From the opulent courts of eighteenth-century Sweden to the dark, brooding halls of Macbeth’s castle, the world of Giuseppe Verdi’s operas and compositions is richly varied and emotionally charged. As we delve into upcoming performances of his most celebrated works, discover the timeless allure of Verdi's music, which continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Exploring the Emotional Depths of Verdi: A Journey Through His Masterpieces

Opera Modesto invites you on an enchanting journey with its latest season, featuring a vibrant array of operatic performances that celebrate diverse cultures and timeless tales. From a global musical odyssey in 'Around the World Concert' to the delightful escapades of 'Hansel and Gretel', and the comedic genius of 'Falstaff', these productions promise to captivate audiences with their rich narratives and stellar performances. Join us as we explore these spectacular events, each offering a unique blend of music, storytelling, and cultural reflection.

Opera Modesto's Captivating Season: A Journey Through Music and Storytelling

Opera enthusiasts are in for a treat in 2026 as Opera Modesto unveils a remarkable lineup of performances. From the humorous twists in 'Cendrillon' to the haunting depths of 'Rusalka', the charming antics of 'The Elixir of Love', and the cultural celebration of the 'Around the World Concert 2025', each event promises a unique theatrical experience. Dive into a world where timeless tales are brought to life through captivating music, talented performers, and innovative storytelling.

Opera Modesto's 2026 Season: A Journey Through Captivating Stories and Enchanting Music

Opera Modesto is set to dazzle audiences in 2026 with a captivating lineup of performances that blend fairy tales, cultural diversity, and operatic brilliance. From Pauline Viardot's enchanting 'Cendrillon' to Dvořák’s haunting 'Rusalka', and Donizetti’s heartwarming 'The Elixir of Love', each event promises a unique operatic experience. Adding to the repertoire, the 'Around the World Concert 2025' will showcase the richness of global cultures. Join us in Modesto for an unforgettable journey through music and storytelling.

Opera Modesto's 2026 Season: A Celebration of Timeless Tales and Cultural Richness

Experience the enchanting tale of Cinderella (Cendrillon) reimagined as an operetta by French composer Pauline Viardot! This captivating work based on the same fairy tale that inspired Walt Disney and Hans Christian Anderson weaves a story of magic and love, with stunning music and breathtaking performances (including some musical surprises!) From the mischievous stepsisters to the charming prince and the magical fairy godmother, “Cinderella” offers a charming twist on the timeless story of dreams come true.  Sung in English. Don’t miss this musical masterpiece and fairy-tale fun!

Cendrillon

State Theatre of Modesto Inc

Now in its second year, this exciting event by Opera Modesto raises essential funds for innovative youth programs like the Summer Opera Institute—empowering young artists through training, mentorship, and performance opportunities in the heart of California’s Central Valley.

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Opera à la Carte 2025

Verdi’s Falstaff is often called the greatest operatic comedy ever composed and is based primarily on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. This heartwarming comedy tells of the knight Sir John Falstaff who has fallen on hard times and schemes to get his hands on some cash by romancing two wealthy wives of Windsor – Alice Ford and Meg Page. However, when these best friends find out that he has sent them both an identical love letter, they decide to teach Falstaff a lesson! After plots and counterplots, confusion, disguises, deception, and a dunking in the River Thames by way of a laundry basket, the entire company agrees that the whole world may be nothing but a jest filled with jesters, but he who laughs last, laughs best! Sung in Italian, with English supertitles.

Falstaff

Gallo Center for the Arts

Hansel and Gretel, the opera, is based on the beloved fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. Hungry and bored, Hansel and Gretel dance and sing instead of doing their chores. Their angry mother sends them into the enchanted forest to search for food to eat, and so begins a great adventure…they encounter the magical Sandman and Dew Fairy, and stumble upon a mysterious, edible house, which turns out to be inhabited by a terrifying, child-eating Witch! Will Hansel and Gretel escape with their lives, or will they be cooked and eaten? Spoiler Alert! – They live happily ever after…but the witch doesn’t! Opera Modesto’s magical production is filled with beautiful tunes, great voices and joyful fun for the entire family (plus a few scary moments with the Witch)! Sung in English, Hansel and Gretel is a treat for the entire family.

Hansel and Gretel

The State Theatre

This concert combines vocal soloists and instrumentalists of all ages, as they celebrate the many cultural backgrounds in the great Central Valley and beyond, while telling personal stories about the relevance of the music and languages in their own lives.

Around the World Concert

Prospect Theater Project

This concert will feature Nathan Stark and Roy Stevens, with a special appearance by Annalisa Winberg! Held in the beautiful home of Cherrie and Dr. Charles Suntra.

No Tenors Allowed Concert

A fall musical fundraiser for Opera Modesto featuring opera hits and musical theater favorites!  There are lots of fun ways to donate at the event – Wine Pull, Silent Auctions, Tableside Serenades, Gourmet Cookies, and Fund a Need Auction! Wine is included with your admission.

