Stories from the Opera House

Thoughts about an extraordinary season

By Richard Russell, General Director

Joy! That was the overwhelming emotion that I felt and that I saw on the faces of our audience at Sarasota Opera this past season. And what an extraordinary season it was, for so many reasons! To be in an opera house, enjoying performances of overpowering emotion and beauty, amongst friends you may not have seen for three years, was an experience that just a few years ago, seemed like a distant possibility.

I’m sure we all have our own favorite moments of the Winter Opera Festival. Like a proud parent, I hesitate to single out one child as a favorite, but in all honesty, there were so many great moments. I enjoyed the return of some of our favorite artists, while discovering some wonderful talent who were new to our stage. I think back with emotion to Raquel Gonzalez’s heart-rending portrayal of Cio-Cio-san in Madama Butterfly, and to watching the wonderful ensemble in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

I fully admit to being a sucker for the kind of full-bloodied Verdi singing that the cast of Ernani provided in abundance. And of course, I love discovering new operas and what better way that in the romantic, yet powerfully dramatic performances of Lisa Chavez, Sean Anderson, and Andrew Surrena in Massenet’s Thérèse.

It’s not fair, of course just to single out a few cast members and just singers because it takes a group of lavishly talented artists to put together a season like this. Mo. DeRenzi brought passion to two of his favorite composers, Puccini and Verdi, while Marcello Cormio returned with an urgently lead but beautiful Don Giovanni. It is always exciting to welcome a new conductor, especially when they are as gifted as Louis Lohraseb who lead Thérèse. Once again our chorus of Apprentice and Studio Artists did themselves proud with wonderful work, especially in the rousing ensembles of Ernani. And I can’t forget our volunteer supers, who helped fill out important scenes in many of the operas.

Sarasota Opera 2023 Productions of L to R: Thérèse, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Ernani.

Photos by Rod Millington

Each production was brought to life by our directors, who collaborated so wonderfully with all the artists. Our designers (in charge of the sets, hair and make-up, lighting, and costumes) did beautiful work in creating the world in which all of these characters exist. And it all ran smoothly because of the great people backstage, whose technical expertise made sure that the enormous puzzle of each production fit like clockwork.

As you can see, it takes a plethora of talent to make an opera season, and it doesn’t end there. There are hundreds of volunteers and our hardworking staff, who do their best to make sure that our audience’s experience is an enjoyable one.

Sarasota Opera 2023 Production of Ernani Photo: Rod Millington

And while COVID is still with us in some form, it impinged on our season just once (an artist cancellation due to positivity) and our audiences were free to make their own decisions about their comfort level and what precautions they felt necessary to take.

This season, after three very difficult years, felt like we were much closer to normal. It was enormously gratifying to see sold-out houses again, and to hear the vocal approval of our audiences as they applauded and cheered our artists this season (I’ll overlook those who felt the need to boo Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly).

That is the greatest satisfaction for all of us as we look back at the achievements of the season. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and that you are eagerly anticipating the wonders that we have in store for our next one!