Park City Opera Brings Conte Holiday Opera to Summit County

Park City Opera staged David Conte's one act holiday opera The Gift of the Magi with performances that opened in Salt Lake City and returned to Park City this month. The company programmed the shorter, family friendly work as part of a holiday experience that included an artisan market before each performance, concessions including a hot chocolate bar, and post show Q&A sessions. Composer David Conte attended the Salt Lake City performance for a talkback.

Organizers presented the score with a 14 player orchestra, reproducing the composer's intended chamber sound, and cast the work with a mix of national guests and local artists. The production was performed in English and ran about 70 to 75 minutes with no intermission, features meant to invite new audiences into the opera house and to make the evening easier for families and first time attendees.

The combination of performance and market created a two way benefit for Summit County. Audiences gained a welcoming cultural event that fit into a single evening, while community makers sold work directly to theatergoers in a venue that drew both Park City residents and visitors. Local artists on stage and at the market received visibility that larger seasonal events often reserve for established vendors from outside the region.

From a public health perspective the event's shorter runtime and lack of intermission reduced time spent in clustered indoor circulation between acts, which can matter for families and older patrons who weigh exposure and comfort when choosing events. The concessions and market elements were framed as community building rather than commercial add ons, offering a chance for neighbors to meet artists and small business owners in a festive setting.

The staging also raises broader questions about cultural equity and arts policy. By centering accessibility and including local creators, Park City Opera modeled one pathway for regional arts groups to expand audience diversity and to share limited performance budgets with community partners. For Summit County residents the production offered both seasonal entertainment and a reminder that local cultural institutions can play a direct role in economic and social support for area makers and performers.