Opera in the Park

Due to the forecast for heavy rain this week, Opera in the Park on Thursday, September 17, has been canceled.

While we are disappointed that we will not be able to gather at Water Works Park to enjoy Iowa PBS’s broadcast of Carmen, we look forward to rescheduling the event for late spring or early summer 2027. A new date will be announced in the coming weeks.

About the Event

Grab your lawn chairs and picnic blankets because we're taking opera to the great outdoors with Opera in the Park! This free public event invites longtime opera fans and curious newcomers alike to experience Des Moines Metro Opera's world-class productions outside of the traditional theatre. 

Next spring, we'll be screening our 2023 production of Bizet's Carmen, filmed for television by Iowa PBS. 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 cast and creative team members.

We invite attendees to arrive at Opera in the Park at 6:00 pm (30 minutes before the screening at 6:30 pm) not only to grab their seats, but also for a special opera preview. This preview will be similar to our Summer Festival, in which attendees will get additional information about the opera to enhance their experience.

What's an opera without refreshments? Opera in the Park will feature a variety of food trucks with delicious treats as well as the Des Moines Biergarten. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own drinks and picnics.

About The Opera

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.