This year’s installment of Opera on the Rocks presents Don Giovanni, one of the most popular operas of all time, framed by the beauty of Bandelier National Monument. Join music lovers of all ages on Saturday, September 20th, 2014, in Bandelier’s Juniper Campground outdoor amphitheater.
Opera Alta will present an abridged performance of this classic Mozart production starting at 5:30pm. The event is an opportunity for those not familiar with opera, as well as opera enthusiasts, to enjoy listening in a special venue. Hosts of the event include the Los Alamos Opera Guild of the Guilds of The Santa Fe Opera, Inc.; Opera Alta; Bandelier National Monument; and the Los Alamos Commerce Development Corporation. Transportation will be provided to and from the venue by Los Alamos Atomic City Transit. Don Quixote Distillery & Winery and Black Mesa Winery will feature local wines prior to the performance. The Bandelier Trading Company will sell food. The Rotary Stars will provide cheese and fruit trays. “This presentation is a combined effort of local talent, local sponsors and your local National Park Service site. Music has been present in the Frijoles Canyon area for millennia. This musical program continues what the Ancestral Pueblo started long ago,” said Superintendent Jason Lott.
Beginning at 4:00 pm participants can pick up the Los Alamos Atomic City Transit from either the White Rock Visitor Center or Sullivan Field in Los Alamos. Parking will not be provided for the event at Bandelier. Once guests arrive at Bandelier and again during intermission, they will have the opportunity to participate in a complimentary wine tasting hosted by Don Quixote Distillery & Winery and Black Mesa Winery. Glasses and bottles will be available for purchase to enjoy while soaking up the atmosphere. The event will begin with a duet from Mozart’s Magic Flute by two young local singers, Nathan and Bethany Flier, followed by the two act performance of Don Giovanni. It is coordinated by Opera Alta, and directed by Alicia Solomon. An activity for children, and the young at heart, makes this an event for the whole family. Shuttles will transport guests back to their vehicles after the performance until 8:00 pm.
For this special event, all monument entrance fees will be waived. Tickets for the opera can be purchased online at: www.guildsofsfo.org/la. Prices are: guild member: individual $10, family (4) $20, non-guild member: individual $15, family (4) $35. Admission to the opera is free for those camping at the Juniper Campground.
Information from: Bandelier National Monument