BEMIDJI — Opera has been around for centuries, and there's a good reason why it still resonates with audiences to this day.
Art enthusiast Marsh Muirhead told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show said, "Music is sometimes called poetry without words ... Even if you don't understand the words, there's so much powerful emotions involved in music, especially in opera."
Muirhead is one of the people working behind the scenes to bring baritone, Mark Billy on Thursday, Nov. 5 to the Historic Chief Theater in downtown Bemidji. Billy is a Verdi baritone, clarinetist and Native Flutist with Choctaw tribe ancestry. He'll be joined by Kiegan Ryan and Wyatt Parthun in his performance.
In addition to performing opera pieces, Billy will also perform some modern music. "C'est moi" from Camelot and "Blues" from An American in Paris are just some of the songs he'll be performing in Bemidji.
This performance is also in honor and memory of Bemidji's Abe Hunter, a musician and impresario, who sadly passed away in 2024. Hunter was a pianist who performed all sorts of different types of music but really enjoyed opera. He formed the Lead Society in the Twin Cities where he performed with opera singers in private homes.
Abe's mother, Michelle Hunter, was the one who got this event going, enlisting Muirhead to assist.
The arts community got involved in getting this program together as well. The Bemidji Area Arts Endowment provided some funding for the event. Headwaters School of Music and Arts are lending their baby grand piano and ticket outlet for the performance. Then the Watermark Arts Center helped with publicity.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. and will last about an hour. Tickets are available at the Headwaters School of Music and Arts building and at the door if tickets are still available.
Listen to the full conversation with Muirhead by clicking above.
*Editor's Note: The Bemidji Area Arts Endowment is a financial supporter of KAXE.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
