Catch the opera bug

Be Careful! Reading this may cause… opera fever! The “fever” was brought to Arkansas five years ago by The Muses Creative Artistry project when its first Opera Gala was performed in the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. This is where audience members, including our Governor, were initially infected by the sublime beauty, charm and musical richness of opera, masterfully performed by The Muses world class performance troupe, led by Founder and President, Deleen Davidson.   

No matter how much you try to fight the “bug” with phrases like: “Opera is intimidating.”  “Opera is hard to understand because it’s in a different language.” “We don’t have live opera here in Arkansas.”  Your resistance will be futile; the only cure – The Muses Opera Week in Hot Springs, September 16-22.

Opera is intimidating. 

The 2012 Opera Gala will feature Mozart's opera “Cosi fan Tutte.“ The title is roughly translated as "All Women are like that.” The theme deals with women’s fickleness, betrayal and infidelity, a theme that is still very common today in prime time television soap operas.  Cosi fan Tutte, written to stand the test of time, is still as amazing and moving today as when it was written more than 200 years ago. 

Opera is hard to understand -- it’s in a different language.

Yes, Cosi fan Tutte was written in a different language.  The performers have been working for months to learn not only a detailed musical score, but a foreign language so they do justice to every syllable of the Italian verse.  However, to make it accessible to the audience, the Muses have taken the time to translate the entire opera with supertitles.  The translated text will be shown during the opera as subtitles are in a foreign film, so the audience can easily follow along with all of the innuendo of the classic tale.

We don’t have live opera here in Arkansas.

We do have some wonderful opera programs here in Arkansas and for the past 5 years, The Muses Creative Artistry project has been bringing opera to Arkansas audiences through their annual opera gala.  The gala serves as the non-profit’s primary fundraiser to support their mission of entertaining, educating, and inspiring excellence through classical musical artistry and performance.  The Muses brings together professional opera singers and musicians from across the country to present these high quality and awe- inspiring performances.  Performers from New York City to Portland and many points in between come together for this once a year opportunity to perform together as they enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Arkansas audiences.

The opera bug can be a bit problematic.  If not treated promptly, you will not have another opportunity for a Muses’ “opera treatment” for an entire year.  So be sure to mark you calendar for September 16-22 and enjoy your fill. 

The week will begin on September 16 as The Muses celebrate fall’s arrival with “Opera Classics,” part of its Four Seasons in Art and Song Concert Series.  Performers will sing some of their favorite arias, duets, and ensembles in preparation for the following week’s performance.  The seasonal concert will be held in Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens.  The performance begins at 3 p.m. and tickets are $25.

Open rehearsals will be held at Hot Springs High School’s Macky Auditorium on Wednesday, September 19 and Thursday, September 20 1:00-4:00.  Schedule updates will be announced and posted on the Muses website at www.themusesproject.org. 

The Muses Opera Week will culminate with the fifth annual Opera Gala, to be held on September 22 in Hot Springs Convention Center’s Horner Hall.  Tickets for the Gala evening fundraiser are $150 each. This includes the world class opera performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, a delicious dinner, as well as wine.  Proceeds from this event help make presentations of incredible Muses productions and performances possible throughout the year.