2023 Winter Opera Festival Program

Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director Richard Russell, General Director

HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHERS ONLY BEGIN TO SEE.

TO SARASOTA OPERA AND THE WILLIAM E. SCHMIDT OPERA THEATRE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VICTOR DERENZI, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RICHARD RUSSELL, GENERAL DIRECTOR

We are glad you have chosen to enjoy a live opera performance at Sarasota Opera. Here are some tips to make you feel at home in our theater, and to ensure you have the best possible experience.

• English translations are shown above the stage so you can follow along, even when the opera is in a foreign language.

• No special preparation is necessary when you come to the opera. This program book will provide you with all the information about our productions, including a full cast list, program notes, etc. You can also check our website, SarasotaOpera.org, for further information.

• To ensure an enjoyable experience for you and other audience members, cell phones and electronic devices that make any kind of sound or emit light must be turned off while you are in the theater. Phone conversations, texting, and audio and video recording are not permitted. Leaving the real world behind for a while and enjoying the beauty of opera will do you a world of good!

• If you are late, you can watch and listen to a live stream of the performance in the William G. and Marie Selby Lobby on the second floor. You will be seated in the theater at the first available opportunity.

• For your convenience, the Box Office is open before all Sarasota Opera performances. Visit the kiosk in the lobby to purchase tickets for any performance or call (941) 328-1300.

• Found articles should be turned in to the House Manager. Lost items may be claimed from the Sarasota Opera Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Sarasota Opera is equipped with hearing loop technology. Patrons who need auditory assistance but do not have hearing aids or implants may pick up hearing devices in the main lobby. For patrons who require visual assistance, binoculars are also available. A driver’s license or another form of identification is required to check out an assistance device.

© SARASOTA OPERA ASSOCIATION, INC.

61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

(941) 366-8450 www.SarasotaOpera.org

Box Office: (941) 328-1300

Chairman’s Message / Board of Trustees

Artistic Director’s Message

General Director’s Message

Sarasota Opera Staff

Repertoire 1960-2023

Calendar of Performances and Events

Planning the Season – A Delicate Balance

Madama Butterfly

Don Giovanni

Ernani

Thérèse Artists

Production Acknowledgements

Sarasota Opera Orchestra

Apprentice Artists

Special Awards

Supernumeraries

Raise Your Voice

Season Producers

Co-Producers STARS

Making a Difference

Kretzmer Legacy

THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM BOOK OF SARASOTA OPERA

Program Design: Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

Program Book Editor: Stephen Baker Ad

We work relentlessly to find the best caregivers in the industry—we promise that you and your family will be matched with a skilled, reliable, and compassionate caregiver. You will notice the smile on your loved ones’ faces and you will feel the peace of mind so many the families we have worked with have felt. They’re not just in good hands— they’re in the best hands. Our Promise,

Bal Agrawal Founder & CEO

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE W

Welcome to another great season of opera!

Among its peer opera companies, Sarasota Opera punches far above its weight. Opera America, opera’s trade association, produces an annual report which compares financial data and key performance indicators. Sarasota Opera is in the same tier as companies in much larger cities, such as Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha, St. Louis, Pittsburg, and Portland. We are the only company in the class in a small city. Our ticket prices are lower, and our box office revenue is higher than most of our peers. Importantly, we sell substantially more tickets than most companies in our group.

Our impressive standing in the opera world is thanks to you, our audience, as well as to our Trustees and our talented and hardworking staff. Our audience supports the Opera in many ways—through attendance, participation in opera guilds and the generosity of our donors. Our thanks to all who help make opera possible in Sarasota.

We have many things to be proud which our audience may not know about. Our Sarasota Youth Opera gives local children an opportunity to participate in a fully staged youth opera production and attend a summer program. We own an extensive collection of costumes through our purchase of a costume collection from a leading opera costume company. Thanks to a major gift of the Steinwachs Family Foundation, the opera owns 30 condominium units downtown which house our artists, resulting in substantial cost savings in Sarasota’s expensive rental market and allowing us to rent the units in the off season to other non-profit organizations.

Despite our accomplishments we acknowledge that these are challenging times for all classical performing arts. Nationally

attendance has been declining at operas and symphonies while costs of production are increasing.

We must maintain a strong opera through prudent fiscal policies and thoughtful innovation. Our Board of Trustees is committed to meeting these challenges and continuing to bring high quality opera to Sarasota.

WALLY KRAEMER Chair of the Board, Sarasota Opera Board of Trustees

Officers Trustees Guilds

CHAIR

Waldron Kraemer

VICE CHAIR

Rosanne Martorella

TREASURER

Art Siciliano

SECRETARY

Katherine Benoit

Ron Archbold

J. Sumner Bagby

Edward C. Bavaria

Ulysses Brualdi

David Chaifetz

Syble Di Girolamo

Carol English

Frances D. Fergusson

Roger S. Kaufman

Mary J. Mitchell

Steve Sabato

Toby Siegel

Janet Stern Solomon

Susan K. Straus

John Suhre

Bill Tompkins

Michal Wadsworth

Donald J. Worthington

SARASOTA OPERA GUILD

Meryl Gale

MANATEE OPERA GUILD

Richard DeGennaro

Legal

Counsel

Jeff Troiano

Emeritus Board

Murray Bring

Harold Ronson

At their best opera companies reflect the community they are part of. They serve their community by raising ethical questions through stories that let us see into the hearts of other people, by building the local economy and by entertaining local audiences.

