A string of hot, 90-degree+ summer days has kept us hunkered down in air-conditioned comfort as the sun blazes down and the humidity wraps our hair into a mass of wild curls. By evening, we’re ready to shake it all off and seek out one of the many nearby outdoor cultural offerings. Recently, a performance of opera and circus arts at The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Mass., a Trustees of the Reservations property under 30 minutes from Wellesley Square, sounded like just the thing.
![deCordova. Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/17141958/IMG_2201-1000x750.jpeg)
Many families already know about the deCordova, a 30-acre sculpture park and contemporary art museum with rotating exhibitions and an array of interactive programs. The outdoor Sculpture Park in particular is a great place to take young children and expose them to art in an incredibly accessible setting. They can run around, touch many of the over 50 pieces, and generally act like children.
The deCordova, as well as other Trustees of the Reservations venues, has a wonderful lineup of outdoor summer performances and activities. During a presentation of Arias Aloft: Euphoria, we were treated to a unique, magical evening of opera, musical theater, cabaret, and circus arts in a beautiful setting where we could spread a blanket on the ground, or bring our own chair for a wonderful family-friendly evening. (Here’s the program from that night.) Outside food was welcome. Bringing alcohol in was a no. However, wine and beer were available for purchase in the cafe.
The performance, by Circus 617 and Opera on Tap Boston, featured vocal acrobatics and physical virtuosity courtesy of some of Boston’s leading circus artists and classical singers. If you want expose your kids to opera this is the way to do it. I watched in amazement as little ones from toddlers on up gave their rapt attention to divas hitting high notes as aerialists, a contortionist, and a tight-wire artist provided acrobatic accompaniment. Not one child made a break for the aerial hoops. Two moms kept easy tabs on a group of 12 kids who orbited them in close proximity during intermission, and then sat quietly during the performance. Later, the huge group posed for pictures with the artists.
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Our ticket, which was comped to us as press, included admission to the performance and free parking. Attendees were welcome to explore the grounds before or after the program.
You can catch an Arias Aloft: Euphoria performance on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Governor Hutchinson’s Field in Milton. Ticket prices range from $4 to $40.
The performers
Standing ovation to vocalists Erin Anderson, soprano; Kathryn McKellar, soprano; Arielle Rogers-Wilkey, mezzo-soprano; Nicola Santoro, soprano; and Lindsay Albert, piano.
We flipped for circus artists Rachel Barringer, contortionist; Mandy Hackman, aerial silks; Sophie Kaufman, single point trapeze; and Ellen Waylonis, aerial rope.
Standout performances
“Habanera” from Carmen by Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
Sung by Arielle Rogers-Wilkey mezzo-soprano
Rachel Barringer, tiny aerial hoop
“Glitter and be Gay” from Candide, Leonard Bernstein, (1918-1990)
Erin Anderson, soprano, provided us with a rollicking good time for this finale.
Mandy Hackman and Ellen Waylonis, duo arial hoop