This Saturday, Oct. 10, Opera Piccola is moving outdoors to Travis Park. Light jacket weather doesn’t last long in San Antonio, so the City and the San Antonio Parks Foundation were quick to set up a place and time for Opera in the Park.
In its first year, Opera in the Park will begin at 3 p.m. with introductory performances by The Playhouse, Trilogy Dance Center, Woodlawn Theatre, Woodlawn Academy for Performing Arts and the Magik Theatre. Opera Piccola of San Antonio will perform from 6:30-8 p.m.
For the performance, Kristin Roach, music director of Opera Piccola will accompany soprano Elizabeth Herlitz Cortes, mezzo soprano Jacquelyn Matava, tenor Eric Schmidt, and baritone Heath Martin. Excerpts will be sung from from “La Boheme,” “Cosi fan Tutte,” “Rigoletto,” “Werther,” “Don Carlo,” “La Rondine,” “Hamlet,” “Elixir of Love” and “La Fanciulla del West.”
A small plot of land nestled in the heart of downtown, Travis Park will serve Opera Piccola’s mission of hosting operas in small, intimate settings. Founded in 2012, Opera Piccola hires opera singers from around the world, paired with local musicians, to produce English-language operas. On any other day, Opera Piccola hosts performances at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, but on Saturday the opera is stepping outdoors to sing to the streets of downtown.
Aside from performances, families can participate in games and activities, and an artisan market and food trucks will be on site at Travis Park.
Opera is sponsored by the City of San Antonio’s Center City Development and Operations Department, the Department for Culture and Creative Development and the San Antonio Parks Foundation.
“(CCDO) is working diligently to bring quality programming to Travis Park,” said Lori Houston, assistant city manager. “There is no better way to accomplish this than through the performing arts.”
Parking is available at the St. Mary’s Parking Garage on the corner of Travis and St. Mary’s Streets, and the St. Anthony Hotel will provide valet parking.
*Top image: An Opera Piccola performance at the intimate Josephine Theater. Courtesy photo by Kristian Jaime.
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