It has been over 385 years since the first public opera house was opened in Venice, Italy. Since that time opera has been publicly performed all over the world in all types of venues, from ancient arenas to large living rooms.

There is no truly international opera company, nor should there be. Companies serve the needs of the community in which they are based. New York is not Seattle, Atlanta is not Sarasota, and Cincinnati is not Los Angeles. However, as different as those cities are, it is interesting to note that the core repertoire of most companies here and abroad often focuses on the great works of the late 18th and 19th centuries. After Covid, opera companies returned with performances of Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini to welcome back and rebuild their audiences.

What, then, is specific to Sarasota Opera that makes us different from other companies? As Sarasota Opera has grown, so too has the Florida west coast area. Sarasota Opera has brought people to Sarasota as visitors and as residents.

Since we own our opera house, we can schedule performances in a way that works for the people who live in Sarasota yearround, for those who spend significant amounts of time here and for short term visitors. Our collection of costumes and sets has helped us create and maintain our specific aesthetic for romantic opera that is true to the composers’ vision of those operas.

We have a strong youth program that has introduced young people to our company and enriched their lives over a period of 40 years. Because so many people on our staff have spent a significant part of their careers working in the theater, or have been performers themselves, we understand what a life in the arts involves and we understand the needs of the people who come here to work.

But most important are the performances that we produce on our stage and the unique way we present them. We love and trust opera and we trust the material given to us by the composers and the poets who wrote the librettos. We believe in the operas we perform. We don’t feel as if we have to apologize for a drama that may be from another era. Our primary goal is to tell a compelling story through music and words. We aim for an impassioned performance that reaches the last row of the theater.

We want everything that happens onstage to be clear and presented in a way that involves our audience in the lives of the

characters. We want them to be able to see that the dilemmas of those characters are often not very different from ours.

The primary driving force behind what you see onstage is the music. However, the best opera composers were as much dramatists as musicians and they cared about the words and the dramatic situations. We rehearse in a way that allows the intentions behind those words and dramatic situations to come forward. We consider the fact that the time in which these operas were written was different from our own and do our best to present them in a way that their composers would recognize. We study the most recent scholarship and what it might add to our understanding of a work. Our rehearsal process helps everyone get to know each other and the opera better and encourages the performers to take emotional risks with the material, whether they are performing a work for the first or the hundredth time.

The people who work at Sarasota Opera believe that we are here not only to entertain, but to be a force for positive change. We are here to elevate the emotional, intellectual, and ethical lives of the people in our community. In today’s society that may seem like a lofty goal, but over centuries the arts have made this their goal. Civilizations are remembered more by their works of art than by the wars they fought.

VICTOR DeRENZI Artistic Director

II could never have imagined, as I nervously walked into the rehearsal studio for an audition for the Sarasota Opera Apprentice program, that 34 years later I would be celebrating my tenth anniversary as the company’s executive/general director.

In Sarasota Opera I found an artistic home. A community of artists, patrons, and staff who appreciate the art form that I love so deeply and who have been instrumental in its growth. And even though my career has taken me on a circuitous path (singing, publishing, banking, marketing, and fundraising), Sarasota Opera and the people who make up the company have been a constant in my life. Since I returned in 2012 it has been the most productive period of my life, full of extraordinary highs, and to be honest, the most unimaginable lows.

The highs predominate and the most important of these was having been a small part of Sarasota Opera’s completion of the Verdi Cycle and helping Maestro DeRenzi achieve a long-cherished dream. That small part included as an Apprentice Artist in the very first Verdi Cycle production, Rigoletto in 1989, and to round out the circle, singing in the chorus of the final concert in 2016. It has been joyous to witness, over the intervening 28 years, how the community took this initiative to heart and participated willingly in this exploration into the works of the greatest of Italian opera composers. In what other city (outside Italy) are so many people able to join voices to sing the greatest of operatic choruses “Va pensiero sull’ali dorate”?

That season was not the only one of the last ten that I’ve been executive director that has seen wonderful, sometimes transformative productions, brought to life by extraordinarily talented singers, musicians, designers, and technical professionals. It’s been a joy to discover works I didn’t know before, along with moving performances of operas I’ve been seeing since I was young. Especially gratifying to me, as I see opera at other companies, is how many who have worked with us have flourished and credit Sarasota Opera as important to their development.

It has also been an extraordinary pleasure to be part of this unique arts community. Here I have developed relationships with our patrons, artists, volunteers, staff, and board members who have enriched my life and made Sarasota a wonderful place to live and work.

Among those friendships are the wonderful staff, with whom it has been my honor to work. They are passionately committed to our company and have labored, during the most difficult of times, with good humor, energy, and incredible effectiveness.

I must, of course, mention my colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend Victor DeRenzi. His wholehearted devotion to this company and its mission has built it to what we enjoy today. It is his vision that has allowed us to achieve the place that we have in the operatic world and contributed so much to the Sarasota community.

