Portland Opera’s 48th Season kicks off with BIG NIGHT Concert and Gala

Featured soloists Jennifer Forni and Resident Artist Lindsay Ohse enjoying the Notte Grande Gala after Portland Opera's BIG NIGHT Concert

Portland, Saturday, September 22nd. It was an inside/outside night of beautiful music for the Portland Opera. Featured soloists Jennifer Forni and Resident Artist Lindsay Ohse enjoying the Notte Grande Gala. Outside the Keller Auditorium, a street fair drew a lively crowd as the Portland Opera staged the 2nd Annual BIG NIGHT.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the an outdoor concert on the Street in front of the Keller Auditorium. Later they watched the Opera performance on a big screen.

It was a yet another delightfully warm fall Saturday night which added to the ambiance.

Jason Bray, Joshua Buck, Jaqueline Davis and Silas Davis

Lindsey Lux, Keith Daly from School and Arts Together, Jacob Armstrong and Elizabeth Armstrong

Portland Opera’s Claudie Fisher with Special Guest, Sasha Roiz from NBC’s Grimm

Inside the concert was also a hit! This year George Manahan returned to conduct. Jonathan Boyd, Michael Todd Simpson, Jennifer Forni and the Portland Opera Studio Artists joined the Portland Opera Orchestra and Chorus on stage for an evening of opera arias, duets and choral pieces from Rossini, Verdi, Mozart and Wagner.

Portland Opera’s BIG NIGHT Concert.: André Chiang, Caitlin Mathes, Matthew Grills, George Manahan, Jennifer Forni, Jonathan Boyd, Michael Todd Simpson, Lindsay Ohse and Nicholas Nelson, with the Portland Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

All proceeds from BIG NIGHT benefited Portland Opera’s education and outreach programs: bringing opera to students throughout the state of Oregon!

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.