Opera a la Carte

The Marriage of Figaro takes place on Figaro’s wedding day. Figaro and fiancé Susanna are furnishing a new room that their master the Count has given them. It turns out that the only reason the Count has made such a generous gift is to keep Susanna nearby. He plans to seduce her, re-instating the lately abolished ‘feudal right’ which allowed a lord to have his way with a servant girl on her wedding night. Figaro is furious, and vows to outsmart the Count. Together with Susanna, the abandoned Countess and the page boy Cherubino (who adores all women, especially the Countess), they create a cunning plan to ensnare him. Disguises, mistaken identities, and a lot of hiding in (and under) things abound in this great comedy by Mozart – Sung in Italian, with English supertitles.

The Marriage of Figaro

Set in Rome during the Napoleonic wars, Tosca is a story of love, lust, murder and political intrigue. It tells the story of the opera singer Floria Tosca, as she fights to save her lover Cavaradossi from the corrupt police chief Scarpia. Scarpia is determined to kill Cavaradossi and ravage Tosca. Tosca is forced to strike a terrible bargain to save Cavarodossi.

Tosca by Giacomo Puccini

Everyone has pretended to be a pirate at some point. Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts one of the most famous patter songs in musical theatre history. On the coast of Cornwall, a band of tenderhearted pirates celebrates the coming of age of Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Now, Frederic has vowed to devote his life to the extermination of piracy—until a ludicrous leap year snag threatens to keep him apprenticed to the pirates for life! Throw in a bevy of beauties, a brash Pirate King, the delightfully stuffy Major-General Stanley and you've got what The New York Times calls “An endearing production with high musical standards and spirited performances.”

The Pirates of Penzance - New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players

Join us for an afternoon of music dedicated to affairs of the heart featuring Jasmine Marie Diaza and Andrew Pardini.


The Good, The Bad & The Loverly - A Concert featuring Andrew Pardini & Jasmine Marie Diaz

Modesto City Hall

A giant is dead and his body lies at the base of a great beanstalk.  Jack is accused, and begs the help of the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague, Dr.  Watson.  Joining them on solving the case are Inspector Lestrade (who is SURE that Jack is guilty!), an Enchanted Harp, a frightening Giantess, and a Magical Woman of Mystery.  Holmes and his team must climb the Magic Beanstalk to the Land of the Giants before they can solve this magical mystery!

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant

Join us for an evening of fun as we kick-off our 2023 Story Into Song Literacy Initiative Production: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant.

Enjoy a delicous spread of appetizers and desserts provided the the Townsend Opera. Come in your best Sherlockian outfit and revel in special guest appearances by the performers from the opera. 

Murder is Afoot! An Opera Modesto Original Mystery Game

Two of Modesto’s biggest singing stars, Effie Passero (American Idol & Postmodern Jukebox) and Jeremy Stolle (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway) with pianist Jordan Williams perform live at The State Theatre January 10th at 7pm.

Effie Passero and Jeremy Stolle in Concert

On his way to prison for eight days, convicted of a civil offense, Eisenstein is convinced by his friend, Dr. Falke, to secretly attend a party, a costume ball, instead. Mistaken identities and romance ensue as his wife, her maid and even the warden of the prison all decide to join the party in outrageous disguises.

Die Fledermans

Rusalka is a spellbinding Czech opera by Antonín Dvořák, based in part on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. It has many similarities with the Disney variation on the story, paired with a tragic ending. The story tells the tale of a water nymph who trades her ethereal voice for a human form to win the love of a prince. When her dream turns into rejection, betrayal and tragedy follow. The opera’s most unforgettable moment is the haunting aria “Song to the Moon”, where Rusalka pleads with the moon to carry her love to the prince.  With themes of forbidden love and sacrifice, paired with profoundly beautiful music, Rusalka is a dark fairy tale steeped in magic, longing, and tragedy.  In Czech with English supertitles.  Join us to experience a fateful love that awakens from the depths of a forest lake.

Rusalka

Opera Modesto presents “The Elixir of Love” by Donizetti, set in The Cowboy Capital of the World in the 1800’s.  The story follows Nemorino, a shy ranch hand in love with Adina, a tough, independent ranch owner. She’s more interested in Belcore, an arrogant but charming rodeo star. Desperate, Nemorino buys a “love potion” from the traveling snake oil salesman Dr. Dulcamara, hoping it will win her heart. As Nemorino signs up to be in the traveling rodeo, Adina finally notices his sincere, quiet charm. In the end, it’s Nemorino’s true character—not the potion—that wins her love. Love, comedy, beautiful music and the wild west all rolled into one, in this charming updated production.  In Italian with English supertitles. Saddle up for love and laughs!

Opera Modesto

24 - 26 Apr, 2026

Rusalka

19 - 21 Sep, 2026

The Elixir of Love

Dec 7, 2026

Around the World Concert 2025

17 - 18 Jan, 2026

Cendrillon

Sep 6, 2025

Opera à la Carte 2025

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