Denver
- Jennings, Harlan. “Grand Opera Comes to Denver, 1864–1881.” OQ13-3
(Spring 1997): 57–84.
Traveling companies performed on occasion from 1864. In 1881 the Tabor
Opera House opened with Emma Abbott and her troupe. In 1890 the Broad-
way Theatre opened and eclipsed the Tabor, although celebrities continued to
appear there (e.g., the Mapleson troupe with Adelina Patti, Minnie Hauk, and
Lillian Nordica). Nellie Melba sang in 1899, and the Metropolitan appeared
in 1900. The Tabor was torn down in 1964. This interesting article has 82
notes to the relevant literature.
Kansas City
- Jennings, Harlan. “The Early Days of Grand Opera in Kansas City, Missouri,
1860–1879.” OQ15-4 (Autumn 1999): 677–696.
In 1860 soprano Anna Bishop sang in the outpost town of 6,000; the first pro-
fessional opera performance was given in 1869 by the Brignoli Opera Com-
pany. The Coates Opera House opened in 1870. During 1860–1879 there
were 14 performances of 10 different operas. Some pictures and information
on more recent times are in Russell Patterson, A View from the Pit: 30 Years of
Opera Theater in Mid-America(Kansas City, Mo.: Lowell, 1987; xx, 94p;
ISBN 0-9328-4525-8; ML1711.8 .K36 P37). It is a celebratory volume for the
30th anniversary of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
Los Angeles
- Wilson, Neil E. “A History of Opera Activities in Los Angeles, 1887–1965.”
Ph.D. diss., Indiana U., 1967. 329p. - Bishop, Cardell. The Los Angeles Grand Opera Association, 1924–1934: A
Short Career in a Big City.Santa Monica, Calif.: Author, 1979. vii, 54p.
ML1711.8 .L6 B57.
A survey history, with complete chronology and casts. - Sanders, J. “Los Angeles Grand Opera Association: The Formative Years.”
Southern California Quarterly55 (1973): 261–302.
Recounts the establishment of the company in 1924 by Gaetano Merola, who
had earlier created the San Francisco Opera. Claudia Muzio and Beniamino
Gigli were among the luminaries who appeared in 1924. Casts of all perfor-
mances, 1924–1926; 145 footnotes.
New Orleans
- Belsom Jack. Opera in New Orleans.New Orleans: New Orleans Opera Asso-
ciation, 1993. 20p. ML1711.8 .N25 B45.
Not seen. - Kmen, Harry A. Music in New Orleans: The Formative Years, 1791–1841.
Baton Rouge: Louisiana State U.P., 1967. 314p. ML200.8 .N48 K6.
514 Opera