Opera Outdoors brings sound of music to farmers market & botanical garden

Toledo Opera Resident Artist singers, in square on let, clockwise from top left: Matthew Payne, Imara Miles, Brendon Boyle, and Julia Swan Laird. Pianist Steven Naylor on right.(Images provided)

From TOLEDO OPERA

Opera Outdoors returns this September with weekly performances at the Toledo Botanical Garden and the Toledo Farmers’ Market. The first performance will take place at the Toledo Botanical Garden on Wednesday, September 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Opera Outdoors is a series of pop-up live performances at outdoor commercial, recreational, and community hubs throughout Toledo. The upcoming spring series will feature the Opera’s 2022-2023 cohort of resident artists, selected from an international pool of more than 150 applicants for a one-year residency in Toledo. Resident Artists Sara Mortensen (soprano), Imara Miles (mezzo soprano), Brendan J. Boyle (tenor), Matthew Payne (baritone), and Steven Naylor (pianist) will perform iconic vocal selections from the classical repertoire, along with musical theatre and other American standards.

“This Opera Outdoors series is the fifth installation of the program since its inception in September 2020, in response to the pandemic,” said Suzanne Rorick, Executive Director of the Toledo Opera. “Since then, it has become part of our core programming, and we are honored to work along side our fantastic community partners to share engaging and accessible live music from the vocal repertoire with everyone,” Rorick added.

Opera Outdoors Schedule: Spring 2021

Wednesday, Sept. 7              Toledo Botanical Garden               6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10                 Toledo Farmers’ Market                 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 14            Toledo Botanical Garden               6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17                 Toledo Farmers’ Market                 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21            Toledo Botanical Garden               6 p.m.

The performances are presented in partnership with returning community organizations Metroparks Toledo and Toledo Farmers’ Market. This spring’s series is sponsored by Toledo.com. Logistical support for Opera Outdoors is provided by ProMedica.