Central City Opera on Friday announced an early opening for its 2008 festival and a bevy of contemporary classics on its performance slate.
The country fifth-oldest opera company, now celebrating 75 years, will hold its 2008 festival from June 6 to Aug. 10 — an earlier-than-normal opening in honor of the National Performing Arts Convention.
“As we look to the future of the art form, with the upcoming National Performing Arts Convention in Denver, we celebrate by presenting the works of three great contemporary composers,” said artistic director Pelham G. Pearce.
The company, located 35 miles west of Denver, will stage Benjamin Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia” (June 6-June 22), Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” (June 28-Aug. 9), and Carlisle Floyd’s “Susannah” (July 5-Aug. 10) during the 2008 festival.
Subscriptions for the 2008 festival are on sale Oct. 1. Two opera subscription packages include tickets to “West Side Story” and “Susannah,” with 20 percent discount for one of the six performances of “The Rape of Lucretia.”
Subscriptions range from $77 to $153, with subscriber-only ticket prices for “The Rape of Lucretia” ranging from $36 to $74.
Single tickets will go on sale January, 2008. Call 303-292-6700 or visit for more information.
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
