22 Jul Opera in the Park creates sense of community
By Andrea Zani, Madison.com
A young couple falling in love under the starry sky, buoyed by emotions and beautiful music. Penny-pinching graduate students feeling like royalty with their pretzels and a six-pack. A sense of community, connectivity and common musical appreciation. A feast of food flavors and favorite arias.
These are the experiences of Opera in the Park, Madison Opera’s annual free outdoor performance, as described by winners of an essay contest to honor the event’s 15th anniversary. In 200 words or less, the writers offered their views of an extraordinary scene that is uniquely Madison.
“People had really lovely things to say,” Kathryn Smith, Madison Opera’s general director, said of the entries received in the essay contest. “We had been talking in the fall about what we could do for the 15th anniversary.
“We know how important this concert is to our community. Even at our other performances, we often hear people say, ‘Oh, I love Opera in the Park,’ and we wondered how we could capture that.”
Having people share their memories of Opera in the Park seemed the perfect way. Fans were encouraged to write in to win a pair of tickets to the event’s Prelude Dinner, front-row seating for the Opera and a post-concert reception with the artists. Read more …
University Research Park is a proud sponsor of Opera in the Park.