Bringing a full-fledged opera to town has been a dream for Park City Opera, one they hope to make reality by next summer. Park City residents got a taste of that possibility on Tuesday evening.

On Library Field, the grassy area near the outdoor patio of the Park City Library, Lisl Wangermann and Lena Goldstein performed arias and art songs that floated across the park as Benjamin Beckman accompanied on piano. Attendees fell under the spell of the musical selections, as the theme of the night was “A Little Bit of Magic.” 

Lisl Wangermann, co-founder and director of development for Park City Opera, performs an aria. “Today I performed a lot of big arias about people wanting magic to solve their problems, and it doesn’t,” Wangermann said.

After an hour-long performance, the trio said they were blown away by the response to their first event. Over 60 people attende the free and unticketed evening of music. 

“Honestly, I don’t think that I could be happier with how this went for us,” Lisl Wangermann said.

Donald and Barbara Walker listen to the music as the sun shines on them on Tuesday evening outside the Park City Library. “We go to the opera in Salt Lake,” Barbara said, explaining they enjoy getting to the opera when then can. “The voices were very clear and beautiful.”

The members of Park City Opera met while directing the Opera Theatre of Yale College. Goldstein is a native of Park City, and the town is “a home away from home” for Wangermann and Beckman. 

“Part of our mission is to make opera accessible and casual and to put it in beautiful surroundings,” said Goldstein. She also wanted to thank the Park City Library team for making the event possible. 

Co-founder and artistic director of Park City Opera Benjamin Beckman introduces the following aria. Beckman served as the pianist for the evening, accompanying the opera singers.
Lena Goldstein said that her grandparents “counted 61 people and two dogs,” in attendance at the event. “Honestly, I don’t think that I could be happier with how this went for us,” Lisl Wangermann said. The selection of music was “more recital style,” Benjamin Beckman said, explaining that they chose to perform arias and art songs for the Tuesday night selection.
Park City native Lena Goldstein takes a bow while the crowd cheers for the performances.