OPERA
THEATRE STAFF
Executive Director ..................... Jason Goedken
Artistic Director ....................... Whitney Morse
Associate Artistic Director ............ Angel Creeks
Director of Operations Jon Cronin
Director of Business Sean Graham
Director of People, Projects & Culture ....................... Leslie Becker
Development Director .......... Yasmeen Stogden
Marketing Director ........Monica Berdecio, MA
Booking & Contracts Manager ......Sierra Weiss
Production Manager.................. Mike Giovinco
Assistant Production Manager .......... Madi Carr
Audiovisual Supervisor .................... Luke Bezio
Audiovisual Technician ................. Roel Cavazos
Desk & Facility Director
Tony Fairchild
Assoc Lighting Supervisor
Dio Raquel Jr. Production Swing ..................... Nichole Pollack
House Manager ............................... Alec Speers
Asst House Manager Tina Carroll
Lead Housekeeper Victoria Doss
Asst Mgr of Patron Services Savannah Rose Parker
Analyst, Sales & Customer Support .................... Kristin Fortuna
Marketing & Media Coordinator ..... Jessica Nix
Marketing Account Manager ........ Erika Nelson
Krissi Kugler
David Sponseller
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS BOARD
WHITNEY MORSE on
The Sharon®L. Morse
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Dear Patron of the Arts,
Welcome to The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center!
Much like the building’s namesake, my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse, we love all varieties of the performing arts here. It is in her memory that I, along with my amazing team of artists and arts administrators, strive to bring many different types of the highest quality entertainment here to The Sharon.
Since opening in 2015, we have strived to establish your trust, that a show at The Sharon is a show worth seeing. Perhaps you find yourself here today to see a concert of one of your favorite musicians, or to take in the national tour of a Broadway show. Either way, we encourage you to consider trying out a new show that perhaps you haven’t heard of before, knowing that it has been intentionally curated by our team.
We welcome you to The Sharon: a place for you to see an old favorite, but also a place to discover your new favorite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show today, and I look forward to seeing you here again soon!
See You at The Sharon,
Whitney Morse
Artistic Director
ART.
ARTISTS.
AUDIENCE.
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS (SIGPRO) is a Non-Profit arts organization that operates The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center (The Sharon) & The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol (The Studio).
OUR MISSION; SigPro cultivates a diverse collaborative community with a focus on artists' well-being that strives to provoke thought and spark conversation through high quality performing arts.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
We believe that fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace is essential for the creation of exceptional art. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our employees. This ensures every individual who contributes to our productions feels valued and empowered. We actively promote a workplace culture that embraces differences and encourages collaboration among our diverse team of artists, technicians, administrators, and volunteers.
Thank You
FOR SUPPORTING SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS
MULTI-DONORS
Mary Homko
Giuseppina (Jo) Jones
Russell Jones
Donna Taylor
Jennifer Velez
Jim Ward
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
Stan Ackerman
Marge Alder
David Burns
Marie Connolly
Jon Cronin
Sharon Curry
Fidelity Charitable
Carol Floros/Koszola
Nancy Garrison
Lynn & Kathy Glassock
Brian Grode
Roger & Karen Kass
Bob Kendi
Honey & David Kirk
Ron Kravet
Edward & Gale Labuda
Chuck & Bev Levy
Sarah Lindmeier
April & David Linscott
John McAuley
Xiomara Guevara Mendoza
Jan & Tom Miller
Marianne Niesen
Rosemary Pacenta
Patricia Schlemmer
Diann Sherwin
Donna Silver
Jan & Dave Thomas
Muriel Trulson
John Van Dyke
Liza Diana Walters
Melissa Warner
Peter Webb
Attendees at The Sharon 9th Birthday Lunch
DONATIONS IN HONOR OF Ursula Becker
Peg Fiore
Alice Stogden
Thank you to our anonymous donors.
AUG 31-MAY16
CHOOSE AT LEAST 4 SHOWS & GET 10% OFF GET ALL 9 SHOWS & GET 15% OFF
Sunday, Aug 31.................................... Labor Day Celebration Pops
Tuesday, Oct 14 .................................. American Italian Celebration
Friday, Nov 21 ................................................................... Messiah
Monday, Dec 16-17 ......................................... Holiday Celebration
Wednesday, Jan 28 ..... Rhapsody in Blue and Dvorak Symphony #8
Saturday, Feb 14 .................... American Music: Celebration of Love
Tuesday, Mar 10 .................... Mozart & Beethoven Piano Concertos
Thursday, Apr 2 ..................................... Schumann Piano Concerto
Saturday, May 16 ...... Opera Gala: Magic Moments of Opera Scenes DONATE TODAY! NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS & SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS ON SALE NOW
MESSAGE FROM THE MAESTRO
Dear friends and supporters of The Villages Philharmonic,
Tonight’s concert concludes a wonderful 2024-2025 season where we have been protagonists of a musical repertoire of extraordinary versatility from symphonic/operatic/ oratorio to pop Music. Finally with a work rationed in the smallest details we have acquired an extraordinary Steinway D for our orchestra and thanks to the support of all of you.
