Central City to co-host Opera into Hal of Fame induction
tured to Central
City to find gold.
Traditionally, the induc-
tion was held at the Hall’s
location at the Red Rocks
Trading Post, part of the
City of Denver’s Red Rocks
Amphitheater near Mor-
rison. However, the Hall
is expected to move into a
yet-unannounced location
in downtown Denver in the
next several weeks. Rad-
man said the Hall may hold
additional inductions that
aren’t related to the Opera
induction ceremony later in
the year.
Senior Reporter
Karen Rad-
man, executive
director of the
Colorado Music
Hall of Fame,
said, “Colorado
Music Hall of
Fame is honored
to be presenting
an opera-themed
induction class
for the first time,
recognizing the
important con-
tributions that
Opera has made
in music while ex-
panding to a new
musical genre
for our induct-
ees. Opera in the
High Country ,
focused around
the impressive
and historic Cen-
tral City Opera
and those whose
careers were influenced by
it, also expands The Hall
of Fame’s reach into the
Colorado mountains and
out of the metro area. This
June 29, event in Central
City will be the first of
many destination induc-
tions that The Hall plans to
host statewide. With all it
has to offer, we really hope
that folks from across the
state and out-of-state tour-
ists come out and celebrate
Opera with us in Central
City for a summer weekend
this year.”
Not only will the Central
City Opera become induct-
ed into the Colorado Music
Hall of Fame this summer,
but the Opera will also host
the associated festivities
along Eureka Street on
Saturday, July 29.
According to the non-
profit music organization,
this is the first time the
Hall will hold its first “des-
tination” induction.
Scott Finlay, Central
City Opera’s president and
CEO, said, “We are deeply
honored to be receiving
this recognition. Central
City Opera’s 92 years of
rich musical heritage is a
testament to the dedication
of our supporters, volun-
teers, artists and staff who
have made this milestone
possible. This distinction is
a tribute to their commit-
ment.”
The mayor is the son of
the late Barry Fey, a 2012
Hall inductee whose pro-
motion of Denver brought
big-name music acts to the
Mile High City from the
late 1960s through his re-
tirement in 2004. For three
consecutive years, Barry
Fey was Billboard Maga-
zine’s «Concert Promoter
of the Year.»
and dinner at the Teller
House. The audience will
head next door to the main
opera house, where the
Hall induction will occur
at 5 p.m., followed by the
inaugural performance of
the Opera’s first show of its
summer music festival, The
Pirates of Penzance. Cen-
tral City Opera is the
fifth-oldest opera company
in the U.S., originating in
1932. It is listed as a Na-
tional Historic Landmark,
built in 1878 by Welsh and
Cornish miners who ven-
Commented Central City
Mayor Jeremy Fey: “It is
a great honor for Central
City to host the Colorado
Music Hall of Fame. We
are especially proud as
Central City Opera, a pillar
of Colorado’s cultural land-
scape for 92 years, leads
the 2024 class of inductees.
June 29 will be a landmark
day, celebrating both the
Opera’s venerable history
and Central City’s ongoing
revitalization. I have liter-
ally been working on this
[induction] for six years.”
Visitors who plan to at-
tend the Hall and opening
night of the Opera are of-
fered special room rates for
June 28-29 at the Grand
Z Casino and Hotel on
Gregory Street in Central
City and at the Monarch
Casino Resort Spa in Black
Hawk. (The promo code is
Opera24.)
The Central City induc-
tion will be hosted in a
partnership between the
Opera and Central City.
The event will include a
pre-ceremony reception
