Opera in the Park 2023

Opera in the Park 2023
Cancelled

Free

Due to an unexpected thunderstorm, we postponed Opera in the Park shortly before the program began. At that time, we thought we would be able to resume the program. For the safety of everyone involved, we then decided to cancel Opera in the Park altogether.

Unfortunately, we cannot perform tomorrow (Sunday), as we had passed the deadline to reschedule the concert.

It was amazing to see so many of you gathered in the park this evening. We wish we could have shared this wonderful music and all of the artists’ hard work. We look forward to seeing you in Overture Center this fall and again in the park next year.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Opera in the Park

CANCELLED

Garner Park
FREE

Should inclement weather occur, we will decide by 5pm on Saturday, July 22 if we need to postpone the concert to Sunday evening. Notifications will be posted on our website, via social media, and through patron emails. If a postponement is necessary, the concert will take place at 8 pm on Sunday, July 23.

For patrons with limited mobility, there is a drop-off point on Rosa Road at the Garner Park walking path. Ask the traffic officer at Rosa Road for access to the drop-off point, and they will let you through.

There is accessible parking on Rosa Road, Driftwood Ave., and South Hill Drive west of Rosa Road. Golf carts are available to transport patrons with limited mobility from their vehicles to the park before and after the performance. Ask an Opera in the Park volunteer for golf cart transport.

Garner Park is accessible via Madison Metro Transit Route A at Stop ID 0898 on the corner of Mineral Point and South Rosa Road.

Double your gift!

Keep great music accessible to everyone by making a gift to Opera in the Park Fund. Any donation you make before August 31, 2023 will be matched by generous anonymous friends of Madison Opera, up to $10,000. This will double your gift’s impact and help ensure Opera in the Park delights generations.

1st Prize: $2,000
2nd Prize: $1,000
3rd Prize: Madison Opera Subscription for Two

Enter the Opera in the Park Raffle for a chance to win big prizes and support Opera in the Park.

At the concert, raffle tickets are available to purchase at program tables and from select volunteers. Tickets are just $10 each or 3 for $25. All proceeds go to support Opera in the Park. At the end of the night, three lucky winners will be drawn.

You need not be present to win. Lic# R0004750-A-72757

The closest you can get to the stars under the night sky! Support Opera in the Park by joining us for a special Prelude Dinner in Garner Park on Saturday, July 22, 2023 (rain date of July 23). Attendees receive a dinner catered by Upstairs Downstairs Catering, wine and beer, VIP seating at the concert, glow sticks, and an invitation to an artist’s reception following the concert.

Beverage service for the evening will begin at 6 pm in the white tent next to the stage, with dinner served promptly at 6:30 pm.

Seats are $170 per person or $1,300 for a table of eight. All proceeds benefit the Opera in the Park Fund.

Registration for the 2023 Prelude Dinner is closed. Please contact Beth Tolles at (608) 238-8085 or tolles@madisonopera.org with any questions.

Every year we rely on over 100 volunteers to help make Opera in the Park a success. Opera in the Park 2023 will be held on July 22, 2023 in Garner Park, and we would love to have you join us! We have a wide variety of tasks available, including set-up, clean-up, helping with parking, selling light sticks, and handing out programs.

At this time, all of our volunteer needs have been met. Thank you for your interest in supporting Opera in the Park. We look forward to seeing you at the park on July 22.

Frequently Asked Questions

Opera in the Park 2023 is Saturday, July 22 at 8pm. The rain date is Sunday, July 23 at 8pm.

No. Opera in the Park is free and open to the public – just come to the park.

Opera in the Park features a mix of arias and ensembles from a broad spectrum of opera and Broadway. Every summer’s concert features selections from Madison Opera’s upcoming season, famous operas, unusual operas, operettas, zarzuelas, Broadway musicals, and more. The repertoire for Opera in the Park 2023 can be found here.

The concert begins at 8pm and will end around 10:15pm. There is one 20-minute intermission.

We keep a close eye on the weather in the days leading up to Opera in the Park. If we think there is a likelihood of inclement weather, we will make an announcement no later than 5:45pm on the day of the concert and post it on our website and via social media. If we must postpone the Saturday performance, the concert will take place on Sunday at 8pm.

You may lay down a tarp or blanket to claim your spot beginning at 7am on the day of the concert – but you can also arrive shortly before the concert and still find a good spot, as there isn’t a bad seat in Garner Park. The concert starts promptly at 8pm; most people arrive an hour or two before the concert to socialize and picnic.

Garner Park is located at 333 S. Rosa Rd. If you choose to drive, there is free parking for your vehicle. Just follow the signs and pay attention to our wonderful volunteers.

Garner Park is accessible via Madison Metro Transit Route A at Stop ID 0898 on the corner of Mineral Point and South Rosa Road.

There is bicycle parking at various locations surrounding the park.