Tonight with great joy I share with the VPO this stage with three artists of great talent; Grammy award winner Gabriel Preisser, Raphaella Medina and in his debut with our Orchestra tenor Pedro Valdez Espinoza. Together we will interpret Magic Moments of Opera Scene an introduction to Italian Opera.
During the nineteenth century the works of authors such as Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi enjoyed great success. In general, the works of this period were influenced by national literature but also by the nascent European romanticism and by William Shakespeare consequently the plots are often based on the inner movements of the characters, not infrequently protagonists of passionate love stories and tragic actions. The most present figures are those of the tyrant and the woman in love. However, the many spectacular effects and twists are due to the French opera. The libretto usually consists of 2-3 acts.
During the nineteenth century a precise relationship was established between the role of the singer and his voice: the tenor was no longer entrusted with the antagonist parts, on the contrary, he more and more often embodied the ideal of the hero in love and extremely passionate the bass were entrusted with solemn parts, mixed airs of wisdom and morality great importance was given to the baritone, antagonist in love for the tenor (as is the soprano, its female correspondent, the mezzo-soprano) the soprano’s voice was by now inextricably associated with very delicate as well as idealized and angelic female figures, fragile but at the same time often strong in the values of modesty and chastity.
At the end of the nineteenth century and in the first decades of the twentieth century the major composers who dedicated themselves to melodrama and were important exponents of musical realism were: Pietro Mascagni, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Umberto Giordano, Francesco Cilea and above all Giacomo Puccini.
Critics have united them with the epithet of Young School and, starting with Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, some of them have followed the path of realist opera, which had particular success in the last decade of the nineteenth century.
Maestro Pasquale Valerio Founder, Director, and Chair of The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra
PASQUALE VALERIO, MAESTRO
Pasquale Valerio is an internationally acclaimed Orchestral Conductor. In 2004 he founded The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, became its musical director, and is still engaged in concerts and tours throughout Florida and worldwide. Maestro Valerio was also the founder of the Lake Sumter Chamber Orchestra as well as co-founder and conductor of the Florida Lakes Symphony from 2005 to 2006. He collaborates with various European orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra ‘900 of the Teatro Regio Opera in Turin, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague, the Virtuosi of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Virtuosi of the Philharmonic of Bacau, the “A. Scarlatti” Symphony Orchestra of Naples, Orchestra Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. In 2006 had the opportunity to assist Sir Antonio Pappano, current Music Director of the Royal Opera House in London This collaboration represented a great point of reference for maestro Valerio and indelibly marked his experience of conducting growth. From 2007 to 2009 he collaborated with the internationally known Viotti music festival in Vercelli, Italy and in May 2018 he began an ongoing cooperation with the North California Music Festival as guest conductor. Pasquale Valerio was born in Naples to a family linked to cultural traditions and founding religious values. The great passion for music was evident from the first years of his life, but, only towards the tenth year of age did he begin his musical studies, first with the piano, and subsequently, at the age of thirteen years, when he began studying trumpet. It is in this period that Pasquale met Maestro Filippo Veniero, an important musical guide for subsequent studies. He studied trumpet at the school of Maestro Francesco Lentini, Bari Conservatory, with whom he obtained the middle completion and, subsequently under the guidance of Maestro Diego Benedusi, he obtained the superior completion of trumpet.
After completing his trumpet studies, he collaborated as an instrumentalist with orchestras of major opera and symphonic institutions including the Opera House “Teatro di San Carlo in Naples “and with other major opera orchestras and symphonic institutions. Simultaneously he studied Composition and Score Reading at the School of Maestro Filippo Veniero.
The meeting with two conductors, J Withney and Gunther Smidth (United States) conditioned the musical journey and made it possible that in 1998 Pasquale resumed his studies started in Naples with F. Veniero. Also important was the meeting with the famous conductor Anton Coppola in 1999, who became Pasquale’s mentor and guide.
