Opera Lover's Weekend
Now in its sixteenth season, the Lakes Area Music Festival has become a hub for the nation’s top operatic talent. The Unforgettable Opera Lover’s Weekend is your unique opportunity to enjoy thrilling, world-class performances in the heart of Minnesota’s lake country.
Join us for the weekend by booking with our lodging partner Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort.
The multi-faceted event will feature education, inspiration, and unparalleled talent, culminating in a new production of Stravinsky’s rarely performed masterpiece, The Rake’s Progress, a devilish tale of squandered youth.
Featuring 2023 GRAMMY® Winners
…with artists from the Metropolitan Opera and recipients of the MacArthur “Genius Grant”.
Lodging available from Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort
Choose from a number of beautiful lodging options. See all available accommodations and book your special rate as part of the Lakes Area Music Festival's Opera Lover's Weekend online at Ruttgers.com, or call 218-678-2885 .
Schedule of Events
July 6-27
Pre-Event: The Rake’s in Context
Four interactive online lectures on the history and importance of The Rake’s Progress, led by musicologists, members of the Lakes Area Music Festival creative team, and other luminaries in the field of opera.
August 9
4 p.m. | Opening Reception and Backstage Tour
Meet your cohort of opera lovers and the music team of the Lakes Area Music Festival over wine and light appetizers! You’ll also get a backstage tour of the brand new Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd – home for The Rake’s Progress.
7:30 p.m. | Julia Bullock in Concert
GRAMMY® award-winning classical vocalist, Julia Bullock, is one of the most celebrated recitalists of her generation. Join her and pianist, Bretton Brown, for an intimate, exciting evening of song.
9:30 p.m. | Exclusive Reception with Julia Bullock
Savor the evening with a chance to meet Julia and learn about her life in music.
August 10
12 p.m. | Production Luncheon
Get an inside look at The Rake’s Progress with presentations by stage director, Omer Ben Seadia, and Paul Hopper (Senior Director of Artistic Planning, Los Angeles Opera), featuring performances by the Lakes Area Music Festival Resident Artists.
7:30 p.m. | Opening Night: The Rake’s Progress
Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts
August 11
3 p.m. | Closing Matinee: The Rake’s Progress
including an exclusive invitation to the cast party following the performance
About The Rake's Progress
“The Rake's Progress” is an English-speaking opera composed by Igor Stravinsky with a libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman. Premiering in 1951, this classic tale was loosely inspired by a series of paintings by William Hogarth, depicting the downfall of young Tom Rakewell, who inherits a fortune and soon squanders it in pursuit of pleasure and luxury. The story follows Tom's moral and financial decline, his descent into madness, and eventual confinement in Bedlam. The opera serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of vice, temptation, and the pursuit of material wealth at the expense of one's moral integrity.
Meet the Opera Cast + Creative Team













