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DMMO's 46th Festival Season

Devita Paschell

It’s that time of the year! The Des Moines Metro Opera is about to kick off its 46th annual Festival Season. As stated by the Chicago Tribune, “For the past 45 years, the Des Moines Metro Opera has produced an annual festival that is among the oldest and most enterprising summer opera fests in the nation." This year, their Mainstage Festival includes Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II, Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák, Flight by Jonathan Dove on the Mainstage. The Tender Land by Aaron Copland is part of their 2nd Stage Series. Don’t miss these incredible shows running from the end of June through mid-July! In addition to the shows, The Des Moines Metro Opera is hosting many festival events, some of which are free. Starting May 26th and running through July 11th are events such as dinners, special performances, and opportunities to hear about the production of the shows. For more information, visit www.desmoinesmetroopera.org/events.

Tune in to IPR on May 25th at noon to hear Jacqueline Halbloom host an interview with DMMO’s General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel. Michael will discuss the DMMO festival events surrounding the three mainstage operas. There are events for everyone, including families, children, couples, and friends!

DMMO’s 46th Festival Season:

With music written by Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus contains many familiar melodies for audience members. A story of good friends, playful revenge, and a crazy night, Die Fledermaus will keep you on your toes. Be prepared to laugh with this Viennese operetta!

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Michael Egel talks about extra events

Credit Ben Easter

Rusalka may bring back childhood memories of a familiar fairytale. This story features a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince. Soon, her only desire in life is to be human so that she can be with her prince. She gives up her voice to a witch in order to make her wish come true. Attend Rusalka to find out if this story has the same happy ending we all know so well!

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Michael Egel talks about Rusalka

Credit Ben Easter

Jonathan Dove’s Flight is a story that focuses on the human need for relationships with others. This story is about eight strangers who become stranded in an airport overnight due to an electrical storm and a refugee that has been stranded in the airport for eighteen years. Tom Sutcliffe from The Evening Standard states, “Flight is that rarest thing, a popular new comic opera… Dove’s music flies, the opera is fun, and people are going to love it.”

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Michael Egel talks about Flight

Credit Ben Easter

As part of their 2nd Stage Series, The Des Moines Metropolitan Opera will perform Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land to sold out audiences at the Maytag Dairy Farms in Newton, Iowa. Set during the Great Depression, this beautiful story centers around the American dream and the youthful spirit that accompanies that. To truly set the scene, this performance will be outside with a rural Iowa landscape at sunset as a backdrop.

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Michael Egel talks about Tender Land

Credit Ben Easter

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Michael Egel talks with Jacqueline about upcoming events for the Des Moines Metro Opera.
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Hear Michael Egel talk with Jacqueline about DMMO's plans for Summer 2018 here.

Jacqueline Halbloom is a Sr. Music Producer and Classical Music Host