Follow the signs and friendly volunteers to FREE parking at TruStage (formerly CUNA) and University Research Park.

For patrons with limited mobility, there is a drop-off point on Rosa Road at the Garner Park walking path. Ask the traffic officer at Rosa Road for access to the drop-off point, and they will let you through.

There is accessible parking on Rosa Road, Driftwood Ave., and South Hill Drive west of Rosa Road.

Golf carts are available to transport patrons with limited mobility before and after the performance. Ask an Opera in the Park volunteer in a red t-shirt for golf cart transport.

Yes! Pack your favorite picnic, grab some carry out, and enjoy a musical feast. There will be soft drinks, water, and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream for sale.

Yes, alcohol may be enjoyed responsibly at the event.

There will be soft drinks, water, and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream for sale.

The Prelude Dinner is another way to support Opera in the Park. Sponsors of the concert as well as individuals who purchase a ticket receive a catered dinner, wine and beer, VIP seating at the concert, light sticks, and an invitation to a reception with the artists following the concert.

Opera in the Park is free to attend but requires generous support to produce. You can help make this concert possible by making a direct donation online or in the park, by purchasing a raffle ticket, or by purchasing light sticks and t-shirts

A favorite Opera in the Park tradition takes place when the audience conducts one of the songs with light sticks. The park comes alive with an illuminated rainbow swaying in time to the music. Light sticks start at just $1, and we have an array of other glow merchandise for sale, so you can really light up the hillside!

Service animals are always welcome; all other pets must be on-lead and kept on the walking path.

Lost and found is located at the Garner Park Shelter at the top of the hill. Items unclaimed after the concert will be brought back to the Madison Opera Center and kept for a month.

The Madison Police Department have requested that you do not fly or operate drones or quadcopters in the event area.

Multimedia

Cast

Katernina Burton in a black dress.
Katerina Burton
Soprano

Madison Opera Debut
Recently: Girlfriend 2, Blue; Micaëla, Carmen (Washington National Opera); Alice Ford, Falstaff (Aspen Music Festival); Verna/Young Lovely/Evelyn, Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis)

2324 Headshot - Emily Fons
Emily Fons
Mezzo-soprano

Madison Opera Debut: Opera in the Park 2012
Recently at MO: Rosina, The Barber of Seville

Recently: Rosina, The Barber of Seville (Cincinnati Opera, Santa Fe Opera); Woman, Ghosts (San Diego Opera); Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro (Canadian Opera Company); Hansel, Hansel and Gretel (New Orleans Opera)

2324 Headshot Martin Luther Clark
Martin Luther Clark
Tenor

Madison Opera Debut
Recently: CJ, The Factotum; First Armed Man, Die Zauberflöte (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Rapunzel’s Prince, Into the Woods (Tulsa Opera)

2324 Headshot Weston Hurt
Weston Hurt
Baritone

Madison Opera Debut: Germont, La Traviata (2019)
Recently at MO: Digital Opera in the Park 2020

Recently: Scarpia, Tosca (Arizona Opera); Germont, La Traviata (Lyric Opera of Kansas City); Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Alabama Symphony); Nabucco, Nabucco (Seattle Opera)

 

John DeMain
John DeMain
Conductor

Madison Opera Debut: The Magic Flute (1995)
Recently at MO: Trouble in Tahiti, The Seven Deadly Sins, Salome, Opera in the Park 2022, Orpheus in the Underworld, She Loves MeFellow Travelers, La Traviata
Recently: 
Blue (Glimmerglass Festival); Candide (Gran Teatre de Liceu); Porgy and Bess (Seattle Opera); Lost in the Stars (Washington National Opera)

The History of Opera in the Park

Opera in the Park 2022

Sunday, July 24, 2022 – 8pm
Garner Park


Michael Adams – baritone
Vanessa Becerra – soprano
John DeMain – conductor
Margaret Gawryziak – mezzo-soprano
Limmie Pulliam- tenor

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2021

Saturday, July 24, 2021 – 8pm
Garner Park


Kyle Ketelsen – bass/baritone
Amanda Majeski – soprano
Stephanie Rhodes Russell – conductor
Andrew Stenson – tenor
Rehanna Thelwell – mezzo-soprano

Suzanne Beia – violin
Xavier Pleindoux – violin
Christopher Dozoryst – viola
Karl Lavine – cello
David Scholl – bass
Stephanie Jutt – flute
Marc Fink – oboe
JJ Koh – clarinet
Cynthia Cameron – bassoon
Linda Kimball – French horn
Ricardo Almeida – French horn
Nick Bonaccio – percussion
Johanna Weinholts – harp
Scott Gendel – keyboard
Anthony Cao – keyboard

Digital Opera in the Park 2020

Saturday, July 25, 2020 – 8pm
Available Online


Andres Acosta- tenor
Jasmine Habersham – soprano
Weston Hurt – baritone
Karen Slack – soprano

