By Michael Bolton, Opera Company of Philadelphia

What happens when thousands of people descend upon one of the nation’s most historic sites to experience the arts? Lots of people smile!

Arts lovers and novices joined together with their friends and families to see the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s opening night production of Bizet’s Carmen, as part of Opening Night Philadelphia, a celebratory kick-off of the 2011-2012 arts season. Generously funded through the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge, whose gift was matched by the Wyncote Foundation, the opera was simulcast on September 30th.

With the birthplace of our nation, Independence Hall, as the evening’s backdrop and the iconic Liberty Bell just a few feet away, attendees watched Carmen on a 40-foot HD screen at Independence National Historical Park.

The historic location and sense of civic pride added to the good-will feel of the event and the audience’s appreciation was palpable! There was a real excitement in the air as the audience members claimed their spot with picnic blankets and lawn chairs, engaged in conversation with neighbors, and got ready for a night of beautiful music.

The opera was performed in one of the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s two artistic homes, the Academy of Music. This national historic landmark is a 154 year old theater and the oldest grand opera house in the country still used for its original purpose. While it may be an historic theater, HD cameras highlighted how gorgeous it is… and it looked stunning on the screen at Independence Mall!

Continuing with the theme of Philadelphia, the opera’s cast was unique in that the majority of performers trained at either The Curtis Institute of Music or Academy of Vocal Arts, two of the most august conservatories in the world. Rinat Shaham, one of the world’s leading interpreters of Carmen, began her career on the Opera Company of Philadelphia stage while still a student at Curtis.

Opening Night Philadelphia furthered the Knight Foundation’s goals embraced by its Random Act of Culture initiative, in which the Opera Company of Philadelphia also takes part, to take the arts out of the concert hall and into the streets.

That goal of breaking down barriers to the arts was met on Independence Mall. Free and open to the general public, Opening Night Philadelphia attendees were asked to preregister online (and there were over 5,500 pre-registrants) and print out a free e-ticket to the event. Upon arriving at Independence National Historical Park, it was clear that audiences which don’t usually go to the opera house were definitely there for Carmen. Young people abounded and one teenage girl, surprised at recognizing one of Bizet’s famous tunes, was overheard saying, “Oh my God, I LOVE this song,” when Carmen launched into her famous “Habanera”. She, like hundreds of other teens and college students at the event, was there to find out what opera was all about and loving every minute of it… until the rain came.

While weather forecasts all week had predicted a clear and calm night, the sky started to look a bit ominous as crews finished set up during the late afternoon. Rain had been a frequent visitor to the Philadelphia area over the past few months and definitely toughened up the local residents, yet it was surprising to see just how many people stayed to the very end of the opera at 11:30 at night! If some gave in to the weather and trickled out as the opera progressed, many others walked home or to their cars and came back to Independence National Historical Park with umbrellas or parkas and stayed for the entire opera!

At the end of the performance, many attendees asked the Opera Company to simulcast each of its productions and said that they couldn’t wait for the Opera Company to do this again. Despite the weather, all were excited by Opening Night Philadelphia and seeing Bizet’s Carmen on the HD screen, and thankful to the Knight Foundation for making this event happen through the Knight Arts Challenge. Everyone left with a smile!