CARBAONDALE (WSIL) -- The 17th annual 九游体育 Illinois Music Festival is kicking off with more than a dozen performances put on by talented artists from all over the country.
"The festival includes a dozen and a half performances. Some are free admission. Everything else is reasonably priced the performances. The opera is here at Shryrock Auditorium. We have four or five performances at First United Church of Carbondale," explains Artistic Director Edward Benyas.
Benyas says they will present a variety of chamber orchestra and chamber music performances but the opera has a unique spin. "It's called "Covid fan tutte". It is a Mozart opera that is originally named "Cos矛 fan tutte" and it is one of the greatest operas ever written and it's brilliantly updated by our stage director Josh Shaw. He has updated the opera to be set on a golf course during the current pandemic."
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Benyas and performers say the production offers a show that everyone can relate to.
"There are so many references to our 2020 collective experience of the pandemic crowbarred into the show. I have a feeling for the audience it'll be a really cathartic experience to go through because we all went through a diffficult time in 2020 and it's nice to be able to laugh about it," says Brian Cheney, performing artist.
"We have been dying for live music for so long and this is the time. I just think this is a community staple and we do a really great job. We all do a really great job and we have a lot of love for this festival and for the community," adds Michelle Ford, performing artist.
No reservations are need, tickets will be available at the door. For more information on the different event available click .