Pasquale is a guest collaborator at festivals and international competitions, including:
International Piano Competition “F. Schubert” in San Cristoforo Virtuosi of the Bacau Philharmonic, Romania, Viotti Music Festival, Camerata Ducale, Italy, Piano Festival of Carrara/Arezzo
Orchestra 900’ of the Teatro Regio of Turin, Oída Symphony Orchestra (Arezzo) Philharmonic Orchestra of Benevento, New Orchestra Scarlatti and Florida Philharmonia
In the academic year 2023 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Conducting Studies at the “London Performing Arts Academy” and at the end of 2023, appointed Honor Roll of “ALTAMURA MERCADANTE FEST”.
Ah Mes Amis La Figlia del reggimento
Una Furtiva Lagrima
“Elisir d’Amore”
La Donna è Mobile “Rigoletto”
Recondita Armonia “Barber of Seville”
La Calunnia “Barber of Seville”
Toreador “Carmen”
Di Provenza “La Traviata”
Largo al Factotum “Barber of Seville”
Una Voce poco fa “Barber of Seville”
Habanera “Carmen”
Nessun Dorma “Turandot”
Batti, Batti o bel Masetto “Don Giovanni”
Sinfonia Don Pasquale
Overture Così fan tutte
Libiam ne’ lieti calici “La Traviata”
O Mimi tu più non torni La Boheme
Intermezzo Cavalleria Rusticana
FEATURED ARTISTS
GABRIEL PREISSER
Grammy Award winning baritone Gabriel Preisser has been praised by Opera News for his “handsome voice, charismatic energy, and timbral allure” and The New York Times called his performance as Lt. Gordon “wonderful.” His resume includes over 40 operatic and musical theater roles including Danilo in The Merry Widow with Utah Festival Opera, Billy Bigelow in Carousel with Minnesota Orchestra, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with St Petersburg Opera, Dandini in Cenerentola with Opera Tampa, Escamillo in Carmen with Lyric Opera of the North, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Shreveport Opera, Le Mari in Les Mamelles de Tiresias with Opera Parallele, Albert in Werther with Minnesota Opera, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette with Opera Tampa and St. Petersburg Opera, Tommy in Brigadoon with Gulfshore Opera, Silvio in Pagliacci with Opera Naples, Harold Hill in The Music Man with Colorado Symphony, and Bob Baker in Wonderful Town with Skylark Opera to name a few. He has been praised for having a “matinee idol’s charm and charisma,” “a beautiful, luscious baritone,” and “a compelling, commanding stage presence.”
Mr. Preisser has made a name for himself as a versatile, cross-over performer and has especially been active in new works. He created the role of Lt. Gordon in Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night at Minnesota Opera with subsequent performances at Opera Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre. His performance as Lt. Gordon with Minnesota Opera was also broadcast nationally on PBS in 2013 and 2014. He also took on the role of Farmer Bean in Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr Fox both with Opera San Antonio and Odyssey Opera of Boston. He can be heard on the first official audio recording of Fantastic Mr Fox under the baton of Gil Rose with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project which won the Grammy Award for best new opera recording in 2020. He has also been seen as the title role in Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry, Tom Joad in Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath, Riolobo in Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas, Antonio in Hagen’s New York Stories, John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women, and the Shoe Salesman/Puppet role in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco. He recently made his Italian debut in Naples, Italy as soloist in the Mozart Requiem under the baton of Maestro Pasquale Valerio.
FEATURED ARTISTS
PEDRO VALDEZ
Pedro Valdez, tenor, hailed for his agile yet full-bodied voice, tenor Pedro Valdez is a dynamic performer who brings lyrical warmth, emotional depth, and technical brilliance to every role. He excels in the bel canto and lyric repertoire, captivating audiences with his expressive phrasing and soaring high notes.
Pedro has performed with Opera Orlando, Finger Lakes Opera, Northern Lights Music Festival, Madison Opera, and Sarasota Opera. He has portrayed iconic roles such as Rodolfo in La Bohème, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola. His most recent engagement is with Opera Orlando, where he is making his lead role debut at Steinmetz Hall in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts as Bénédict in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict.
A graduate of Texas State University (MM, 2020) and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (BM, 2018), Pedro has also trained as a studio artist with Opera Orlando and Madison Opera and covered roles such as MacDuff (Macbeth), Naraboth (Salome), and Spoletta (Tosca).
Beyond performance, Pedro is passionate about the intersection of opera, humanity, and the universe. He believes that opera is a gateway to experiencing profound emotions, a release that connects both the performer and the audience to something greater. Whether on stage or in nature, he finds inspiration in the raw beauty of human expression and the vast mystery of existence.
FEATURED ARTISTS
RAPHAELLA MEDINA
Lauded for her ability to “exquisitely set the scene” (Orlando Sentinel), Chilean-American mezzo-soprano Raphaella Medina continues to charm audiences with her “vibrant voice and ability to entrance” (The Villages Daily Sun).
