Pop-Up Opera Returns to Portland This Summer

Soprano Jennifer Forni and pianist David Saffert perform at Ponzi Winery in 2016
Image: Courtesy Jonathan Ley
Fancy an “O Sole Mio” with a side order of “Figaro”? There is, this being Portland, a cart for that. For the third summer, Portland Opera will roll out its Opera a La Cart, a mobile musical venue complete with foldout stage, boasting a menu of popular arias and musical numbers to be sung to order by Portland Opera artists. You’ll find this food-cart-style effort at Sunday Parkways, art fairs, farmers markets, and at local wineries—order from the daily specials, or enjoy a 45-minute set list of tunes you never even knew were operatic. (We’re looking at you, British Airways commercial tune.)
Alongside the scheduled events, surprise pop-up performances are also part of the summer repertoire. “New Seasons has been a great partner with us,” says Portland Opera’s Clare Burovac. “We’ll sometimes show up in their parking lot and set up, and sing arias as people do their grocery shopping.”