The COVID pandemic in 2020 was, of course, the low point in my time here. Nothing was more heartbreaking than to have to tell our

company that we had to shut down and close our theater. The ensuing months of uncertainty were something I could never have imagined and navigating how to restart and recover put us all to the test. When we could resume performances and put artists back to work, the road back could be extremely challenging and at times discouraging. For the company to survive, and come through this difficult time, we needed the support of the community and I’m gratified that our patrons continued to support us through that uncertainty. We are still in a process of recovery, but I am certain that as we continue to emerge from this chapter, Sarasota Opera will be a strong and vital organization.

As we look to the future, I know that Sarasota Opera will have an important part to play. The joy, excitement, passion, and beauty that opera contributes to our lives is just one of many reasons that we must continue to thrive. While you enjoy the remarkable performances, please take a moment to think of the many people who it takes to create great art. In a typical season, Sarasota Opera employs more than 250 people and the economic benefit to our community is counted in the millions of dollars. Over and over, I hear how people have been drawn to visit or move to Sarasota because of its rich arts community (and with just a little pride, Sarasota Opera in particular.)

Thank you for being an important part of my life. I’m grateful to all of you for your continuous support of impassioned performances of great opera. I look forward to a future of beautiful music, enthusiastic audiences, and continuing friendships.

RICHARD RUSSELL General Director

OPERA STAFF

Administrative Staff

RICHARD RUSSELL

General Director

Nancy J. Guyer Executive Assistant to the General Director

Irek Sipowicz-Hicks

Katherine Orenic Administrative Assistants

DEVELOPMENT

Scott Guinn Director of Development

Melissa M. Voigt Senior Development Officer

Stacy Ridenour Donor Relations Officer

Brenda Tamm Individual Giving Officer

Nicholas Martorano Development Operations Officer

EDUCATION

Martha Collins Director of Education

Artistic Staff

VICTOR DERENZI

Artistic Director

Marco Nisticò

Artistic Administrator

Katharine Gunnink Company Manager

Jesse Martins Music Administrator

Jacob Zdunich Rehearsal Administrator

Kayla McGallian Production Assistant

Gregg Koyle Orchestra Contractor

William Manley Orchestra Manager and Librarian

Technical Staff

Scott Keclik

Director of Production

Michael Murphy Technical Director

COSTUMES AND WARDROBE

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Resident Costume Designer

Jesse Martins Youth Opera Music Director

Jackie Hickman Intern to the Education Department

FINANCE

Kenneth Tarasi Director of Finance

Angela Dabbert Accounts Payable Manager

John Young Accounts Receivable and Payroll Manager

MARKETING

Stephen Baker Director of Marketing

Aidee Rodriguez Marketing Coordinator

Elyza Wylder Communications Coordinator

PATRON SERVICES Susan Ashcraft Director of Patron Services

John Tully Costume Administrator

B. G. FitzGerald Assistant to the Costume Designer

Elisabeth Roskos Head Draper

Julia Collins, Loribeth Gonzalez Drapers

Molly Doan Painter

Blake Banning, Kim Copeland, Lisa Goering, Rebecca Kurtzweil, Daniella Landelius, Kay Torralva, Barbara Wechsler

First Hands

Judy Larson, Pamela Tarantino Stitchers

Ruth Clark Head Wardrobe

Lili Cristiani Assistant Head Wardrobe

Mimi Cirbusova, Alison Gensmer, Michelle Hart, Naida Mederios, Claire Wallenda Cindy Wells, Fred Werling Dressers

LIGHTING

Ken Yunker Resident Lighting Designer

Travis Rogers Assistant Manager of Patron Services

David Sorrells Box Office Supervisor

Christina Brown, Ricardo Didlick, Ashley Erickson-Spetsios, Kary Erickson, Maureen Martin, Lesley Montano, Irene Zieba Patron Services Representatives

FACILITIES OPERATIONS

Jeremie Guglielmi Director of Facilities Operations

Michael Pasquini Assistant Lighting Designer

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Francesca MacBeth

Production Stage Manager & Stage Manager – Ernani

Kendra Green Stage Manager – Madama Butterfly

Robert A. Klein

Stage Manager — Don Giovanni

Julius Sanchez Stage Manager — Thérèse

Olivia Darling, Lucy Guillemette, Natalie Main, Jack Ruffer Assistant Stage Managers

