FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Cameron Eaton Director Marketing & Public Relations 504-881-3990 | prmarketing@neworleansopera.org New Orleans Opera Celebrates 75 Years of Opera with International Stars & Louisiana's Leading Talent NEW ORLEANS, La., (April 9, 2018) – New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA) presents the 75th Anniversary Concert April 20th & 22nd at Mahalia Jackson Theater of Performing Arts. Celebrate 75 years of brilliant opera with historic memories and legendary musical moments! International stars and Louisiana’s leading talent come together with a 90-member Chorus and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra to salute our rich past and to usher in the next 75 years of opera. Maestro Robert Lyall will lead the combined forces in rousing selections by Verdi, Mozart, Offenbach, Rossini, Puccini, Wagner, Bizet, Gershwin, a collection of Broadway favorites, and more! There will also be a Soirée on Friday evening celebrating 75 years in New Orleans Opera History prior to the show as well as a brunch on Sunday. Tickets start at $26 and are available for all events at www.neworleansopera.org or by calling the box office at 504-529-3000. The Diamond Jubilee Concert will have two performances on Friday, April 20th at 8:00pm and again on Sunday, April 22nd at 2:30pm and will feature performances by international stars and leading Louisiana talent, including: Raymond Aceto, Luretta Bybee, Casey Candebat, Leslie Castay, Ivan Griffin, Paul Groves, Kathleen Halm, Daveda Karanas, Angela Mannino, Sarah Jane McMahon, Lucas Meachem, Chauncey Packer, and more. Patrons are invited to join NOOA one hour prior to each performance for “Nuts & Bolts,” an informative lecture about the evening’s performance. The weekend will include a cocktail reception, SOIRÉE 75, prior to the Friday evening performance at 6:30pm. The event will feature food provided by The Country Club New Orleans, live painting by artist Andrew Wilkie, historic memorabilia giveaways, and an exhibit of New Orleans Opera History. Tickets for this event are $75. There will also be a Champagne Brunch prior to the Sunday performance with seating available at both 12:30 and 1:30 pm provided by Another Broken Egg Café. Tickets for the brunch are $25 for adults and $15 for children. This year, the New Orleans Opera Association marks 75 seasons of excellence in operatic performance. “As we look back over our history, we have much to be proud of! We are thrilled to bring back many of the beloved stars of our stage from past seasons for our Diamond Jubilee Concert” says General and Artistic Director, Robert Lyall. “While we honor our history, we will also look forward to the promise of an even brighter future.” To mark this anniversary season, the company has committed to initiatives that include broadening and diversifying their audience, building new connections across the community, and nurturing up-and-coming talent. “We are committed to our tradition of excellence while contributing to the cultural richness of our city.” says Lyall. Tickets for all events are available online at www.neworleansopera.org or by calling the box office at 504-529-3000. ### New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA), now in its 75th season, is committed to its mission of enriching the lives of all people by producing opera of the highest artistic quality and providing educational opportunities through traditional and innovative approaches. They aspire to connect people to the arts and each other through the joy of opera. For more information see www.NeworleansOpera.org.