Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

The Mississippi Opera opens its 68th season with “A World of Opera.” The show’s setting is a birthday party held by the Baron von Schulmeier, played by Greg Schulmeier, at his castle for his wife. There, they and their party guests travel in song through a world of opera.

Not all the night’s talented singers are local; some traveled across the country to pursue opera and entertain. John Bellemer, Shelly Garlotte, and Constantinos Yiannoudes join Jackson natives Heather Clancy, Viola Dacus and Kristen Johnson along with the Mississippi Opera chorus in this delightful performance.

People of all ages are encouraged to grab a seat and enjoy some of the most beautifully written operas from history. “Viewers will be greatly entertained as honored guests,” Schulmeier says. “We’re going to take people around the world through music. If you haven’t ever experienced opera before, this is the best way to get a good taste of it.”

The Mississippi Opera Gala is Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley Biblical Seminary (787 E. Northside Drive). Individual tickets are $45 for patrons, $40 for senior citizens, $10 per ticket for groups of 15 or more people and $5 for students with ID. Purchase tickets in advance from the Mississippi Opera office (601-960-2300) or at the door. Visit msopera.org to purchase season tickets and view the upcoming performance schedule.

MFP Solutions Lab logo

The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.