HAIR AND MAKE-UP

Kellen M. Eason Hair and Make-up Designer

Colin Grice Hair and Make-up Assistant

Andrea Benn, Cheyenne Fox Hair and Make-up Staff

CARPENTRY

Earl “Dixie” Schmidt Head Carpenter

Secundino Esqueda Assistant Head Carpenter

Jo Ann Whitehead House Manager/ Volunteer Coordinator

Drew Deininger Assistant House Manager

Eden Francois House Engineer

Ariel Ruiz Maintenance Lead

Mary Garth, Martin Stofko Facilities Service Staff

Zachary Altman, Armando Cristiani, Llywelyn Jones, Bryant Warkentine Carpenters

Alex Wallenda Flyman

ELECTRICS

Michael Pasquini Head Electrician

Alex Wood Assistant Head Electrician

Hudson Dickinson Electrician

AUDIO Joseph Reynolds Head Audio

PROPERTIES

Alexandria Flynn Props Coordinator

Garrett H. Wilson Props Head

Teresa Duncan Joshua Linderman Props Crew

REPERTOIRE 1960–2023

Barab

Chanticleer 1962

Barber A Hand of Bridge 1976, 1981

Vanessa 2012 ¤

Bartók

Bluebeard’s Castle 1980

Beethoven

Fidelio 1985, 1995, 2016

Bellini

Norma 2018

Berlioz

Les Nuits d’été 1980

Bernstein

Trouble in Tahiti 1962

Bizet

Carmen 1987, 1992, 1999, 2012, 2018

La Jolie fille de Perth 1996*

(American professional premiere)

Les Pêcheurs de perles 2000, 2003, 2013, 2022

Bock

She Loves Me 1982

Boieldieu

Ma Tante Aurore 1982

Britten

Les Illuminations 1966, 1980

The Rape of Lucretia 1964, 1979

The Turn of the Screw 1983, 1988

Catalani

La Wally 1989*, 2020+

Ciléa

L’Arlesiana 1998*

(American professional premiere)

Cimarosa Il matrimonio segreto 2022

d’Albert

Tiefland 2018*

DeBanfield

Lord Byron’s Love Letter 1966

Debussy

L’Enfant prodigue 1962, 1963, 1969

Pelléas et Mélisande 1978

Delibes

Lakme 2005*

Donizetti

Don Pasquale 1963, 1965, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1982, 2016

L’elisir d’amore 1986, 2009, 2020

La Fille du régiment 1987, 2022

Lucia di Lammermoor 1985, 2002, 2012 Rita (Deux Hommes et une femme) 2019

Flotow

Martha 1979, 1992

Floyd

Of Mice and Men 2013 ¤

Susannah 1971, 1973

Gounod

Faust 1969, 1991, 1998

Roméo et Juliette 1993, 2020

Gluck

Orfeo ed Euridice 1965, 1967, 1974, 1983

Hoiby

The Scarf 1969

Holst

The Wandering Scholar 1978

Humperdinck

Hänsel und Gretel 1986, 2001, 2010

Königskinder 1997*

Janácek

Jenůfa 1998

Lehár

Die lustige Witwe 1988

Leoncavallo

Pagliacci 1967, 1978, 2005, 2010, 2014

Mascagni

Cavalleria rusticana 1987, 2005, 2010

L’amico Fritz 2009*

Massenet

Manon 1997

Thérèse 2023

Werther 1990, 2004

Menotti

Amahl and the Night Visitors 1972

The Medium 1962, 1973

Moniuszko

Halka 2007*

Montemezzi

L’amore dei tre re 2003*, 2017+

Monteverdi

Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda 1961

L’incoronazione di Poppea 1977

Mozart

Così fan tutte 1960, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1990, 2002, 2008, 2016

Don Giovanni 1977, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2023

Die Entführung aus dem Serail 1964, 1971, 1979, 1985

Le nozze di Figaro 1961, 1962, 1972, 1988, 1994, 2006, 2015

Der Schauspieldirektor 1960

Die Zauberflöte 1984, 1991, 1996, 2004, 2010, 2019

Nielsen Maskarade 1995*

(American premiere in Danish)

Offenbach

Les Contes d’Hoffmann 1995, 2001

La Périchole 1984

Orphée aux Enfers 1982

Orff

Die Kluge 1970

Pergolesi

Il maestro di musica 1978, 1980

La serva padrona 1967, 2021

Poulenc

Le Bal masqué 1975

Dialogues des Carmélites 2017

Nocturnes 1975

La Voix humaine 1975

REPERTOIRE 1960–2023

Puccini

La bohème 1960, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1997, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2020

La fanciulla del West 1993

Gianni Schicchi 1996

Madama Butterfly 1968, 1972, 1980, 1986, 1994, 2007, 2011, 2017, 2023

Manon Lescaut 2018+

La rondine 1999, 2008

Suor Angelica 1996

Il tabarro 1987, 1996

Tosca 1977, 1988, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2022

Turandot 2013, 2019

Purcell

Dido and Aeneas 1961, 2021

Rachmaninoff

Francesca da Rimini 1993*

(American professional premiere)

Ravel

L’Heure espagnole 1960, 1963, 1972

Shéhérazade 1965

Rieti

Don Perlimplin 1972

Rimsky-Korsakov

The Golden Cockerel 2015*

May Night 1999*

(American premiere)

Rossini

Il barbiere di Siviglia 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1982, 1992, 2000, 2008, 2014, 2018

Il signor Bruschino 2021

La Cenerentola 1961, 1969, 2010

La scala di seta 2021

L’inganno felice 2021

L’Italiana in Algeri 2017

Il turco in Italia 1965

Smetana

Hubiˇcka (The Kiss) 1991*

(American professional premiere)

Prodaná Neveˇsta (The Bartered Bride) 1994

Sousa

El Capitan 1981

J. Strauss, Jr.

Die Fledermaus 1962, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1989, 2003, 2006, 2013

