The 2019 Winter Opera Festival

Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director Richard Russell, Executive Director

The Diamond Anniversary Season puccini’s

Turandot mozart’s

The Magic Flute All operas performed in the original language with English translations displayed above the stage.

Verdi’s

Nabucco Donizetti’s

rita & wolf-ferrari’s susanna’s Secret

don’t delay!

reserve your tickets today at

(941) 328-1300 sarasotaopera.org

We create a community to perform opera EVERY YEAR SINGERS, INSTRUMENTALISTS, MUSIC STAFF, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, STAGE CREW, AND OTHERS COME TOGETHER TO BRING YOU THE BEST PERFORMANCES POSSIBLE. This is what makes the Sarasota Opera experience unique. The careful artist selection, the sets built by dedicated craftsmen, the detailed stitching of costumes, the meticulous music and stage rehearsals, and the commitment to impassioned performances.

all you have to do is sit back and enjoy!

Puccini’s Turandot

table of contents WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

Turandot....................................... 4 The Magic Flute.............................. 6 Nabucco....................................... 8 Rita/Susanna’s Secret....................10 Performances & Talks.......................12 Special Events.................................14 Visit Sarasota Opera........................15 Donate...........................................16 Buy Your Tickets / Accessibility..........18 Parking / Connect............................19

First time at the Opera?

Dress comfortably and be yourself—we want everyone to feel at home in our theater. Appropriate dress can be anything from jeans and khakis to gowns and tuxedos.

Real-time English translations are projected above the stage so you can follow along even if the opera is in a language you do not speak. We’ll give you a program book with cast and staff information, as well as synopsis and background information for all operas. For suggested reading, recordings, and other information, go to SARASOTAOPERA.ORG. Applaud when the performance moves you. Don’t be shy!

Allow extra time for travel and parking. If you are late, you can watch and listen to a live stream of the performance in our second floor lounge. You will be seated in the theater at the first opportunity. Food and drinks are available before the performance and during intermissions at concessions throughout the Opera House and courtyard.

GIACOMO PUCCINi sat

feb 9

Opening night

Tue

Feb 12

7:30 PM

thu

feb 14

7:30 PM

sun

feb 17

1:30 PM

wed

feb 20

7:30 PM

sat

feb 23

7:30 PM

thu

feb 28

7:30 PM

sun

mar 3

1:30 PM

fri

mar 8

7:30 PM

fri

mar 15

7:30 PM

sun

mar 17

7:30 PM

wed

mar 20

1:30 PM

fri

mar 22

7:30 PM

CONDUCTOR STAGE DIRECTOR SCENIC DESIGNER

7:00 PM

Stephanie Sundine Michael Schweikardt Howard Tsvi Kaplan

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Ken Yunker

CHORUS MASTER TURANDOT CALAF

Anna Mandina

Brittany Rappise Roger L. Bingaman Young Bok Kim

Kara Shay Thomson Jonathan Burton

LIÙ

Anna Mandina

TIMUR

Young Bok Kim

PING

Jonathan Burton

Victor DeRenzi

COSTUME DESIGNER HAIR & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

Kara Shay Thomson

Filippo Fontana

Turandot Production Sponsor: Bud and Betty Shapiro in honor of the 60th Anniversary Season

4 | sarasotaopera.org | (941) 328-1300

Filippo Fontana

Find Sarasota Opera on Spotify for suggested recordings of Puccini’s Turandot.

In exile, Prince Calaf wanders outside the Chinese Imperial Palace, where any man seeking the love of Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If they succeed, the reward will be the princess’ hand—if they fail, execution.

After a glimpse of Turandot’s fabled beauty, Calaf declares his intention of meeting the challenge and winning the Princess’ heart.

Media Sponsors:

Photos by Rod Millington (2013)

W.A. MOZART sat

feb 16

7:30 PM

Tue

Feb 19

7:30 PM

thu

feb 21

7:30 PM

sun

feb 24

1:30 PM

wed

feb 27

7:30 PM

fri

mar 1

7:30 PM

sat

mar 16

1:30 PM

thu

mar 21

7:30 PM

sat

mar 23

7:30 PM

CONDUCTOR

Jesse Martins

STAGE DIRECTOR

Mark Freiman

SCENIC DESIGNER

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Ken Yunker

CHORUS MASTER

Roger L. Bingaman andrew surrena

PAMINA

Hanna Brammer

PAPAGENO THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

Matthew Hanscom

Brittany Rappise

TAMINO PAMINA (MARCH 1 PERFORMANCE)

Hanna Brammer

Troy Hourie

COSTUME DESIGNER HAIR & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

Andrew Surrena

Alexandra Batsios

Adelaide Boedecker Matthew Hanscom alexandra batsios

SARASTRO

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Brian Kontes

Brian Kontes

Find Sarasota Opera on Spotify for suggested recordings of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

The Magic Flute tells the story of Tamino’s heroic quest. After being rescued by the Queen of the Night’s three ladies, Tamino is visited by the Queen herself, who asks him for help saving her daughter from Sarastro’s evil hand. With the gift of a magic flute and the help of a new friend, the bird catcher Papageno, Tamino will find out that hero and villain aren’t always who they may seem.

