Opera in Conversation | Inspiration, Process & Insights

Opera in Conversation is a series of three sessions surrounding Opera Omaha mainstage productions that features creatives, scholars, and other public figures.

These FREE events exist to foster cross-disciplinary exploration of art, big questions, and community connections.

Join Opera Omaha on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Joslyn Castle for our first Susannah Opera in Conversation.

The first Opera in Conversation features director Patricia Racettes and conductor Stephen White as they preview what to expect and what's going on in the rehearsal room.

Admission is FREE, advance registration is requested.

Acclaimed soprano Patricia Racette has appeared in the most celebrated opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro Real, and Gran Teatre del Liceu. Her vast repertoire includes the title roles of Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Jenufa, Kátya Kabanová, and Salome; all three leading lady roles in Il Trittico and Katerina in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Her performances in Madama Butterfly, Peter Grimes, and I Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera were seen worldwide in movie theaters as part of The Met: Live in HD series.

Ms. Racette made her directorial debut with a new production of La Traviata at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in the summer of 2018 and returned in the summer of 2021 to direct herself in a production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine. Planned productions of La Voix Humaine at the Dallas Opera and Susannah at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2020 were unfortunately cancelled due to the pandemic.

This season, Ms. Racette makes two role debuts: Madame Croissy in Les Dialogues des Carmelites at the Houston Grand Opera and Desirée Armfeldt in A Little Night Music at the Arizona Opera.

Ms. Racette is currently the Artistic Director of Opera Theatre of St Louis’ Gerdine Young Artist and Richard Gaddes Festival Artist programs. She also continues to be sought after for master classes and workshops to foster artistry in the next generation of classical singer.

Steven White returns to Opera Omaha after last conducting The Rake’s Progress. Maestro White is one of North America’s premiere operatic and symphonic conductors. He began the 24/25 season by returning to Merola Opera Program to lead their Grand Finale concert, followed by a return to the Academy of Vocal Arts for Gounod’s Faust. He returned to the Metropolitan Opera for their holiday production of The Magic Flute, and joined Opera Omaha for The Rake’s Progress. The 25/26 season will also include Elixir of Love with Utah Opera. In the past several seasons he has returned to the Met to participate as Assistant Conductor in Der fliegende Holländer, Don Carlo, Billy Budd, The Rake’s Progress, Tosca and Elektra. With a vibrant repertoire of over sixty-five titles, Maestro White’s extensive operatic engagements have included performances with New York City Opera, L’Opera de Montréal, Vancouver Opera, Opera Colorado, Pittsburgh Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Baltimore Opera, New Orleans Opera, and many others.

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