R. Strauss

Ariadne auf Naxos 2002

Stravinsky

The Rake’s Progress 1968, 1985

Tchaikovsky

Eugene Onegin 1984

Iolanta 1993*

Verdi

Aida 2016 †

Alzira 2000* †

Aroldo 1990* †

Attila 2007 † 2022

Un ballo in maschera 1991 †

La battaglia di Legnano 2016 †

Il corsaro 2004* †

Don Carlos 2015 †

(Original Paris version)

Don Carlos 2009 †

(Revised 4 Act version in French)

I due Foscari 2008* †

Ernani 1997 †, 2023

Falstaff 1986, 2001 †

La forza del destino 1996 †

(Original version)

La forza del destino 1996 †

(Standard version)

Un giorno di regno 2013 †

Giovanna d’Arco 2010* †

Jérusalem 2014 †

I Lombardi alla prima crociata 2011 †

Luisa Miller 1999 †

Macbeth 2003 †

(Original version)

Macbeth 2003 †

(Standard version)

I masnadieri 2006* †

Nabucco 1995 †, 2019

Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio 2001* †

Otello 2012 †

Rigoletto 1964, 1966, 1976, 1981, 1989 †, 2008 †, 2012 †, 2019

Simon Boccanegra 1992* †

(American premiere of the original version)

Simon Boccanegra 1992 †

(Standard version)

Stiffelio 2005 †

La traviata 1963, 1966, 1970, 1973, 1979, 1984, 1998 †, 2009 †, 2017

Le Trouvère 2002* †

Il trovatore 1993 †, 2014 †

Les Vêpres siciliennes 1994* †

(American premiere in French)

Wagner

Der fliegende Holländer 2000, 2014

Ward

The Crucible 2011 ¤

Weill

The Threepenny Opera 1972, 1980

Wolf-Ferrari

Il segreto di Susanna 1973, 2019+

Performances at the Sarasota Opera House

* Part of the Masterworks Revival Series

† Part of the Verdi Cycle

¤ Part of the American Classics Series

+ Part of the Beyond Verdi: Italian Masters Series

2023 WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

2023 WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

Opera Lovers Weeks are March 15-26. During these weeks, you can see all four Winter Festival opera productions in as few as three days.

*Held at Sarasota Yacht Club

Planning the Season

A DELICATE BALANCE

by Marina Harss

“You start out with every opera that was ever written, and then you boil that list down to just five,” Victor DeRenzi, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Sarasota Opera said recently about the process of planning each season. It may sound funny, but that’s essentially what happens: each year, five operas have to be chosen, one for the fall and four for the Winter Festival. The process is both an art and a science, in which many factors must be taken into account. As Maestro DeRenzi puts it, “it’s about how the pieces fit together.”

What operas does the audience want to see? What popular pieces haven’t been done in a while? Which does the company have sets for? How many new costumes need to be designed? How big is the cast of a particular piece? How much tragedy, how much comedy? The goal is to end up with a balanced mix.

The first decision that has to be made is which opera to do in the fall, a time when there are fewer visitors to Sarasota than during the busy winter months. In the past, the company tended to present a popular work, something like The Barber of Seville or La bohème But this season, Maestro DeRenzi and General Director Richard Russell decided to try something new. Why not present a smaller work, something a little bit less well-known?

“We chose something interesting that we haven’t done before, something a bit more intimate in scale,” Russell says. Il matrimonio segreto is a charming domestic comedy by the Neapolitan composer Domenico Cimarosa, a contemporary of Mozart. A huge hit at the time of its premiere, Matrimonio is seldom seen now. Why not bring it back and find out why it was once so beloved?

After that work closes, the opera unveils its Youth Opera, sung by dozens of local kids, who take part in the program all autumn long.

This year, they performed The Secret World of Og, by Dean Burry, based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Pierre Berton. The commissioning of new works for the Youth Opera, an exciting process, is a subject for another essay.

THE WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

The Winter Opera Festival, which runs from mid-February to late March, is the highlight of Sarasota’s opera season. Four operas roll out in succession. The first, which receives the most performances—usually around 10-12— is always one of the most popular works in the operatic canon. “These are the operas you know even if you don’t know much about opera,” says DeRenzi. This year, that opera is the heart-rending Madama Butterfly, last performed here in 2017.

The next opera in the series, which receives the second-largest number of performances, also tends to be popular work, if perhaps not on the level of the first. In this case, it is Mozart’s beloved Don Giovanni which, surprisingly, has not been seen here since 2011.

The latter half of the season offers an opportunity to delve into less familiar territory. “Every year, we try to do a rarity,” says Russell, “something you can’t see anywhere else.” How many people have ever seen Jules Massenet’s Thérèse, a tragic love triangle set in Paris during the French Revolution? It had been on DeRenzi’s mind for a while. “We kept saying, we should do this someday,” he explains. This year, that time has finally come.

Its rarity was one factor—the other was its brevity. Since the pandemic, when many people felt uncomfortable sitting indoors in large crowds for long periods, Sarasota Opera has

experimented with presenting some shorter works. At only 70 minutes, Thérèse fits the bill.

