Opera in the Park
Presented in partnership with the Water Works Park Foundation and Iowa PBS
Date/Time
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026
6:30–9:30 pm
Location
Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park
2201 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines
Opera Details
Screening: Bizet's Carmen
Estimated Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Sung In: French with English captions
Grab the lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and picnics because it's time for 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 operas in an outdoor setting.
This year we'll be screening our 2023 prodcution 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 members of the cast and creative team.
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.