This season, Medina returns to Opera Orlando’s mainstage, debuting the title role of Beatrice in Berlioz’ Beatrice and Benedict.
In the 2023/24 season, Medina made her Winter Opera St. Louis debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, covered the role of the Collector in On Site Opera’s premiere of Song of the Nightingale, and reprised her role as Diana in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna with Opera Santa Barbara.
Previous seasons saw Medina make role debuts as La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and Clarina in Rossini’s The Marriage Contract with Opera Orlando. Medina also made multiple debut appearances across Central Florida: as a soloist with the Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Ballet, and as a soloist with the UCF Symphony under the baton of Eric Jacobsen.
On the competition circuit, Medina was the Third Place winner in the 2022/23 Opera Tampa D’Angelo Competition. In past seasons, she was named a Bonnie Bell Encouragement Award winner in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, as well as a Winner of the San Francisco District and an Encouragement Award winner in the Western Region Finals of the Laffont Competition.
In addition to her work on the opera stage, Medina has been featured as a soloist in concert and recital repertoire with Florentine Opera, New Albany Symphony Orchestra, Paradise Symphony, and the Leipzig Hochschule für Musik und Theater. Medina also participated in both Joyce DiDonato’s and Marilyn Horne’s Carnegie Hall masterclass series.
Medina is managed by Encompass Arts, LLC.
ORCHESTRA ROSTER
FLUTE
Nicolas Real, Principal
Geraldine Barazarte
OBOE
Amy Collins, Principal
Vincent Artusa
CLARINET
Jadon Gibbs Principal
Dominique Keller
BASSOON
Christian Eberle, Principal
Patrick Broder
FRENCH HORN
Dann O’ Donnell, Principal
Klae Peak
TRUMPET
John De Paola, Principal
Luis Mora
TROMBONE
Andrea Rowlison, Principal
Richard Brady
Anthony Hill
HARP
Susan Brady
TYMPANI
Christopher Nolin
FIRST VIOLIN
Stewart Kitts, Concertmaster
Marius. Tabacila
José Guedez
Baoling Xu
David Daijang
Scott Knopf
Ivette Ferreira
SECOND VIOLIN
Gregory Carreño, Principal
Israel Méndez
Elizabeth Kitts
Ariel Katherine Eliot
Yasmary Marquez
Yenifer Laurens
Luisamar Navarro
VIOLA
Richard Urbano, Principal
Oana Potur
Francia Laurens
Aine Munn
Marla Morgan
CELLO
David Calhoun, Principal
Olga Beliaieva
Scott Crowley
George Alexander
DOUBLE BASS
Kevin Gallagher, Principal
Leniot Hernandez
Jonathan Ingram
VPO DONORS 2024-25 CONCERT SEASON
ORCHESTRA CIRCLE
$10,000+
Dennis & Melinda
Barker
Joseph & Marlene Borda
Dr. Robert & Karen Chaikin
Carolyn Cottrell
Margaret M. Dick
Linda Ferens
Peter & Mary Jane Moeller
Dean & Audrey Throndsen
MAESTRO CIRCLE
$5,000 – $9,999
Bonnie Carnes
Whitney Morse & Jason Goedken
Sarah Jordan
Stefano & Karen
Marcuard/Shaw
The Garden Worship Center
SYMPHONY CIRCLE
$2,500 – $4,999
David & JoAnne Kelch
Joyce Oberlander
CONCERTO CIRCLE
$1,000 – $2,499
Anonymous Donor
Dennis R. Carney
David Colvin
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeVuono
Patrick & Kim DiSalvo
Stuart & Susan Feinberg
Lois Fisch
Charlotte & John Gates
Richard & Jeanne
Geoffrion
Ralph Gingery
Jay & Lesly Ginsberg
Carol Guglielm
Diane Kupchak
Robert Lonergan
Ted & Carol Mervosh
Dr. & Mrs. Winfred Stringer
Dr. Laurie Ullery
OVERTURE CIRCLE
$500 – $999
Avrum Abramowitz
Robert Becker
Steve & Donna Bell
Charlotte Conway
David Derenzo
Barbara Dipol
William & Judith Doran
Doris Goodwin
George Guarino
Richard & Estella Hoag
Marilyn Martin
Clint & Michelle
Newman
Robert A. Phillips
Richard & Charlotte
Rahm
Henry Safford
Ken & Mary Shutts
Kathy Sumner
Yvonne Tepsick
Kirk Thompson
Paul & Jilleen Throndsen
Holly Tobin
Richard & Grace Waller
Abbott & June Webber
Andrea Ziccarelli
SUITE CIRCLE
$100 – $499
Deborah Achtenberg
