(Credit: Matthew Holler) Richard Russell has been appointed General Director of Sarasota Opera through the 2025-2026 season. “We are delighted that Mr. Russell will continue in his leadership role, for the next five years, as we face the challenges of the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery and our return to full-capacity programming,” said Syble Digirolamo, the President of the Sarasota Opera Board {…}
Sarasota Opera has announced that Stephen Baker will take over as Director of Marketing. Baker’s career includes a stint as Director of Marketing and Audience Development for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as well as Associate Marketing Director of Carnegie Hall. He also worked with the Minnesota Orchestra as Vice President of Marketing and Audience Services and was Associate {…}
Sarasota Opera has released the full list of artists participating in “Sarasota Opera: A Celebration,” a virtual celebration of the Sarasota Opera community set to take place on April 23, 2021. The performance will feature soprano Michelle Johnson and tenor Matthew Vickers as well as mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez, bass-baritone Stefano De Peppo, and the Sarasota Opera Strong Quartet. Johnson performed {…}
Sarasota Opera has announced “Sarasota Opera: A Celebration!” a broadcast event that includes a retrospective saluting the overwhelming support the company has received during its 62nd season of bringing world-class productions to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Executive Director Richard Russell and Artistic Director Victor DeRienzi, along with special guests and artists, will fete the many musical achievements made possible through strong {…}
On February 12, 2021, Sarasota Opera opened its 2021 Winter Opera Festival with a fully-staged production of Rossini’s “The Happy Deception.” Performing to an audience of 25 percent capacity, the production marked a successful opening to their 62nd season amid the ongoing pandemic. While the company’s season was originally comprised of larger works that audiences adore, the success of SO’s {…}
Florida-based Sarasota Opera is inviting opera lovers from around the world to be part of a special 30-year tradition. On Jan. 26, 2021, the company will be doing a Zoom showcase in which all participants will join conductor Victor DeRenzi in a performance of “Va, pensiero” from “Nabucco.” The event starts at 8:30 p.m. with the performance starting at 8:50 {…}
Sarasota Opera has announced casting for its 2021 festival. “L’Inganno Felice” will feature soprano Hanna Brammer as Isabella and bass-baritone Alexander Charles Boyd as Tarabotto. Tenor Christopher Bozeka will make his company debut as Bertrando with bass Joshua DeVane as Ormondo. Joseph Beutel rounds out the cast, which will be conducted by Victor DeRenzi and directed by Martha Collins. “La {…}
Sarasota Opera in Florida has announced major changes for its 2021 Winter Opera Festival. The company revealed that it will present two live operas in February and March as well as a second two-opera season in April. “We are both optimistic and committed to adapting our art to the challenges of today’s world,” Executive Director Richard Russell stated in a {…}
It is going to be a fun opera week with a lot of unique viewing experiences for opera lovers around the world. There are modern operas. There are concerts with famed arias. There’s a mystery story. There’s a battle between two queens. There’s some Schubert songs. And a Rossini mass. And of course, there is a high-profile company premiere of {…}
Sarasota Opera has added a performance to its fall season. The organization has added an additional outing of “Live from the Sarasota Opera House” on Nov. 15, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. The concert will feature music by Verdi, Rossini, Wagner, Puccini, and Mozart with such artists as sopranos Hanna Brammer, Anna Mandina, and Caitlin Crabill, tenors Andrew Surrena and Samuel {…}
Marco Nisticò has been named Artistic Administrator for Sarasota Opera, effective Dec. 1, 2020. Nisticò will take over for Greg Trupiano who recently passed away; Trupiano worked with the company since 1987. Nisticò started off his career as a baritone and appeared with such companies as Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, the Caramoor Festival, and Chautauqua Opera Festival in {…}