Remembering Carol Stuart (1933-2017)

Born in 1933, soprano Carol Stuart was an incredible singer who inspired an opera company and was a significant factor in Robert L. Larsen and Douglas Duncan’s decision to launch Des Moines Metro Opera in 1973. A remarkable lyric coloratura with significant acting skills and stage craft, Carol sang 10 principal roles with DMMO between…

Q&A with Chris Largent

Chris Largent, DMMO’s Technical Director, answers questions about constructing the set for Billy Budd, managing two production departments, cleaning bathrooms (occasionally) and defying physics. Q: What is your official position at DMMO and how long have you worked with us? I am the Technical Director and this is my 6th season. Q: How did you get started…

Q&A with Brian August

Brian August, DMMO’s Production Stage Manager, answers questions about working behind-the-scenes, organized chaos and the many voices inside his head(phones)! Q: How long have you worked with DMMO?  Seven seasons! I started out in 2011 and here we are today! Q: How did you start out in the industry?  I started out stage managing in high…

Q&A with Vanessa Vasquez

Soprano Vanessa Vasquez, who makes her DMMO debut this summer as Liù in Turandot, answers questions about her recent win at the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions, opera, family and, of course, superpowers.   Q: What was it like performing on stage at the Met during the Grand Finals? Are there any specific moments that particularly resonate/stick out?  It was…

A Waltz Through Folly

Stephen Sondheim and Isaac Mizrahi explore midsummer misunderstandings to create a memorable musical tale In the northern regions of Scandinavia during the summer solstice, the sun does not set for days at a time. A diffused twilight illuminates midsummer festivals and raucous social revelries. Against this beautiful backdrop in turn-of-the-century Sweden, A Little Night Music celebrates…

Q&A with Brittany Crinson

Wig and makeup designer Brittany Crinson answers questions about life backstage, crazy wigs and a few of her favorite things. Q: How long have you worked with DMMO?  This is my 7th season with DMMO! Q: How did you start out in the industry? I went to cosmetology school and shortly after started working at Michigan Opera Theatre running…

Q&A with Michael Adams

Baritone Michael Adams, who stars as Ping in Turandot and Donald in Billy Budd (and was last seen at DMMO as Lescaut in Manon), answers questions about growing up, opera, family and BASEBALL. Q: Did you grow up in a musical family? When did you start singing? Yes, my father is a singer so I grew up…

Heartland Youth Choir to take the stage in TURANDOT and BILLY BUDD

Singers and musicians from around the world are arriving in Indianola to prepare for Des Moines Metro Opera’s 45th Festival Season, featuring performances of Puccini’s Turandot, Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd and Astor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires. These world class artists and technicians come together for eight brief weeks…

45th Summer Festival Events

Thursday, May 18 at 7:00pm Smiles of a Summer Night Film Screening Fleur Cinema & Café (4545 Fleur Drive) FREE ADMISSION For more info, click HERE Thursday, May 25 at 7:00pm Peter Ustinov’s Billy Budd Film Screening Fleur Cinema & Café (4545 Fleur Drive) FREE ADMISSION For more info, click HERE Saturday, May 27 at…

Q&A with Troy Cook

Baritone Troy Cook, who stars as Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music (and was last seen at DMMO as de Brétigny in Manon and Younger Galileo in Galileo Galilei), answers questions about opera, singing, family and superpowers. Q: Did you grow up in a musical family? When did you start singing? I didn’t really grow…

Casting call for supernumeraries

Did you know that not all of the performers on stage at Des Moines Metro Opera are singers? Each season a wide range of dedicated individuals participate in DMMO’s productions as non-singing extras. These extras, known as supernumeraries (“supers”) play many roles such as servants, soldiers or party guests and help to fill out crowd…

Turandot – What’s in a name?

From its first telling to its operatic premiere in 1926, the story of Turandot spans an 800-year journey. Though the opera is primarily based on Carlo Gozzi’s 1762 play of the same name, the original tale has its roots in a Mongol fable from the 13th century. The legend revolves around a 19-year-old woman called Khutulun…