Media Sponsors:

Photos by Rod Millington (2010)

GIUSEPPE VERDI

sat

mar 2

7:30 PM

Tue

mar 5

7:30 PM

thu

mar 7*

7:30 PM

sun

mar 10

1:30 PM

wed

mar 13

7:30 PM

sat

mar 16

7:30 PM

tue

mar 19

7:30 PM

sun

mar 24

1:30 PM

CONDUCTOR

Victor DeRenzi

STAGE DIRECTOR

Martha Collins

SCENIC DESIGNER

Jeffrey W. Dean

COSTUME COORDINATOR

Rochelle Bard

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

LIGHTING DESIGNER HAIR & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

Stephen Gaertner

Ken Yunker Brittany Rappise

CHORUS MASTER

Roger L. Bingaman

NABUCCO

stephen gaertner

ABIGAILLE

rochelle bard

FENENA

lisa chavez

ISMAELE

ben gulley

* Sarasota Youth Opera Performance Sarasota Youth Opera singers will present selections of music by Verdi in the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard before this performance.

8 | sarasotaopera.org | (941) 328-1300

Lisa Chavez

Ben Gulley

Find Sarasota Opera on Spotify for suggested recordings of Verdi’s Nabucco.

Nabucco, king of Babylon, conquers the Hebrews, destroying their temple and taking them into captivity. Meanwhile, his rebellious daughter Abigaille plots to take power and gain the affection of her sister Fenena’s lover, Ismaele.

Learning of the coup, Nabucco seizes the crown and declares himself god, but he is struck mad by a thunderbolt. Will he regain his reason, repent, and return the Jews to their homeland?

Come early and enjoy a pre-show introduction hosted by a member of the Sarasota Opera music staff 45 minutes before this opera. FREE with your opera ticket. Felding Hall (in the back of the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard).

Media Sponsors:

Photos by Paul Jeremias (1995)

a comic double bill These two rare one-act comedies by Donizetti and Wolf-Ferrari will make for a delightful evening at the opera. sat

mar 9

7:30 PM

Tue

mar 12*

7:30 PM

thu

mar 14

7:30 PM

sun

mar 17

1:30 PM

wed

mar 20

7:30 PM

sat

mar 23

1:30 PM

CONDUCTOR

Marcello Cormio

STAGE DIRECTOR SCENIC DESIGNER

JJ Hudson Michael Schweikardt

COSTUME DESIGNER

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Ken Yunker

HAIR & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

RITA

Brittany Rappise

Elizabeth Tredent

(Two Men and a Woman)

RITA

Elizabeth Tredent

PEPÉ

William Davenport

GASPAR

Marcello Cormio

Marco Nisticò

William Davenport

Susanna’s Secret SUSANNA

Elizabeth Tredent

COUNT GIL

Marco Nisticò

SANTE

William Davenport

* Sarasota Youth Opera Performance Sarasota Youth Opera singers will present selections of music by Verdi in the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard before this performance.

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Marco Nisticò

Find Sarasota Opera on Spotify for suggested recordings of Donizetti’s Rita and Wolf-Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret.

(Two Men and a woman) GAETANO DONIZETTI

Rita and her husband own an inn. Pepé, a sweet and timid man, is terrified of his tyrannical wife. When Gaspar, Rita’s first husband whom she believed drowned, appears, he turns Rita and Pepé’s lives upside down.

ERMANNO WOLF-FERRARI

Continuing our Beyond Verdi series: Susanna has a secret she isn’t telling. Her husband, Count Gil, smelling tobacco on his wife’s clothes, is convinced that she is having an affair. He searches and searches, but can’t seem to catch her in the act. What could her secret be?

Come early and enjoy a pre-show introduction hosted by a member of the Sarasota Opera music staff 45 minutes before this opera. FREE with your opera ticket. Felding Hall (in the back of the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard).

Media Sponsors:

Puccini’s Turandot

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

february 4

5

6

FRIDAY 1

7

8

11

12 13 14 15 TURANDOT Learn “Va TURANDOT 7:30 pm pensiero” and 7:30 pm Backstage Tour 5 pm 18 19 20 21 22 Opera House Artists TURANDOT the magic Tour Roundtable 7:30 pm flute 10:30 AM 5:00 pm 7:30 pm the magic flute 7:30 pm 25 26 27 28 Opera House Artists the magic Tour Roundtable flute 10:30 AM 5:00 pm 7:30 pm

SATURDAY 2

SUNDAY 3

The Opera Gala The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 6:30 pm 9 10 OPENING NIGHT TURANDOT 7 pm 16 17 the magic TURANDOT flute 1:30 pm 7:30 pm 23 24 TURANDOT the magic 7:30 pm flute 1:30 pm

