By SHARIE PYKE

For The Outpost

Opera is grand. Opera is dramatic. It’s a treat for the eyes and ears.

And it’s also fun. Rimrock Opera presents its first One Act Festival at the Babcock Theater and the Yellowstone Country Club this Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19. The troupe will perform two one-act operas each night.

Traditional operas are three-hour musical extravaganzas, replete with vocal fireworks, a full orchestra, fabulous costumes, and elaborate sets. One-act operas last for about 30 minutes and were originally written for a salon setting. The 18th century audience could enjoy a half hour of music, then stroll around, socialize, and see and be seen.

These more intimate productions staged by patrons of the art featured their protégées, earning the virtuosos both recognition and money. The vocal playlets were often part of a trittico, or triptych, three stand-alone musical works of art.

The Rimrock Opera Festival introduces opera to the public in smaller segments. “It also allows me to give my local singers a chance to have a solo role and it also gives college students a solo on their resume,” said Doug Nagel, the group’s general director. All together, the four short opuses provide solos for 29 vocalists.

Mr. Nagel is pleased to stage the one-act operas in the Babcock Theater.

“It was the original opera house in Billings and Kim Olsen made the rent affordable,” he said. “The Babcock is also the right size for opera.

“Opera is the last singing genre that is unamplified,” Mr. Nagel continued. “People forget that, when they hear that big sound, it’s coming from the natural voice.”

For the one-act festival, all lyrics are in English, which makes it more enjoyable for the average listener. There are no expensive sets.

The unfolding story depends on costumes, a few props, and the acting abilities of the cast. Sandi Rabas, music director, accompanies on the piano. The troupe “opened out of town” in Powell and Sheridan, Wyo., on Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, and will play in Billings this weekend.

The two productions are balanced, with an opera buffa and an opera tragica each night. Buffa is the Italian word for comedy, from which comes the English word buffoon, or clown. Tragica is an obvious cognate: tragic.

Mozart’s comic opera, “The Impresario” opens the festival at the Babcock on Saturday night. “Opera?” says the Impresario, the title character, “A ridiculous Italian disease!”

The Impresario is planning to retire to his ranch in Absarokee. Comedy - verbal, visual and vocal - ensues.

“Sister Angelica,” a tragedy by Puccini, tells the story of a noblewoman who has been banished to a nunnery after the birth of her love child. Upon hearing of her son’s death, she commits suicide. A surprise ending rounds out the drama.

At Yellowstone Country Club on Sunday afternoon, enjoy “Riders to the Sea,” a tragedy by the American composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams. An Irish woman living in the Aran Isles watches as the sea claims her men folk one by one.

“Gianni Schicchi,” Puccini’s comedy about family greed around the death of a wealthy relative, with accompanying hijinks, finishes the weekend of great music.

For the One Act Festival, dress is casual. The audience is encouraged to clap and shout out bravo or brava, which is Italian for good, clever, brave and well done. Soloists often receive bouquets from friends and admirers at the end of their performance.

The most important reminder for all opera goers: be on time, at least 15 minutes before the start of the opera. The curtain goes up at the Babcock at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. At Yellowstone Country Club on Sunday afternoon, it’s 2 p.m.

As an extra on Sunday afternoon, hors d’oeuvres will be served. The menu includes spinach and brie-stuffed mushroom cups, prosciutto-wrapped, grilled asparagus, bacon-wrapped scallops and assorted bruschetta, as well as selected wine and a no-host bar.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Saturday performance  at the Babcock are $10. The Sunday operas at the Yellowstone Country Club begin at 2 p.m. with a ticket price of $25, reflecting the addition of wine and hors d’oeuvres.