DMMO Announces Opera in the Park

Des Moines, IA- Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) is excited to announce its first-ever Opera in the Park with a free outdoor screening of Carmen on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30pm at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park.

Presented in partnership with the Water Works Park Foundation and Iowa PBS , the event invites longtime opera fans and curious newcomers alike to experience one of the world's most beloved operas in an outdoor setting.

First performed in Paris in 1875, Carmen features some of the most recognizable music in opera. This twisting tale of romance, intrigue, and obsession follows the free-spirited Carmen, who lives boldly in her pursuit of freedom. Sparks fly when she encounters the soldier Don José, but their passionate affair takes a dangerous turn when the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo catches Carmen's eye.

Iowa PBS recorded the performance live at the Blank Performing Arts Center during DMMO's 2023 Festival Season. Originally produced for statewide broadcast, "Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Carmen " received an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy® Award for Outstanding Program in Entertainment: Long Form Content. The two-and-a-half-hour presentation also includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with members of the cast and creative team.

Carmen is sung in French with English captions. Guests are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics, and a variety of food trucks will be on-site. Admission is free. Advance reservations are encouraged at dmmo.org/operainthepark, but tickets are not required to attend. The free community event is made possible by the support of the Burnett Family Foundation Cultural Series at Water Works Park.

EVENT DETAILS
What: A free outdoor screening of "Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Carmen "
When: Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30pm
Where: Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, Des Moines
Run time: Approximately two and a half hours
Language: Sung in French with English captions
Admission: Free
More information: www.dmmo.org/operainthepark

About Water Works Park Foundation
The Water Works Park Foundation connects the Des Moines community to nature and one another through meaningful experiences at Water Works Park. Encompassing 1,500 acres of rivers and woodlands near downtown Des Moines, Water Works Park provides a setting for outdoor recreation, educational opportunities and cultural events. Learn more at waterworkspark.org.

About Iowa PBS
Iowa PBS is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network, providing quality, innovative media and services that educate, inform and inspire Iowans. Its noncommercial, public-service mission allows Iowa PBS to create locally produced programming with lasting value for viewers throughout the state. Learn more at iowapbs.org.

About Des Moines Metro Opera
Lauded by The New York Times in 2025 as "one of the country's most ambitious and successful smaller companies," Des Moines Metro Opera is a professional opera company located in the heart of Iowa that has taken its place among America's leading opera festivals. Founded in 1973, DMMO is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the region, presenting over 100 performances across Iowa every year. Learn more about Des Moines Metro Opera .

The 2027 Festival Season, running July 2-25, features a new production of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann , a new production and company premiere of Philip Glass's Orphée , and a revival of the company's 2017 production of Britten's Billy Budd .