Outdoor opera concert planned for Thursday

The Spokane Coeur d’Alene Opera will hold a free outdoor concert at Mirabeau Point Park Thursday, its second performance in Spokane Valley since moving to the Valley Performing Arts Center in May.

“Bring a picnic dinner,” said Bill Graham, the organization’s director.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the stage on the north end of the park and will end about 9, he said.

“We always wanted to do an outdoor concert and something that could be free to the public,” he said.

While visiting Mirabeau Point Park several months ago, Graham was impressed by the quality of its stage and equipment.

“I was really delighted to see the wonderful stage they had built out there,” he said.

After settling on a date with the city Parks Department, the Spokane Coeur d’Alene Opera went about raising funds, mostly from members of the community and the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Graham said.

Performances will vary from musical theater to opera.

The show will open with tunes from the “Pirates of Penzance.” Other operatic pieces will include Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” and the “Magic Flute” as well as songs from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”

Performers also will sing hits from musicals such as “South Pacific” and “Showboat.”

Graham said children should enjoy selections from the “Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins.”

Dancers from Ballet Spokane also will perform.

The concert will feature Heather and Derrick Parker as well as soprano Heather Holzapfel and baritone Max Mendez.

For more information, visit spokaneopera.com or call 533-1150.