Kathy Aiello
Gail Lanphere Bailey
Sara Barger
Jeff & Ursula Bergman
John Blassick
Frank & Linda Blews
Jeff & Lisa Boduch
Linda Boese
Donna Bracchi
Dora Bryan
Stephanie Calareso
Thomas & Linda Casey
Ed Christian
Danny Cibas
Dr. & Mrs. James Coe
Irene Coen
Marie Connolly
Glenda Crandall
Jill Cummings
Robert & Lorraine
Dibartolo
VPO DONORS 2024-25 CONCERT SEASON
Marjorie & Reginald
Dodrill
Caroline Doran
Arthur & Louise Elwood
Baerbel Engel
David Fancher
Robert Faucett
Greg & Mary Feichtel
Sandra Fennell
Jay & Carol Force
Mary Ann Garback
Richard & Camille Gehnrich
Dr. Robert & B. Gold
Sheldon & Shelley Goldseker
David Guinther
Richard Hall
Kent & Sarah Hamdorf
Carol Joyce Harrison
Joseph & Marcia Harvey
Mark Hawke
Christine Heaton
Joan Jamieson
Dan & Carol Johns in Honor of Ann Whipple
John & Alexsandra Kirby
Brad Koozman
James Langendorfer in Honor of Anna Whipple
Steven & Jayne Lewin
Eileen McCabe
Shirley McHugh
Nick & Donna Meister
Harold & Roberta Messenheimer
Diane Mezzanotte
Joanne Michalski
Kathleen Miller
Ted Miller
John & Jeanne Nickelson
Bob & Georgann Ozbolt
Robert Perkinson
Kathi Renman
Jeremy & Barbara
Reynolds
Edmund Ricci
Michele Santoro
Norman Lee & Terri
Schaffer
Arthur Sindoris
Erik St Pierre
Jeffrey Stierlen
Ronald Streib
Tony & Joanne Sutylo
Nancy Tuccillo
John Van Dyke
Antonio Velardi
Theresa R. White
Mike Whitfield & Darlene Pruett
Ellen Wilcox Carole
Williamson
Jerry & Judy Wise
Mary Yankowski
Stuart & Barbara Yowell in Honor of Anna Whipple
Robert & Anna Deeter
Diane Duffett
Thomas Galen
Calasha Gish
Melody Highman
Phineas & Ilene Hyams
David Kizale
Margaret Mecheski
Gary Perlick
Janice Porter
Robert & Charlene Soos
Dale Stier
Robert & Glenda Supino
Murial Trulson
Joy Turpie
John Voorhes
Lukas West
Anna Whipple
Bonnie Williams
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
Bill Barnes: Susan Escobedo
Fred Boyd: Frank & Janet Argenziano
Fred Boyd: Mr. & Mrs. Manning
Fred Boyd: Don & Janet Schiegel
Carolyn Johnson: Richard Johnson
ARIA CIRCLE
Up to $99
Robert Burns
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Blackston Financial Advisory Group
FMK Restaurant Group
Francesco’s Ristorante
Fross & Fross Wealth Management
Havana Country Club & Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez Country Club by Suleiman Family Restaurants
Royal Décor Company
PRIVATE BOX experience
ENJOY YOUR NEXT SHOW AT THE SHARON LIKE A VIP!
• Exclusive experience for up to 15 guests.
• Private lounge for the evening, including homelike furnishings, restroom, and direct access to the auditorium box for comfortable viewing of your show.
• Upgrades available such as a private bartender or personalized celebratory furnishings.
To explore accommodations and availability, please contact Yasmeen@SignificantProductions.org
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows at The Sharon? Want to share footprints with some of the world’s biggest stars? Back by overwhelming demand... The Sharon: Behind the Curtain Tour! Visit SignificantProductions.org/Tour for more information. Private tours are available at request. Email: Info@SignificantProductions.org
Your FREE sneak peek at The Sharon’s 25/26 Season! MAY 14, 2025 • 2pm Reserve your spot today!
The Villages® Community Sarasota Plaza | 352-775-1772 312 Heald
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Membership Program Available
*Introductory offers valid for first-time visit only and not valid towards gift cards. Sessions include time for consultation and dressing. Limited time offer. Rates and services may vary by location. Independently Owned & Operated. ©2024 Hand & Stone Corp. Franchises Available. MM39256/ CE10017237, MM43233/CE10034642
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For information on prices, ad sizes, and availability, please email us at marketing@significantproductions.org.