And what is a Sarasota season without an opera by Giuseppe Verdi? Even though the Verdi Cycle—over the course of which the company performed every single note written by the composer—concluded in 2016, Verdi is still central to the company’s identity and mission. "We wanted to revisit one of the operas we hadn’t done in a while,” says Russell. The opera chosen, Ernani, based on a play by the French writer Victor Hugo about a swashbuckling Spanish bandit, was last seen here in 1997. Like all Verdi operas performed in Sarasota, it will be conducted by Maestro DeRenzi, who is also conducting Madama Butterfly

A new set has been built for Ernani, one of two this season. (The other is for Thérèse.) The Ernani set, designed by Steven C. Kemp, is part of a new initiative: the commissioning of sets that are designed specifically to be used in more than one opera going forward. Audiences can expect to see parts of Ernani in future productions of operas like Lucia di Lammermoor, Luisa Miller, and Macbeth

This initiative dovetails with the established practice of mixing and matching sets for different operas. Sarasota has a warehouse full of palaces, roadside taverns, and well-appointed drawing rooms to choose from. “As soon as we know what operas are going to go in a particular season, we start to think about the logistics,” says Scott Keclik, Director of Production. “Every year,

we go through our inventory and think about what might work for a particular show.” The set for Matrimonio segreto, for example, was originally built for The Marriage of Figaro.

And for the singers who inhabit those sets, there are the detailed costumes that help to transport the audience to seventeenthcentury Spain in the case of Don Giovanni or early twentiethcentury Nagasaki in the case of Madama Butterfly . In 2019, Sarasota Opera was lucky enough to acquire the entire stock of the storied Malabar costume company, nearly 50,000 costumes, enough to clothe 130 operas. Before the start of each season, the company’s Resident Costume Designer, Howard Tsvi Kaplan, has to select the wardrobe for each opera, get those costumers ready, adjust them to the singers’ sizes, repair them, get them cleaned.

And every season, Kaplan, a magician with fabrics and silhouettes, creates several new costumes, usually for the new productions. This year he’s focusing on Thérèse; they reflect the style of the period of the French Revolution. “I enjoy buying the fabrics and doing the research,” Kaplan says, “as well as the process of painting the clothes in order to age them, and making sure everything looks really period appropriate.”

Little by little all these decisions are made—from what operas will be done to what they will look like, to what the singers will wear onstage. Each step of the process is essential, part of a companywide collaboration in which many people take part, leading up to the moment when the curtain opens, and the first notes ring out. At that moment, the season truly begins.

ACT 2 - A MAGNIFICENT HALL IN SILVA’S CASTLE RENDER - VIEW FROM CENTER

Rendering of Act II of Verdi's Ernani. Courtesy of Steven C. Kemp.

Wicked Smart Homes is proud to support Sarasota Opera. We believe opera is a powerful tool to build a culturally vibrant community. Raise your voice!

Are you building, buying or renovating your dream home? Discover how Wicked Smart Homes can make your home more luxurious, more secure, and more entertaining than you ever dreamed possible. Visit us for all your lighting design & architectural lighting needs, motorized window treatments, audio/video systems, and security & safety requirements.

Photography by: Ryan Gamma

Distant View of Papenberg, at the Entrance of Nagasaki Harbour (1865) - Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Madama Butterfly

GIAC OMO PUCCINI

Japanese tragedy in three acts, sung in Italian Poetry by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Based on the writings of John J. Long and David Belasco

First performed at Sarasota Opera on January 15, 1968 2007 production created by Sarasota Opera

CONDUCTOR

STAGE DIRECTOR

SCENIC DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER

CHORUS MASTER

ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

SURTITLE SUPPLIER

SURTITLE TRANSLATOR

CAST

MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Cio-Cio-San)

SUZUKI, Cio-Cio-San’s servant

KATE PINKERTON

B. F. PINKERTON, U.S. Navy lieutenant

SHARPLESS, U.S. Consul in Nagasaki

GORO, a marriage broker

PRINCE YAMADORI

THE UNCLE BONZE

YAKUSIDÉ

THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER

THE OFFICIAL REGISTRAR

CIO-CIO-SAN’S MOTHER

CIO-CIO-SAN’S AUNT

CIO-CIO-SAN’S COUSIN

SORROW

Sarasota Opera Orchestra

Chorus: Sarasota Opera Apprentice and Studio Artists

Victor DeRenzi

Stephanie Sundine

David P. Gordon

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Ken Yunker

Kellen Eason

Lindsay Woodward

Logan Souther, Alaina de Bellevue, Jamin Kim

Words for Music

Victor DeRenzi

Raquel González (debut) +

Heather Johnson

SarahAnn Duffy (debut) *

Christopher Oglesby (debut)

Filippo Fontana

Miles Herr (debut) *

Heeseung Chae (debut) *

Young-Bok Kim

Scott Hetz Clark **

Paul Leland Hill (debut) *

Samuel Rachmuth **

Karen Kelley **

Ellen Robertson **

Amandalyne Perzyk **

Julia Violet Alessio, Lucy Isabelle Rapchak, Sultan Rouzi

+ The David and Edith Chaifetz Endowed Artist

* Studio Artist

** Apprentice Artist

MADAMA BUTTERFLY SYNOPSIS

ACT I

Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, inspects a house and servants presented to him by his marriage broker, Goro. When Sharpless, the American Consul in Nagasaki, arrives, Pinkerton tells him he has bought the house for 999 years with the option of canceling the contract any month. The lieutenant will soon marry Cio-Cio-San (known as Madama Butterfly) whom he has purchased for 100 yen. Sharpless advises Pinkerton not to treat her feelings lightly, but the lieutenant responds that he intends no harm and toasts the day he will marry an American wife.

