(Credit: Lewis Valdes) To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the world premiere of Puccini’s “Turandot,” the Florida Grand Opera revived the iconic work for the first time since 2010. For the occasion, the company’s CEO Maria Todaro took the stage to give the audience a brief intro to the evening and its significance for the community, while also previewing what {…}
The Florida Grand Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. The season opens with Donizetti’s bel canto masterwork “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Performance Dates: Nov. 14-17, 2026 Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will be the second production of the season. Performance Dates: Jan. 30–Feb. 2, 2027 Verdi’s “Nabucco” will conclude the season. Performance Dates: April 17-20, 2027 In honor of Florida Grand Opera’s 85th {…}
Florida Grand Opera has announced the second weekend of concerts as part of its “SongFest” series with “Lovesongs: A Musical Romance.” The free concerts, set for Feb. 13, 2026, in Miami and Feb. 15, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, will feature FGO Studio Artists Catherin Meza, Ingrid Kuribayashi, James Mancuso, Levi Adkins, Alex Granito, Joseph O’Shea, and William Dopp, alongside CANTO Artists {…}
In 2014, Florida Grand Opera accumulated a $19.4 million deficit. The company was in chaos, warning that the cancelation of its 2015-16 season in Broward County could be imminent if the organization was unable to secure $400,000. The future of the organization, which was founded in 1941, was uncertain and insecure. Fortunately an anonymous donor pitched in to erase the {…}
Florida Grand Opera (FGO) opened its 85th season with a heartfelt reminder that opera can be community-driven, emotional, musically accessible, and relevant to the present moment. The atrium was pleasantly crowded before the opening performance of “Silent Night” by Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell; a wide spectrum of glamorous attendees sipped drinks from the bar and watched singers from {…}
Florida Grand Opera has announced the artists selected for its 2025–26 Studio and CANTO Programs, who will appear in the company’s “SongFest” concerts on Nov. 21 in Miami and Nov. 23 in Fort Lauderdale. The FGO Studio roster will feature sopranos Catherin Meza and Ingrid Kuribayashi; tenors Levi Adkins and James Mancuso; baritones Alex Granito and Joseph O’Shea; and bass-baritone {…}
Florida Grand Opera has renewed the contract of Assistant Conductor Felix Jarrar for the 2025-26 season. He will be working on productions of “Silent Night,” “Die Fledermaus,” and “Turandot,” in addition to taking on roles as vocal coach and orchestra administration. “I would like to give a huge thanks to Florida Grand Opera Studio Manager Dr. Jared Peroune for being {…}
Florida Grand Opera has announced two new members to its Board of Directors. The new members include Fidelma Fariña-Cobas and John Keeler. Fariña-Cobas is an independent wealth executive who has worked with PNC Private Bank Hawthorn. “We are honored to welcome Fidelma to our board,” said Maria Todaro, General Director and CEO of Florida Grand Opera, per an official press {…}
Florida Grand Opera has named Pablo Mielgo as its new Music Director. Mielgo, who has worked with such conducting legends as Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Barenboim, James Conlon, and Claudio Abbado, will join recently appointed General Director & CEO Maria Todaro in pushing the company into a new direction. During his tenure, he, in collaboration with Todaro, will lead the {…}
(Photo credit: Lewis Valdes) Florida Grand Opera’s 2024-25 season finale featuring Bizet’s “Carmen” served as a capstone for General Director Maria Todaro’s inaugural year with the company. Thoughtfully crafted to resonate with a diverse audience, the production honored traditional operatic sentiments while embracing contemporary themes of women’s rights and political discourse, and it celebrated the region’s diverse cultural ties. Notably, {…}
“Opera Meets Reggae 2.0: Hit Me With Music,” will take place as part of the Florida Grand Opera’s Innovation Hub. Following the success of last year’s concert,”Hit Me With Music” continues to explore the surprising commonalities between opera and reggae, blending powerful storytelling, rich vocal traditions, and infectious rhythms into an unforgettable night of music. Sopranos Sydney Dardis and Mary Burke {…}