Holiday Favorites with The Atlanta Opera Chorus
Haul out the holly! The Atlanta Opera Chorus presents a family-friendly evening of holiday favorites ranging from choral classics to popular chestnuts, including “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” and a special sing-along of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Joining the chorus will be Atlanta luminary and Broadway veteran, pianist Robert Ray.
Lobby Opens: 5:45 p.m.
Doors Open: 6:15 p.m. for general seating and dinner service
Choose a date to buy tickets
About The Atlanta Opera Chorus
Widely regarded as one of the top opera ensembles in the country, the Atlanta Opera Chorus performs in the majority of mainstage and Discoveries series offerings produced by The Atlanta Opera each year. In 2017, Walter Huff stepped down from his Chorus Master position of over 25 years. After serving as Interim Chorus Master, Rolando Salazar took over the post in 2018. The Atlanta Opera chorus is always an integral part of every performance.
Members of The Atlanta Opera Chorus are highly touted for their technical abilities and compelling acting skills, and have been featured in more than 100 productions. Conductors, stage directors, and principal singers from the world over have consistently praised the ensemble for its characteristic sound, range of color, and consistent precision.
Early production highlights through the years have included Turandot (the first opera ever performed at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre), Aida, Bizet’s Carmen and Wagner’s dark and stormy The Flying Dutchman – the first production for The Atlanta Opera directed by General & Artistic Director, Tomer Zvulun. Recent successes for the chorus include The Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, La bohème, The Pirates of Penzance, Romeo & Juliet, The Abduction from the Seraglio, the Southeastern US premiere of Kevin Puts’ and Mark Campbell’s Silent Night, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, and the Discoveries series’ Maria de Buenos Aires.
The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse
499 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
From north of Atlanta: Take 75/85 South to exit 249-D, GA Tech/North Ave exit. Turn left at the light onto North Ave. Go 3 street lights up to Peachtree St, turn right onto Peachtree St. Go 2 blocks south and the Shakespeare Tavern is on your left.
From south of Atlanta or from I-20: Take 75/85 North to exit 249-B, Peachtree St/Pine St exit. Turn left at the end of the ramp onto Peachtree St. The Shakespeare Tavern will be immediately on your right.
Parking is recommended in the Emory University Hospital Midtown Parking Deck, located directly across the street from the front doors of The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse on Peachtree Street. To access Peachtree Street/the Tavern, exit the deck on level D. Parking is $5 (Price not valid for valet parking).
From MARTA: Take the train to Civic Center station. Once you exit the station, go 1/2 block north to the first cross street, Pine St. Turn right onto Pine St. and walk 1/2 block east to Peachtree St. Cross Peachtree St. and continue north (to the left). The Shakespeare Tavern is about 5 doors north on the right side of the street.
The Shakespeare Tavern offers an extensive menu of small plates, entrees, and a full bar that is available from one hour and fifteen minutes before the performance.
Chorus Master
Rolando Salazar
Rolando Salazar is the Chorus Master & Associate Conductor for The Atlanta Opera. He has served as assistant conductor and pianist at the Bellingham Festival of Music, as assistant conductor at La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy, and as coach/conductor for the Harrower Opera Workshop. He serves as artistic director and conductor of the Georgia Piedmont Youth Orchestra while maintaining a guest conducting schedule, most recently in performances with the Rome Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Ballet, Georgia State University Orchestra, Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Ozark Family Opera, and the Permian Basin Opera. Mr. Salazar keeps an active coaching and collaborative piano schedule in Atlanta, preparing numerous singers for engagements with major orchestras and opera houses worldwide. He also oversees the musical aspects of the Atlanta Opera Studio where he serves as principal coach for the young artist singers and pianists. A student of Mary Jane Johnson and Michael Palmer, he is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Master of Music in orchestral conducting and an Artist Diploma in orchestra and opera.
Special Guest
Robert Ray
Robert is a former Broadway performer and winner of two NYC Cabaret Awards. He is a recent recipient of four “Best of Atlanta” awards and during his 50 year career in Atlanta he has directed and produced “The 75th Anniversary of The Fox Theatre.” With his orchestra has performed at three Peach Drop celebrations at Underground Atlanta, three Lenox Square 4th of July Celebrations, as well as the Opening of two WSB Christmas parades.
Robert has appeared in five shows at the Alliance Theatre and has sung leading roles in the Bernstein Mass and A Little Night Music, both accompanied by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has produced and appeared in three original shows at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston and has produced and directed six shows at The Highlands Playhouse in North Carolina.
He has performed at The Kennedy Center, Wolftrap, St. Louis Muny Opera and The National Theater in Bergen, Norway. Robert is currently the Artistic Director on The TEN Atlanta “Wednesday” Cabarets and performs piano bar every Friday and Saturday nights at Campagnolo.
