Nashville Opera and Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory are teaming up tonight for Opera on the Mountain, an outdoor evening of live music set against the backdrop of the observatory's hilltop grounds in Brentwood. Guests are invited to pack a picnic, pour a glass of something nice, and spread out a blanket for a show that mixes opera with other musical styles under the open sky.
According to Nashville Opera, the event unfolds Friday, November 6, at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, with the two organizations presenting the show in partnership. Tickets start at $30, and the evening promises “live performances from a mix of artists and musical genres under the stars,” per the opera company's own description. As Nashville Lifestyles notes, the observatory sits at 1000 Oman Drive in Brentwood, Tennessee.
What to Expect on the Mountain
Seating varies depending on ticket type. Guests on the lawn are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets, while reserved seating is set aside for those holding Lower Patio, Patron, and VIP tickets, Nashville Opera says. VIP ticket holders also get a head start on the evening, with early access to the mountain beginning at 4:00 p.m.
The night carries extra significance for the observatory itself. Opera on the Mountain is counted among the first events held at the venue following its recent renovations, according to the same Nashville Opera listing. The Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory's own event page confirms the show is a ticketed event, a detail that lines up with the opera company's guidance for attendees planning their evening.
A Tradition With a Rocky Weather History
Opera on the Mountain has built a reputation as a recurring highlight on Nashville's arts calendar, typically staged twice a year. A report from NFocus on a previous staging of the event described it as a traditionally biannual gathering, noting that an earlier edition had been canceled in early summer due to inclement weather. That same report, which did not specify which year's event it covered, recounted an evening that featured performances by soprano Claire Paschal, mezzo-soprano Sarah Antell, and baritenor Steven McCoy. The magazine noted that past installments have closed with a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Climb Ev'ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music.
Whether this particular edition follows that same closing tradition isn't detailed in the available event materials, but the pairing of opera voices with the observatory's open-air setting has clearly become something of a signature for the two organizations. For now, Brentwood residents and visitors looking for a night of music beneath the stars have their picnic blankets ready.
