CARMEN Screening to Headline DMMO's First Opera in the Park
The Emmy-winning broadcast, recorded live at the Blank Performing Arts Center, features French dialogue with English captions.
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its first-ever Opera in the Park with a free outdoor screening of Carmen on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30pm at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park.
Presented in partnership with the Water Works Park Foundation and Iowa PBS, the event invites longtime opera fans and curious newcomers alike to experience one of the world's most beloved operas in an outdoor setting.
First performed in Paris in 1875, Carmen features some of the most recognizable music in opera. This twisting tale of romance, intrigue, and obsession follows the free-spirited Carmen, who lives boldly in her pursuit of freedom. Sparks fly when she encounters the soldier Don José, but their passionate affair takes a dangerous turn when the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo catches Carmen's eye.
Iowa PBS recorded the performance live at the Blank Performing Arts Center during DMMO's 2023 Festival Season. Originally produced for statewide broadcast, “Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Carmen” received an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Outstanding Program in Entertainment: Long Form Content. The two-and-a-half-hour presentation also includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with members of the cast and creative team.
Carmen is sung in French with English captions. Guests are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics. Prior to the screening, there will be a variety of food trucks with delicious treats, the Des Moines Biergarten, and a special preview of this world-famous opera beginning at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. Advance reservations are encouraged at dmmo.org/operainthepark, but tickets are not required to attend. The free community event is made possible by the support of the Burnett Family Foundation Cultural Series at Water Works Park.