Every Year the Pittsburgh Opera gets over 500 applicants from around the world for their Resident Artist two-year program. This program gives the artists a chance to work on a variety of opera productions. Several times a year during the opera season they preform free one hour "Brown Bag Concerts" in the Bitz Opera Factory (Opera Headquarters) located in the Strip District. This is great opportunity to meet the new talent and experience opera up-close.
I had never seen an opera prior to my quest for new experiences. I enjoy the pageantry of opera. It’s drama, music and elaborate sets on steroids (see Day 212.)
The “Brown Bag Concerts" are like a charcuterie board of opera with different themes and sampling of songs. You can take one hour bites to see if opera is agreeable to your palate. Each concert includes an introduction to the music making them both entertaining and educational. You can also get a coffee and cookie after the show while mingling with the company.
The first “Brown Bag Concert" was akin to a meet and greet. Each artist picked a famous aria to preform and then a brief interview followed. Their resumes were impressive and their voices seemed much more seasoned than their youth.
The Bitz Opera Factory is a smaller venue. There are only about 10 rows of seats. Being so close to the action you can appreciate the power and quality of the singing. This gives you an intimate opera experience. Get up- close with the the resident artists and then follow them when they perform in one of the larger Pittsburgh Opera productions.
(Ring in the Holidays at the next free Brown Bag Concert on December 10,2022.
Visit pittsburghopera.org for a list of upcoming Brown Bag concerts and for information on the Pittsburgh Opera season.)
Other Sources
https://www.pittsburghopera.org/season/free-low-cost-events/brown-bag-concerts#