Madison Opera Marks 25 Years of Free “Opera in the Park” Concert

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

Eastern

Central

Western

West End

WEST END

UK Regional

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

TV/Movies

Music

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

Madison Opera will present the free outdoor concert at Garner Park with soloists, chorus, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

POPULAR

Get all the top news & discounts for Opera & beyond.

Madison Opera's Opera in the Park will return on Saturday, July 18 at 8pm in Garner Park on Madison's West Side. A Madison summer tradition since 2002, the free concert of opera and Broadway favorites draws audience members from across Wisconsin and beyond to pack a picnic, gather friends, and share a beautiful night of music under the stars. This July marks the 25th anniversary of Opera in the Park, and Madison Opera is launching a year-long celebration, sharing its impressive 25-year history as well as stories from members of the Madison community who enjoy the concert each year.

Get all the top news & discounts for Opera & beyond.

Opera in the Park 2026 stars soprano Kathryn Henry, mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, tenor Joshua Stewart, and baritone Thomas Glass. Henry, Reams, and Glass are making their Madison Opera debuts at the concert. Henry, a Wisconsin native, has sung recently with Theater Bonn, Santa Fe Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. Reams, who will sing the title role in Carmen with Madison Opera next April, has sung recently with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, and the Salzburg Festival. Stewart, who debuted with Madison Opera as Charlie Parker in Charlie Parker 's Yardbird, returns to the company as Pollione in Norma this November; recent credits include La Monnaie, the Barbican Center, and Seattle Opera. Glass's recent credits include Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera , Seattle Opera, and Minnesota Opera.

The four soloists are joined by the Madison Opera Chorus and Madison Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John DeMain . The evening is hosted by Madison Opera's General Director Kathryn Smith and WKOW-TV's evening anchor Brandon Taylor.

“Opera in the Park is truly Madison Opera's gift to our community,” says Smith. “When you combine a live performance of beautiful music with thousands of people from across our region, all under the same gorgeous night sky, you get something that is greater than one concert. It is music and it is entertainment, but it is also about the human connection that happens when we share it together. I am so proud that we are celebrating our 25th summer of this incredible event and so grateful to all who have made it possible, this year and every year.”

The repertoire at Opera in the Park 2026 spans three centuries, including a few pieces that were part of the very first Opera in the Park in 2002. Selections from Bellini's thrilling Norma and Bizet's legendary Carmen highlight Madison Opera's upcoming 26/27 season. The program also features pieces from Rigoletto, The Pearl Fishers, Rusalka, Sweeney Todd, Idomeneo, Medea, Everlasting Faint, The Tales of Hoffmann, and more. As always, this spectacular evening will include one number conducted by the audience with light sticks.

Get an Alert Each Time Stephi Wild Writes

Videos

Opera SHOWS

Sign up for announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/OPERA-IN-THE-PARK-to-Celebrate-25th-Anniversary-with-Free-Madison-Concert-20260616)._