Central City Opera

Welcome to our Colorado Gives page! 

BIG NEWS: Last year, you helped us blow our goal out of the water! This year, we have the chance to raise even more funds to support our mission! We are proud to announce that a generous anonymous donor has offered to match each Colorado Gives gift dollar for dollar up to $50,000! With your help, we could raise over $100,000 this year. 

ABOUT CENTRAL CITY OPERA

Founded in 1932, Central City Opera (CCO) is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country and is world-renowned for its exquisite productions, competitive and robust artist training program, and impactful education and community engagement activities. The summer festival takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in the Colorado mountain town of Central City, only 35 miles west of Denver, where the company owns and maintains 29 Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878.

We use the power of the arts and historic preservation to enhance lives and communities. With ticket revenue accounting for only 15% of our annual budget, we rely on the generosity of patrons like YOU! Donations support our Summer Festival, training artists program, maintenance of our historic properties, and educational programs around CO.

Testimonials

"This organization means a great deal to me, and I will continue to sing its praises, both literally and figuratively. I will also continue to contribute to it financially, both out of gratitude and in the hope that the young artists of today might have the chance to become the leading artists of tomorrow." - Emily Pulley, soprano

"This is summer opera at its most appealing." - The Denver Post

"An excellent production and very enjoyable evening. Opera company and orchestra of the very highest quality." - 2025 Audience Member

“Whether you’re an opera aficionado or a first-timer, the mix of old and new makes this one of the most magical tickets in the state.” - Westword

“Colorado’s premier mountain music destination.” - Colorado Public Radio

"Chiaroscuro was a very beautiful and meaningful production. Beautiful singing, acting and direction. Can’t wait to see what’s next!” - Loretta Notareschi, Music Department Chair at Regis University 

“Chiaroscuro was a really special way to engage kids and also to introduce them to opera. It was something that really resonated with them.”  -Michaela Hertrich, Choir Teacher at Aurora Academy 

“This was for the grand majority of our students the first time to experience Opera. They were laughing at first, then they were super impressed. They were talking about it in the following days." - Teacher and students from Cole Arts Academy on Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World