Artists Roundtable 5:00 pm

TURANDOT 7:30 pm 1 2 3 the magic nabucco TURANDOT flute 7:30 pm 1:30 pm 7:30 pm 6 7 8 9 10 Youth Opera Concert at Performance: nabucco Performance Noon Sarasota 1:30 pm 6:30 pm 12:00 pm Farmers Market 11 am nabucco TURANDOT 7:30 pm 7:30 pm rita/ susanna’s secret 7:30 pm 13 14 15 16 17 nabucco Orchestra Concert at the magic rita/ 7:30 pm Soloists: Verdi Noon flute susanna’s Transcriptions 12:00 pm 1:30 pm secret 12:00 pm 1:30 pm TURANDOT nabucco rita/ 7:30 pm 7:30 pm susanna’s TURANDOT secret 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

march 4

Opera House Tour 10:30 AM

5

Artists Roundtable 5:00 pm nabucco 7:30 pm

11 12 Opera House Tour 10:30 AM

Artists Roundtable 5:00 pm Youth Opera Performance 6:30 pm

rita/ susanna’s secret 7:30 pm

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Opera House nabucco TURANDOT Salute the Stars Concert at rita/ nabucco Tour 7:30 pm 1:30 pm Awards Luncheon Noon susanna’s 1:30 pm 10:30 AM 11:30 am 12:00 pm secret rita/ 1:30 pm susanna’s the magic TURANDOT secret flute 7:30 pm the magic 7:30 pm 7:30 pm flute 7:30 pm

(941) 328-1300 | sarasotaopera.org | 13

Media Sponsor:

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MONDAY 11

OPERA HOUSE TOUR 10:30 AM

TUESDAY 12

ARTISTS ROUNDTABLE 5:00 PM

WEDNESDAY 13

nabucco 7:30 PM

rita/ susanna’s secret 7:30 PM 18

OPERA HOUSE TOUR 10:30 AM

19

nabucco 7:30 PM

THURSDASY 14

ORCHESTRA SOLOISTS: VERDI TRANSCRIPTIONS 12:00 PM rita/ susanna’s secret 7:30 PM

20 TURANDOT 1:30 PM rita/ susanna’s secret 7:30 PM

21 the magic flute 7:30 PM

FRIDAY 15

SATURDAY

CONCERT AT NOON 12:00 PM

16 the magic flute 1:30 PM

TURANDOT 7:30 PM

nabucco 7:30 PM

22

CONCERT AT NOON 12:00 PM

TURANDOT 7:30 PM

23

rita/ susanna’s secret 1:30 PM the magic flute 7:30 PM

SUNDAY 17

rita/ susanna’s secret 1:30 PM

TURANDOT 7:30 PM

24

nabucco 1:30 PM

Chris Butcher & Audrey Robbins

Irene & Sumner Bagby

Jack & Anna McClure

DONOR

SPONSOR

SUSTAINER

PATRON

ASSOCIATE

REGENT

AMBASSADOR

BENEFACTOR

COPRODUCER

SEASON PRODUCER

donor levels

$75

$150

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$1,250

$2,000

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$30,000+

Apprentice Concert

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Opera Club Membership Discount*

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Two Dress Rehearsals

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Season Announcement and Reception with Artists

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Private Dinner Onstage

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benefits

Star Lapel Pin Coffee & Lecture One Dress Rehearsal Q&A Lecture with Maestro DeRenzi

Three Dress Rehearsals Photo in Winter Program Book

Dinner Party with Artists

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* Should you take advantage of the Opera Club discount, an additional $250 of your donation would not be deductible.

(941) 328-1300 | sarasotaopera.org | 17

THE WILLIAM E. SCHMIDT OPERA THEATRE

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BOX OFFICE HOURS

Jan 2–26, 2019 Mon–Sat, 10–5 Jan 28–March 24, 2019 Daily, 10–5 Mar 25–Apr 30, 2019 Mon–Fri, 10–5

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For most Sarasota Opera performances the Palm Avenue and State Street garages charge a cash-only $5 pay-on-entry fee. Otherwise, the first three hours are free. After that there is a $3 charge and $1 for each additional hour. Take a ticket when you enter the garage and keep it with you. For easiest exit, pay before you return to your car. Payment machines take both cash and credit card. Please refer to our website for updated information.

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(941) 328-1300 sarasotaopera.org

Opera tickets start at just $19 subscribe for as little as $69 reserve your tickets while they last!

“One of the finest venues for opera in the United States.”

—Musical America

Puccini Turandot Mozart The Magic Flute Verdi Nabucco Donizetti Rita & Wolf-Ferrari Susanna’s Secret

experience the extraordinary THE 2019 Winter Opera Festival Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 Box Office: (941) 328-1300 SARASOTAOPERA.ORG

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