Courtesy, Opera in the Ozarks
For the next several weeks, the sounds of opera will echo through the hills of the Ozark Mountains this summer.
That’s thanks to Opera in the Ozarks, who just kicked off their summer season at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs.
Opera in the Ozarks is in part a summer music festival celebrating the artform, and also a training program for the some of the top emerging opera professionals in the nation.
This year, the lineup of operas to be performed includes Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and Georges Bizet’s Carmen. The season began on Friday, June 23, and continues through Friday, July 21, with 22 fully staged and costumed performances at Inspiration Point and Bentonville’s Arend Arts Center.
Opera in the Ozarks officials say a common theme in this season’s repertoire is the use, and abuse, of power.
“In The Marriage of Figaro, Count Almaviva tries to exercise his feudal right to sleep with his servant, Susanna,” said Opera in the Ozarks General Director Nancy Preis. “He gets outsmarted by the servant, but not before he has emotionally abused his loving wife. Carmen uses her power over Don Jose to further her own wants, but ultimately, her abuse of him ends in her death. And in Susannah, the townspeople use their communal power fueled by narrow-minded religious fervor to try to control the free spirited girl who wants to see the world. The other abuser of power here is truly the Rev. Olin Blitch, who assaults Susannah and then thinks she should forgive him.”
Tickets range from $25-30 for adults, and $10 for children and students with valid ID. Three ticket packages range from $60-80.
For more information, a full schedule of performances, or to purchase tickets, visit opera.org.
Opera in the Ozarks 2017 performance schedule
Inspiration Point Fine Arts Center
All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
June 23 – Opening Night: The Marriage of Figaro
June 24 – Susannah
June 27 – Carmen
June 28 – The Marriage of Figaro
June 29 – Susannah
June 30 – Carmen
July 1 – The Marriage of Figaro
July 3 – Opera Sampler
July 5 – Carmen
July 6 – The Marriage of Figaro
July 7 – Susannah
July 8 – Carmen
July 11 – Susannah
July 12 – Carmen
July 13 – The Marriage of Figaro
July 14 – Carmen
July 15 – Susannah
July 17 – Chamber Music (Eureka Springs Auditorium)
July 18 – Opera Scenes
July 19 – The Marriage of Figaro
July 20 – Susannah
July 21 – Carmen
Arend Arts Center
Performances begin at 3 p.m.
July 2 – Susannah
July 9 – The Marriage of Figaro
July 16 – Carmen
