Following Hurricane Milton, Opera Naples’s executive director has released a statement. Executive director Melanie Kalnins said, “It is our sincere hope that you are safe and managing the impact of Hurricane Milton. I am also writing to provide an update regarding the Wang Opera Center (WOC) following the storm. We are grateful that the WOC managed the storm well. While {…}
Opera Naples has announced the appointment of Melanie Kalnins as Executive Director, Development and Communications, effective August 15, 2024. Over the past years, Kalnins provided marketing and publicity consulting services for the company including the 2023-24 season. Per the company, Kalnins helped make the fourth annual Festival Under the Stars the “most successful to date.” In her new role with {…}
Opera Naples has announced its 2024-25 season. The season will include EUROFEST 2024 with coloratura soprano Maria Aleida Rodriguez and accomplished tenor Eduardo Salles. Performance Date: August 26, 2024 An Eveneing in Paris Gala will feature chairs Jan and Kim Kantor, Opera Naples Committee and Board members and other supporters and fellow opera enthusiasts as we celebrate and support Opera {…}
Opera Naples is set to present “EuroFest 2024” on August 26, 2024. The event will feature live performances starring soprano Maria Aleida Rodriguez and tenor Eduardo Salles alongside Robin Shuford Frank, director of education and community outreach. Rodriguez, a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts, has toured with Andrea Bocelli. Meanwhile, Salles has performed with the Institute Superior de {…}
Opera Naples announced that it has received a $30,000 community leadership grant from the Collier Community Foundation. The one-time unrestricted gift was given due to recent state funding cuts which effected Opera Naples. Following the challenges of recent years, including impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and significant damage to the Wang Opera Center from Hurricane Ian, this grant helps Opera {…}
(Photo credit: Ivan Seligman) Opera Naples Youth Summer program is set to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.” The two-week summer music enrichment program makes performance arts accessible to young students, providing them with invaluable skills that extend far beyond the stage. Participants build on vocal and theatrical skills in a demanding but supportive environment. In addition to rehearsing the {…}
Opera Naples has announced a cast change for its production of “Madama Butterfly.” The company has announced that Elizabeth Caballero will sing the title role replacing Jennifer Rowley who was originally scheduled. Caballero is a soprano who has performed the role at the Inland Northwest Opera, at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, Pensacola Opera, Staatsoper Berlin, and Lyric Opera of Kansas Opera. {…}
Opera Naples is set to present renowned soprano and Naples resident Jeanette Donatti. The soprano will perform traditional opera favorites in a program that will also showcase the young stars of the Opera Naples Resident Artists. The singers will include Julia Maria Johnson, Kim Stanish, Aaron McKone, and Matthew Cossack. Ramón Tebar will perform on the piano. Also at the {…}
Opera Naples is set to present “Zarzuela and Flamenco.” Ramón Tebar will perform on piano with Alma Tacon as part of the Flamenco Ensemble, soprano Laura De Mare, and Ray Gonzalez. The concert will celebrate the tradition of Spanish music and dance, with the “heart-pounding rhythms, passionate dance moves, and costumes of Flamenco!” The concert will feature arias and duets of Zarzuela and {…}
Opera Naples has announced #30DaysofOpera. The showcase features free performances, in-school programming, educational workshops, and a fully staged production of “Iolanthe” on Feb. 3, 2024. “Our Resident Artists Program allows us to bring music directly into our local elementary schools and after-school programs, with music enrichment that addresses head on the growing bullying crisis in our schools,” said Robin Shuford {…}
Opera Naples is set to present a concert with Andrea Bocelli on Feb. 5, 2024. The private event will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and an intimate concert performance by Bocelli. This exclusive event will be limited to around 100 people. The event, which is generally by invitation only, is being offered to the company’s supporters. Bocelli {…}