Cache in on opera

It's a small world after all.

Who would have thought that folks from New Zealand, Serbia, Russia, England, China, Spain, Denmark and Vernal would all converge this summer in beautiful little Logan?

"We have eight nations represented. We truly are an international opera company this summer — and we need to be because of the works we've chosen," said Michael Ballam, founder and general director of Utah Festival Opera, which is celebrating its 16th birthday this season.

"We're the only opera company that was born in the '90s and is still around," he said, "and we have always been in the black for our 16 years of existence," a remarkable feat in an era when arts funding is continually getting cut.

Not only is the festival still alive and thriving, but it's bringing in top singers, many of whom have performed at the Metropolitan Opera or are preparing for their Met debuts.

"Out of 106 opera companies, only six function in the summer. So, we're able to get extraordinary talent," Ballam said.

"We're very unique to offer job opportunities here in the summer. The same with the orchestra. Our players come from all the major symphonies across the United States. These folks would rather come to Logan and spend 12 weeks in the most beautiful place on Earth, rather than just sitting around home in the heat."

Ballam, an opera singer himself having performed for more than 20 years, including command performances at the White House and the Vatican, talked about how many performers are thrilled to travel to Logan to get in shape for their fall seasons.

"Performers often have to sing at the Met with only one rehearsal — rehearsal is the most expensive part of putting on opera," Ballam explained. "So, they just bring in someone who knows the role, and they walk through it with the stage manager. It's terrifying!"

This is another benefit of performing in Logan. "By the time we bring the curtain up, our singers have had five different rehearsals with orchestra alone. I don't think there's another opera company with that luxury."

How did all of this opera end up in Logan?

"Opera began in Logan long before it began any place else in the state," said Ballam, who spent a few years compiling the history of opera in Logan, which he says is rather extensive. "Cache County was colonized by Welsh singers. There was an opera house in every community from the Idaho border down through Cache County. Everyone was a European immigrant here, and opera was their form of entertainment."

So, true to their history, Logan and the Utah Festival Opera have lined up a summer season packed with great music and tremendous talent. It includes: