Festival of Opera & Art

The classic composition of a perfect day

Mona de Crinis Arts & Entertainment

Music lovers gather on a beautiful day for the Festival of Opera & Art.
Gerry Maceda

Beautiful music soars skyward as colorful umbrellas catch the sun during April’s annual Festival of Opera & Art at Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The April 15 event brings aria aficionados and the Verdi-challenged together in an embrace of culture and camaraderie. OperaArts President Arlene Rosenthal says she hopes to reach out to children, create new opera lovers, and positively touch the lives of people in the Coachella Valley through music and art.

Presented by the City of Palm Desert and OperaArts, the free afternoon concert (12:30-4:30 p.m.)  kicks off with pianist Gale Enger, who plays until 2 p.m., followed by a talented group of vocal soloists performing arias from popular operas, operettas, and Broadway standards, accompanied by Maestro Gualtiero Negrini and his orchestra.

“Our festival is all about opera and the visual arts and draws people who love both,” Rosenthal says. “But it also brings in people who have never had the opportunity to hear this beautiful music sung by professional singers. I believe there are more than enough people who crave the type of day we’re creating for them: a free concert for all kinds of folks from all walks of life, sharing the gift of music.”

In addition to music, festival highlights include hands-on experiences with visual artists, food from Big Mama’s Soul Food and The Cafe at Shield’s, and organized activities for children, such as face painting and a creative station where kids can make art out of recycled materials provided by S.C.R.A.P. Gallery.

Festival of Opera & Art,
April 15, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Palm Desert Civic Center Park, corner of San Pablo Ave. and Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert.
www.operaarts.org