Opera Memphis Launches '30 Days of Opera', 9/15

Opera Memphis announced the launch of 30 Days of Opera, Presented by Evolve Bank & Trust, a festival of free, short opera performances and related events taking place at neighborhood festivals, parks, and other public venues throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Complete listings and updates for 30 Days of Opera will be available at OperaMemphis.org. Daily updates will be available on Facebook.com/OperaMemphis and Twitter.com/OperaMemphis, as well as sent to mobile phone users who text "OPERA" to 313131.

"We're turning the opera house inside-out," says Canty. "Our idea was to come up with a way to perform that is as unexpected, delightful, engaging and memorable as opera itself. We're showing the city we love exactly what we love about opera. Don't be surprised if you hear a bit of Carmen some night soon on Beale Street or some Figaro in the parking lot of your grocery store."

30 Days of Opera begins at the Cooper-Young Festival at 10:00 a.m. on September 15 and concludes with a surprise performance on October 14. In between, 30 Days of Opera will take opera to the Shelby Farms Greenline, the Memphis Zoo, Beale Street, the Downtown Memphis and Memphis Botanic Gardens Farmers Markets, South Main Trolley Tour, Park(ing) Day, the Baddour Center, and many others.

A quartet of young rising talents, all of whom are performing in Memphis for the first time, will perform all of the musical selections during 30 Days of Opera: baritone, Joel Herold; soprano, Maria Lindsey; tenor, Logan Rucker; and mezzo soprano, Caitlin McKechney.

Opera Memphis general director Ned Canty will deliver his popular "Opera Doesn't Suck" presentation at several libraries and other public venues during the month. Other special events will include "Death By Aria," a head-to-head singing competition at the University of Memphis' Rudi E Scheidt School of Music; "The Playground King," an original opera for kids at Shelby Farms Park Playground; and Opera Family Day at the Clark Opera Memphis Center.

30 Days of Opera is generously supported by Evolve Bank & Trust. "At Evolve, the foundation of our business is based on reaching out to and serving the communities in which we live and work," said Scott Stafford, president and CEO of Evolve Bank & Trust. "Community outreach isn't new to arts groups, but I think Opera Memphis' idea to bring the love and artistry of opera to places where we work, shop and play will make its efforts all the more memorable and successful."

Additional supporters include ArtsMemphis, Tennessee Arts Commission, AutoZone, Watkins-Uiberall, and the Downtown Memphis Commission. All 30 Days of Opera performances and programs are free and open to the public.