Opera in the Park Portland makes a move to Peninsula Park

Published 10:45 am Thursday, July 25, 2024

Opera is for everyone. It’s a motto Opera in the Park Portland holds near and dear to its heart. This year, it’s spreading its opera love to the eastside.

Washington Park’s Rose Garden Amphitheater has been home to the event for 21 years, since its inception in 2003. Drawing thousands of visitors each year, eager to enjoy a free summertime activity, the two-hour event will take place Sunday, Aug. 4 at Peninsula Park.

Nearly 90 people will take the stage from 6-8 p.m. performing Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the historic gazebo, showcasing an Italian tragedy in three acts, themes of love, class conflict and health issues will arise.

Now, two decades later, the lawn will fill with blankets, picnic dinners and families ready for world-class opera performances.

“It’s been a slow grow,” said Jocelyn Bates-O’Brien, president of Opera in the Park Portland.

The event started as a couple of singers on stage accompanied by a pianist. Its slow growth started by adding an orchestra, then a few years later, a 40-person chorus. Now, its reached the size of nearly 90 people on stage.

Portland Parks & Recreation, a partner of Opera in the Park Portland, encouraged the move to the eastside.

“We’re really excited,” Bates-O’Brien said. “Part of our mission is to make opera more accessible to more people. We think Peninsula Park will be fabulous.”

It’s not a certainty that this will be the event’s permanent home. Bates-O’Brien said if it gets a good turnout and good response from the community, then it might be a conversation to have with Portland Park & Recreation as to what happens next. It could mean a rotation or venue, or a full change, but that’s still up in the air.

Regardless of its location, at the end of the day, it’s all about making sure people have access to opera. As a centuries old art form, it has taken on quite an expensive price tag to enjoy the all-encompassing experience in modern day.

“We just love opera so much that we want to do what we can to continue its existence,” Bates-O’Brien said. “It’s music, it’s art, it’s the highest form of voice.”

After 18 years of hard work on the event, Bates-O’Brien said despite the struggles to raise money growing exponentially each year, “it’s all worth it.”

Having anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 audience members listening, paying attention and showing their gratitude to experience the art is what keeps the volunteers going.

Bates-O’Brien said, “When the night of the event is here, I just feel so whole seeing the audience there.”