Suzanne Beia – violin
John DeMain – piano
Scott Gendel – piano
Madison Opera Chorus
Anthony Cao – piano, chorusmaster

Guest Pianists:  Rolando Salazar, Bethany Self, Laura Ward, Marika Yasuda

Opera in the Park 2019

Sunday, July 21, 2019 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
David Blalock- tenor
Ben Edquist – baritone
Jeni Houser – soprano
Michele Johnson – soprano

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2018

Saturday, July 21, 2018 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Gary Thor Wedow
Elizabeth Caballero – soprano
Levi Hernandez – baritone
John Lindsey – tenor
Brenda Rae – soprano

with
Anthony Cao – baritone
Anna Parks – mezzo-soprano

Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2017

Saturday, July 22, 2017 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Joseph Mechavich
Will Liverman – baritone
Cecilia Violetta Lopez – soprano
David Walton – tenor
Adriana Zabala – mezzo-soprano

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2016

Sunday, July 24, 2016 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Gary Thor Wedow
Emily Birsan – soprano
Angela Brown – soprano
Sidney Outlaw – baritone
Scott Quinn – tenor

with
Kelsey Parks – mezzo-soprano

Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2015

Saturday, July 25, 2015 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Meredith Arwady – contralto
Eleni Calenos – soprano
Kyle Ketelsen – bass-baritone
Anna Laurenzo – mezzo-soprano
Harold Meers – tenor

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2014

Saturday, July 26, 2014 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Wallis Giunta – mezzo-soprano
Jamie-Rose Guarrine – soprano
Kelly Markgraf – baritone
Sean Panikkar – tenor

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2013

Saturday, July 13, 2013 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Caitlin Cisler – soprano
Nmon Ford – baritone
Brian Jagde – tenor
Alexandra LoBianco – soprano

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Youth Choirs
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2012

Saturday, July 21, 2012 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Gary Thor Wedow
Matt Boehler – bass
Emily Fons – mezzo-soprano
Caitlin Lynch – soprano
Russell Thomas – tenor

with
Caitlin Cisler –  soprano
Alan Dunbar – baritone
Heath Rush – tenor
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2011

Saturday, July 16, 2010 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Maria Kanyova – soprano
Daniela Mack – mezzo-soprano
Scott Ramsay – tenor
Hyung Yun – baritone

with
Gregory Brumfield – baritone
Saira Frank – soprano

Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2010

Saturday, July 17, 2010 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Roderick Dixon – tenor
Anya Matanovic – soprano
Barbara Shirvis – soprano
Stephen Powell – baritone

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Youth Choirs
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Lisa Daltrius – soprano
Adam Diegel – tenor
Jennifer Holloway – mezzo-soprano
Timothy Kuhn – baritone

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2008

Saturday, July 26, 2008 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Kendall Gladen – mezzo-soprano
Bryan Hymel – tenor
Luis Ledesma – baritone
Melody Moore – soprano

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2007

Saturday, July 21, 2007 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Elizabeth Caballero – soprano
Stephen Costello – tenor
Lester Lynch – baritone
Leah Partridge – soprano

with
Heath Rush – tenor

Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2006

Saturday, July 22, 2006 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Kristin Chávez – mezzo-soprano
Eric Fennell – tenor
Dina Kuznetsova – soprano
Guido LeBron – baritone

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2005

Saturday, July 16, 2005 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Donnie Ray Albert – baritone
Elena Bocharova – mezzo-soprano
Kyle Ketelsen – bass-baritone
Ted Lee – tenor
Barbara Quintiliani – soprano

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2004

Saturday, July 17, 2004 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Steven White
Elizabeth Futral – soprano
Kyle Ketelsen – bass-baritone
Malcolm MacKenzie – baritone
Scott Piper – tenor
Jennifer Rivera – mezzo-soprano

with
David Wallach – tenor

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2003

Saturday, July 19, 2003 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by Steven White
Thomas Barrett – baritone
Paula Delligatti – soprano
Angela Horn – mezzo-soprano
Andrew Richards – tenor

with
Bert Adams – bass
John Green – baritone

Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2002

Saturday, July 20, 2002 – 8pm
Garner Park


Conducted by John DeMain
Robin Follman – soprano
Sari Gruber – soprano
Angela Horn – mezzo-soprano
Kyle Ketelsen – bass-baritone
Malcom MacKenzie – baritone
Andrew Richards – tenor

with
Madison Opera Chorus
Madison Symphony Orchestra

Opera in the Park 2023 Sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SPONSORS

Kato & David Perlman

Carla & Fernando Alvarado

Vivian Ruth Brigham

Martha & Charles Casey

Patricia & Stephen Lucas

Lynn & Gary Mecklenburg

Raymond B. Preston Family Foundation. The Letter P surrounded by a brown circle

MEDIA SPONSORS

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