Butterfly and her companions arrive. Questioning by Sharpless reveals she is only fifteen years old. The bride-to-be shows Pinkerton her possessions, which include a dagger, and Goro explains that her father used it to commit suicide at the request of the Mikado. Butterfly tells the lieutenant that she had gone to the mission to convert to his faith. Following the brief wedding ceremony, her uncle-priest, the Bonze, interrupts the celebration and denounces his niece for renouncing her religion. Pinkerton commands the guests to leave. The servant Suzuki helps Butterfly dress for the wedding night and Pinkerton urges his bride to surrender to love.

Suzuki attacks Goro for spreading rumors and Butterfly threatens his life, expelling him from her home. The port cannon sounds; Butterfly sees Pinkerton’s ship entering the harbor. In anticipation of his return, the women decorate the house with flowers. As night falls, Butterfly, Suzuki, and Sorrow wait for the lieutenant.

INTERMISSION

ACT III

Dawn breaks, but Pinkerton has not arrived. Butterfly takes Sorrow with her to go to rest. After they leave there is a knock on the door. Suzuki lets Pinkerton and the Consul into the house. The servant sees a woman in the garden, and Sharpless tells her it is Pinkerton’s new wife: the American couple is here to take the child away. Sharpless reprimands Pinkerton for the situation he has created and the remorseful lieutenant leaves.

ACT II

Three years have passed since Pinkerton left Nagasaki. Suzuki shows Butterfly the few coins she still possesses and expresses her doubt that the lieutenant will ever return. Ever steadfast, Butterfly believes he will.

The Consul and Goro visit Butterfly. The marriage broker offers a new husband, and Sharpless has a letter from Pinkerton for her. Soon Yamadori, a prince, arrives to propose marriage. Goro reminds Butterfly that under Japanese law her marriage to Pinkerton is void since he has deserted her. She rejects both Yamadori and Goro’s advice. After they leave Sharpless starts reading Pinkerton’s letter, but Butterfly interrupts him. Knowing Pinkerton wishes never to see her again, the Consul urges Butterfly to marry Yamadori. Horrified at his suggestion, she shows him Sorrow, her child by Pinkerton, and Sharpless promises to tell Pinkerton about his son.

Having heard people in the house, Butterfly searches for Pinkerton. When she sees the unknown woman, she realizes it is Pinkerton’s wife. Butterfly agrees to surrender her son if Pinkerton himself will claim him in a half hour. Left alone, Butterfly prepares to kill herself, but Suzuki sends Sorrow into the room. The mother bids her son farewell, blindfolds him, and commits suicide.

World Premiere: Teatro alla Scala, Milan February 17, 1904

The setting is Nagasaki at the turn of the 20th Century

MADAMA BUTTERFLY BACKGROUND

TThe world première of Madama Butterfly at La Scala on February 17, 1904, was a huge fiasco, recalling the disastrous first performances of two other Italian operas that later became cornerstones of the repertoire, Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and Verdi’s La traviata. Puccini, in the months before the première, had been confident of success for this new opera, which he considered his best to date. The composer had already penned Manon Lescaut, La bohème, and Tosca, and had inherited Verdi’s position as master of the Italian lyric stage. However, on opening night, the audience’s vocal reaction drowned out both orchestra and singers; the cast and composer endured boos and laughter.

The original version of Madama Butterfly was not the opera the audience had expected from Puccini. Musically, the composer was well aware of his contemporaries. He found the impressionism of Frenchman Claude Debussy intriguing and in Madama Butterfly experimented with new harmonies and musical techniques. Dramatically the opera contained many realistic Japanese details, and no effort was made to relieve the unpleasantness of certain characters, most notably Pinkerton, who did not even have an expected aria. The opera’s two lengthy acts challenged the audience’s attention. Moreover, rumors circulated that some detractors of Puccini, envious of his growing recognition, helped arrange opposition to the new work.

Following the opening night disaster, Puccini and his librettist withdrew the work, returning the fee for performance rights to La Scala. Puccini, however, was confident the opera would eventually succeed. The composer made cuts and revisions, the two acts became three, and Pinkerton was given an exit aria. With these alterations Madama Butterfly triumphed three months later in Brescia on May 28, 1904. However, Puccini continued to change the music and it was not until 1907 that Puccini felt he had attained the definitive edition of the score. It is this version, with a few minor changes, that has become familiar to audiences, and it is the one that Sarasota Opera presents.

