Welcome

FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR

Now that we have all had a taste of life without live performances, I am sure you will agree that nothing takes the place of seeing and hearing musicians who are totally committed to their art. So here we are, finally bringing our 70th season to life!

We began planning for this season shortly after the postponement of our 2020 events. We stayed current on the latest findings about how the coronavirus spread, researched possible mitigation strategies, and investigated ways to retrofit our facilities to make them as safe as possible. While we were determined to find ways to have a season, we were also committed to the idea that the experience for our artists and our audiences would be the best we could provide. To that end, we invested in air purification devices and upgraded many aspects of our housing, our dining hall and our rehearsal spaces. Our entire cohort of singers, instrumentalists, faculty and support staff participated in a quarantine and have remained largely sequestered, even though we are 100% vaccinated.

The result is that you are here, awaiting a performance that will be as close to “normal” as we can make it. We do ask that our audience help us prevent the spread of aerosols by remaining masked while in the theater. That way our singers and orchestra can do their best work and still remain safe.

Now, settle back in your seat, wait for the downbeat, and enjoy these timeless stories of human emotions: love, jealousy, fear, greed, joy, hope, and a host of others. We’ve lived through a terrible year and come out singing. How great is that?

Nancy Preis

General Director

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

Welcome once again to a new and exciting season of beautiful music here at Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point! As we end the difficult period of Covid-19, we can now rejoice and happily meet with our friends and family again. Most important to many of us, however, is that we can once again enjoy beautiful music and exciting stories like those in this year’s productions at Opera in the Ozarks. I believe by the time this program is printed and in your hands, the world will be a much safer and healthier place, and we can relax and enjoy these musical offerings written so long ago by Massenet, Donizetti and Mozart.

Of course, things are a little different this summer, but I’m sure you will appreciate the efforts our faculty and staff have made to keep both you and our young artists safe and healthy. This season may offer much more fresh air and the contact with our wonderful young singers may be less than usual, but it will still be wonderful just to be in the presence of friends and amazing music. Beautiful Rock Candy Mountain at Inspiration Point will again take our breath away, and the performances by outstanding young artists and orchestra will inspire us. Knowing that the entire staff, faculty, orchestra and artists have “soldiered through” this difficult era to bring us such special evenings of opera entertainment is a blessing that cannot be measured.

So thank you for being here tonight and for supporting Opera in the Ozarks. Your presence and support is truly valued, and we hope that you will return for many more memorable evenings at Opera in the Ozarks.

Carole Langley

Governing Board President Opera in the Ozarks at IPFAC