heart with how it incorporates the unfiltered human voice.’”

– Opera Baltimore's Courtney Kalbacker for "A (Kid-Friendly) Night at the Opera (Baltimore Child, March 2025)

Two performers on stage in costume with a "The Woods" sign, one dressed as Little Red Riding Hood with a basket and the other in a traditional dress. A theater set and a backdrop with a house and trees are visible.
Elegant ballroom with seated audience, ornate walls, and stage with maroon curtains.
Article titled "A (Kid-Friendly) Night at the Opera" discussing family-friendly opera experiences. Includes images of children interacting with performers, performers in costume singing, and kids engaged in activities. The layout includes text in columns and illustrations.

Opera Baltimore on WMAR-2 News

Little Red's Most Unusual Day is Opera Baltimore's current Youth Outreach production.

They teamed up with Towson University's Opera Outreach Ensemble, providing their stage space for the show. Photojournalist Kristi Harper sat in on a dress rehearsal to get a peek at this twist on the classic tale.

"Opera is for everyone." That's according to Catrin Davis of Opera Baltimore. She means it.

"It's about big emotions. And how we process those big emotions and big feelings."

Puccini's La Bohème poster with full moon background, featuring red lettering and Opera Baltimore logo.
A woman in a black outfit, wearing an Orioles jersey with the number 8, is signing a baseball for two young fans at a baseball stadium. The crowd is seated in the background, and there's a water bottle on the ledge.
A person posing with a baseball mascot in a stadium.

"Opera Baltimore does it again with a stunning production... The strength of the story is the strength of the voice, and here, the voice is very, very potent." – The Bad Oracle

In a glowing review of Opera Baltimore’s Maria Stuarda, The Bad Oracle praised the production as "one absolutely killer show that picks you up in its teeth and doesn’t put you down until the very last second."

Additionally, Opera Baltimore’s President and General Director Julia Cooke joined WBJC 91.5 FM’s Pre-Opera Show with Jonathan Palevsky to discuss Maria Stuarda.

Opera Baltimore performers on stage, wearing colorful costumes, celebrating a comedic performance. "The Impresario" is displayed above them.
Black and white photo of a person reclining on a grand piano, with a blue text box on the left that reads: 'By TIM SMITH, A sporadic blog by the former arts critic of the Baltimore Sun.' The background shows a wooden floor.

Opera Baltimore's 'Rigoletto' fueled by Grant Youngblood

Tim Smith Blog
October 24, 2023 Review

Baltimore Magazine logo in black text on a white background

Article by Laura Farmer
September 28, 2023

Listen to the recording from WBJC 91.5 FM, where our La bohème was featured on the pre-opera show with Jonathan Palevsky. Jonathan interviewed our conductor, Maestro Domenico Boyagian and our Mimì, Toni Marie Palmertree.

Listen to Jonathan Palevsky of WBJC in his lively interview with Artistic and General Director, Julia Cooke and soprano,  Emily Margevich about La bohème and Baltimore!

Outdoor opera event in Baltimore with audience seated in front of a barn-like venue. Article title reads: 'Opera Still Thrives in Baltimore—You Just Don’t Know It.' Article by Laura Farmer, October 2023.

Press Archive

03.01.25 A (Kid-Friendly) Night at the Opera (Baltimore Child)

02.26.25 Opera Baltimore Presents Little Red's Most Unusual Day (WMAR)

12.16.24 Opera Baltimore Unveils Leadership Changes & Additions (OperaWire); Opera nonprofit names new leader, promotes others (Baltimore Business Journal); & Opera Baltimore Announces Leadership Updates and Strategic Workforce Additions (Opera Baltimore Press Release)

10.16.24 Baltimore lost grand opera 15 years ago. It's coming back. (Dan Rodricks for the Baltimore Sun)

07.16.24 20th-Century American Operas Receding From View On Nation’s Stages (Classical Voice North America)

05.01.24 OPERA BALTIMORE’S thoughtful semi-staged Yevgeny Onegin (Opera Magazine)

04.16.24 OPERA BALTIMORE'S THE IMPRESARIO: HILARITY AND HEART IN A TRUE STORY(S)

10.24.23 Operagene OPERA BALTIMORE'S RIGOLETTO: A STELLAR CLASSICAL PRODUCTION

10.24.23 Opera Baltimore's 'Rigoletto' fueled by Grant Youngblood - Tim Smith Blog

10.7.23 WBJC 91.5FM Rigoletto cast interview

9.28.23 The Tech Behind: How OperaDelaware breathes new life into classic works

9.27.23 Opera Still Thrives in Baltimore—You Just Don’t Know It: Opera Baltimore featured in Baltimore Magazine’s October Edition.

9.6.23 SCALING OPERA’S PEAK   OperaDelaware and Opera Baltimore present Verdi’s La traviata (Broadstreet Review)

9.1.23 Opera Baltimore wants you to 'Fall for Opera': Opera Baltimore’s Artistic Director Julia Cooke chats with WYPR

6.6.23 When the Devil Calls: Martinis, Opera Baltimore, and a Gilded Age Mansion: Opera Baltimore at The Engineers Club is a Sublime Experience (Bmore Art)

5.4.23 Opera Review: Gounod’s ‘Faust’ presented by Opera Baltimore (MD Theatre Guide)

3.8.23 In Baltimore, opera is big and getting bigger (Baltimore Sun)

3.4.23 Opera in Baltimore hits another high note (Baltimore Sun)

3.1.23 OPERA America Awards $180,000 In Civic Practice Grants To Eight U.S. Professional Company Members

2.24.23 Opera Baltimore & OperaDelaware to Co-Present 'La Traviata' - OperaWire

2.22.23 OPERA America Awards Opera Grants For Women Stage Directors And Conductors (broadwayworld.com)

2.10.23 Opera for everyone! | WYPR

11.23.22 Opera Baltimore’s The Turn of the Screw: Ghosts are real, aren’t they? (OperaGene)

11.22.22 Britten's spooky 'Turn of the Screw' typifies Opera Baltimore's creativity (DC Theater Arts)

11.19.22 Opera Baltimore goes site specific with a mixed, manorial “Turn of the Screw” (Washington Classical Review)

11.13.22 Opera Baltimore to Present Britten’s Turn of the Screw (Opera Wire)

10.7.22 Opera Baltimore’s Celebration of Soprano Anne Wiggins Brown, Julia Cooke sits down with Tom Hall on Midday (WYPR)