Opera Naples has announced that its Mardi Gras Masque was a major success. Per a press release, the company raked in $335,000 from the gala fundraiser to support the company’s endowment. “There are so many to thank for this success,” noted Wendy Needham, Opera Naples Board Chair in the press release. “Our gala committee worked tirelessly, and our donors and {…}
(credit: Jiyang Chen) Opera Naples has announced its casting for its final production of the 2019-20 season. The company has revealed that Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann will lead Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Don Giovanni” on April 29 and 30, 2002 at the Artis-Naples Center. In the title role, audiences will hear Xiaomeng Zhang. David Crawford will appear as Leporello with {…}
Opera Naples has announced that Sondra Quinn will be its next Executive Director. Quinn, who has previously served as Acting Executive Director with the company, has been the President/CEO of Naples Botanical Garden, President/CEO of Orlando Science Center, and Interim Executive Director of the Capital Children’s Museum in Washington, DC. She is also a member of Greater Naples Leadership and {…}
Famed opera star Greer Grimsley has been named Honorary Chair of the annual Opera Naples Gala. The announcement was made in January with the baritone set to be the Honorary Chair for the upcoming gala on Feb. 25, 2020. “It’s my pleasure to show my support of a young opera company like Opera Naples that is fast establishing a standout {…}
(Credit / Source: Jamie Barton Official Website / Paul Schirnhofer) Full disclaimer – it has been quite a while since a weekend of opera has been packed with so many incredible opportunities around the continent. To whittle it down to five was a tall order and only almost impossible. So for this addition, we will not only include our top {…}
The Opera Naples has announced its 2019-20 season featuring young rising stars, star series concerts, and three productions. The season opens with a recital starring acclaimed soprano Jennifer Rowley. Performance Date: Nov. 15, 2019 The Opera Naples Academy will give a fall Concert showcasing its young and upcoming singers. Performance Date: Nov. 21, 2019 Puccini’s “La Bohème” gets a revival with a cast {…}
Opera Naples’ Summer Youth Program is set to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” The operetta is one of the most popular in the repertoire and is a fun-filled comedy for the entire family. The operetta is set to conducted by Louis Dall’Ava of the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players and Robin Frank. “The Mikado” will star participants of {…}
Opera Naples is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” next month. The premier company in Naples will feature an international cast that will include rising star French mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez in the title role and Rafael Davila as Don José. Soprano Heather Phillips will sing Micaëla while Baritone Anatoli Sivko will portray the bullfighter Escamillo. The Naples Philharmonic will perform alongside Maestro Ramón {…}
Opera Naples is set to present a special black-tie-optional evening, including a concert and dinner featuring Joseph Calleja. An Evening with Joseph Calleja will feature the tenor in his Opera Naples debut and maestro Ramón Tebar at the piano. In a press statement, Tebar said, “I met Joseph Calleja five years ago at the Pablo Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto {…}
Opera Naples continues its season with Haydn’s rarely performed opera “L’isola Disabitata.” The opera, which takes place on a tiny deserted island, will be conducted by Ramón Tebar. He will lead a chamber orchestra with Theatre Zone’s Mark Danni as stage director and the members of Opera Naples’ 2018-19 Resident Artist program. Among the lead performers will be mezzo-soprano Megan {…}
Opera Naples has announced that Timothy Todd Simmons will be the company’s new executive director. Simmons recently served as the Executive Director at the New Orleans Opera and served as the Chorus Master/Assistant Conductor with the San Diego Opera. He is a graduate of the Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma and has two Masters Degrees: a Master of Music from Indiana {…}