The Next Generation of Opera: NWA Mag

By Sarah Osterman Myers

EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. – “There we'll take each other's hands, and then you’ll tell me ‘yes.’ See; it isn't far; let's go there together, my darling!”

Don Giovanni may as well be luring Northwest Arkansas to the 66thSeason of Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. 

It started simply in the 1950s, but now Opera in the Ozarks is a full-fledged, month-long extravaganza boasting fresh talent and a newly air-conditioned, outdoor venue. With three fully staged operas between June 17 and July 15, performed at both Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs and Arend Arts Center in Bentonville, this year’s lineup plans to hit the audience with high intensity and drama.

“Opera, as an art form, is a uniquely immersive experience that is set apart from film, straight theatre and even musical theater,” said Opera in the Ozarks Alumnus Joel Burcham in a video feature about their annual summer opera festival and opera training program. “It offers you a rich, intense, virtuosic musical experience, with high drama, high costume, lighting and production value, all in one art form, in one evening.”

Three rehearsals, three hours each, for five straight weeks – Ozark’s 47 young professionals have trained rigorously for this year’s acclaimed productions. In Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”, opera lovers get an intimate look at the legend of fictional philanderer Don Juan as he voyages through romanticism and enlightenment. Switching gears, Britten’s “Albert Herring” presents a much more mirthful experience but also offers up an incisive critique of Victorian England. Lastly, the double bill of Puccini’s “Il Tabarro” – a tense melodrama set in working-class Paris – and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” – a dramatic tale of love and betrayal – intends you leave all hope at the door and surrender to a tempest of Italian libretto.

“We select works that will please and attract the public,” said Artistic Director Tom Cockrell. “But as a training program for the next generation of professional opera singers, I select repertoire that leads to their growth as young artists.”

Indeed, this year’s repertoire requires a certain caliber of operatic maturity. Maybe that’s why, behind the scenes, Opera in the Ozarks is known for its unique brand of training, conducting, coaching and encouragement. With performing arts at an all-time competitive high, this particular training program offers a safe place to explore and grow while challenging emerging performers to work at an industry-level pace.

“Our audience is very enthusiastic and passionate about supporting young people in their musical and artistic pursuits,” said Cockrell, who thinks it’s important to share the work of young artists honing their craft. “The energy coming off the stage is second to nothing the audience will see and hear in the professional world.”

For information on Opera in the Ozarks’ 66th Season or to view the full schedule and buy tickets, visit www.opera.org or call (479) 253-8595.