Joseph Calleja & María José Montiel Lead Opera Naples’ 2018-19 Season

By Francisco Salazar

Opera Naples has announced its upcoming 2018-2019 season, featuring an exciting combination of operas, solo performances, chamber music and special events. The season will mark the fifth season with internationally acclaimed Conductor and Artistic Director, Ramón Tebar.

“I’m so excited to present a wonderful and varied season for the Southwest Florida community that encompasses many different styles, genres, and events including opera, concerts, chamber music, master classes… all featuring renowned international artists,” commented Tebar. “As Opera Naples’ audience continues to grow, we’ve scheduled additional performance dates for our major operas this season. I am sure that you will be amazed!”

The season opens with Opera Naples Academy Concert. The concert will follow a 10-day intensive for exceptional opera singers from around the world, which offers the Naples community a rare glimpse of the opera stars of the future.

Performance Dates: Nov. 7, 2018

The season continues with an Opera Stars Concert starring Spanish mezzo-soprano María José Montiel and artistic director Ramón Tebar at the piano. The recital will feature French, Spanish and Brazilian songs, as well as beloved operatic arias.

Performance Dates: Nov. 16, 2018

Before its first production of the season, Opera Naples will give an “A Toast to Opera – Two Aidas.” The Toast to Opera event will include a lively presentation by both Tom Cimarusti, Florida Gulf Coast University Associate Professor of Musicology, and Theatre Zone’s Artistic Director Mark Danni and will discuss both Verd’s classic work and Elton John/Tim Rice’s version of the work. A wine and cheese reception will follow the lecture.

Performance Dates: Nov. 29, 2018

The company will celebrate the holiday season with a production of Verdi’s “Aida. Ramon Tebar conducts the production with a cast to be announced.

Performance Dates: Dec. 19 & 21, 2018

The second Opera Stars Concert will feature soprano Nicole Heaston with Ramón Tebar accompanying on piano. The program will be announced at a later time.

Performance Dates: Jan. 11, 2019

The Maxwell Quartet will participate in the Beaux Arts Chamber Music Series making its U.S. debut. The quartet will be joined by artistic directors Catherine Lan and Tao Lin in music for piano and string quartet.

Performance Dates: Jan. 22, 2019

The company will present a second A Toast to Opera – L’Isola Disabitata. The lecture will discover the fascinating background and highlights of Haydn’s hidden gem comedic opera with Florida Gulf Coast University Associate Professor of Musicology, Tom Cimarusti, followed by a wine and cheese reception.

Performance Dates: January 29, 2019

The second production of the season will be Haydn’s little-performed “L’isola disabitata.” The work is being performed with a fully staged production with a cast set to be announced later this year.

Performance Dates: February 21 and 23, 2019

The Aspen String Trio will be featured in Beaux Arts Chamber Music Series performing some of the greatest trios in the repertoire.

Performance Dates: March 6, 2019

The third and final Opera Stars Concert will feature Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and Ramón Tebar at the piano.

Performance Dates: March 21, 2019

The third A Toast to Opera will highlight “Carmen” in an open discussion with Florida Gulf Coast University Associate Professor of Musicology, Tom Cimarusti followed by a wine and cheese reception.

Performance Dates: March 29, 2019

In the spring the Opera Naples Academy will give yet another concert featuring some of today’s rising stars and some of the future of opera.

Performance Dates: April 9, 2019

Violist Roberto Díaz will be featured in Beaux Arts Chamber Music Series in a recital.

Performance Dates: April 11, 2019

The season closes with the ever-popular “Carmen.” Bizet’s work will be lead by Tebar in the pit and the Naples Philharmonic. The opera will be presented twice with a cast still to be announced.

Performance Dates: April 24 and 25, 2019

Categories

News