Puccini described himself as a man of the theater and always trusted that the story of Cio-Cio-San would affect an audience. Working with his librettists, Puccini demanded a

dramatic structure that would center attention on the emotional lives of the characters. Even after he had begun to set the prepared text to music, Puccini persuaded his librettists to cut a scene in the American consulate that he felt would dilute the dramatic swiftness of the story. For his entire career, Puccini searched for suitable subjects for his operas, contemplating at different times works based on Marie Antoinette, the Children’s Crusade, Oscar Wilde’s The Florentine Tragedy and Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris. He traveled to Paris to discuss Pelléas et Mélisande with its author, Maurice Maeterlinck, only to discover that Debussy was preparing to turn the work into an opera.

Madama Butterfly was written at a time when there was a great deal of interest in Japan. Because it was a great distance away and one of the last countries to open up to foreigners, tales of Japan fascinated Western readers. In 1893, André Messager’s opera, Madame Chrysanthème, based on the 1866 novel of Pierre Loti, told the story of a naval officer and a temporary Japanese wife, though this opera’s tone was ironic and very unsentimental. Pietro Mascagni (the composer of Cavalleria rusticana) in 1898 wrote Iris, another opera set in Japan.

Despite its unsuccessful first performance, Madama Butterfly has become one of the most frequently performed operas in the world, far surpassing the other works set in the Far East written at the time. Puccini’s opera has also influenced works in other media: from the 1962 movie comedy My Geisha starring Shirley MacLaine, to Henry David Hwang’s award winning play M. Butterfly, to the Broadway musical Miss Saigon.

Sarasota Opera last presented Madama Butterfly in 2017. Other Puccini operas produced by the company include Manon Lescaut, La bohème, Tosca, La rondine, La fanciulla del West, and Il trittico (the three one-act operas Il tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi), and Turandot

Greg Trupiano (1955-2020) joined Sarasota Opera in 1987 and was with the company until his death. He was also founder and artistic director of The Walt Whitman Project.

Painting of the singer Francisco d'Andrade as Don Giovanni in Mozart's opera, by Max Slevogt

Don Giovanni

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Dramma giocoso in two acts, sung in Italian Poetry by Lorenzo Da Ponte

First performed at Sarasota Opera in January, 1977

2011 production created by Sarasota Opera

CONDUCTOR

STAGE DIRECTOR

SCENIC DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER CHORUS MASTER

ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

SURTITLE SUPPLIER

SURTITLE TRANSLATOR

DON GIOVANNI, a young nobleman, extremely licentious

THE COMMENDATORE

CAST

DONNA ANNA, his daughter, betrothed to Don Ottavio

DON OTTAVIO

DONNA ELVIRA, a noblewoman from Burgos, abandoned by Don Giovanni

LEPORELLO, Don Giovanni’s servant

MASETTO, Zerlina’s beloved

ZERLINA, a peasant

Sarasota Opera Orchestra

Chorus: Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists

Marcello Cormio

Mark Freiman

David P. Gordon

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Ken Yunker

Kellen Eason

Lindsay Woodward

Jesse Martins, Tessa Hartle, Arthur Bosarge

Words for Music

Victor DeRenzi

David Weigel

Young Bok Kim

Erica Petrocelli (debut)

Brian Vu (debut)

Caitlin Crabill

Stefano de Peppo

Billy Huyler (debut) *

Anna Mandina

*Studio Artist

The action takes place in Spain.

ACT I

Scene One – A garden at night

Outside the Commendatore's house, Leporello complains about his duties as servant to Don Giovanni. His master appears, pursued by Donna Anna, whom he has just attempted to seduce. Anna cries out for aid, and her father, the Commendatore, arrives. He confronts Don Giovanni and demands a duel to defend his daughter's honor while Anna goes to find help. Don Giovanni tries to avoid the fight, but the duel begins and the Commendatore is fatally wounded. Don Giovanni and his servant Leporello flee the scene. Returning with her fiancé, Don Ottavio, Anna finds her father’s body. Ottavio swears vengeance on his killer.

Scene Two – On a street

At night, Don Giovanni seeks another conquest while Leporello pleads in vain for his master to change his ways. Don Giovanni begins to flirt with a woman before realizing that she is Donna Elvira, whom he once promised to marry and who is trying to find him. Don Giovanni makes his escape and Leporello recites his master’s catalog of conquests to Elvira.

Peasants celebrate the upcoming wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Don Giovanni immediately pursues Zerlina, urging Leporello to bring the group back to his house so he can be alone with her. This angers the bridegroom, but he is quickly removed by Leporello. Alone with the bride, Don Giovanni applies his charm and promises to marry her. Donna Elvira interrupts before he can complete his conquest and takes the young woman away. After Donna Anna and Ottavio arrive, Elvira returns to denounce Don Giovanni and warns Anna not to trust him. Don Giovanni declares that Elvira is not in her right mind and follows her as she leaves. Recognizing his voice, Anna realizes he was her attacker.

Leporello again ponders leaving his master’s service, while Don Giovanni plans a party for that evening.

Scene Three – A garden

Zerlina succeeds in winning Masetto’s forgiveness. He is still suspicious, however, so he hides when Don Giovanni appears, in order to see if Zerlina has been faithful. When Don Giovanni corners Zerlina, he discovers Masetto. Don Giovanni then escorts them into the house to join the party. Elvira, Anna, and Ottavio arrive in masks and are invited to the party by Leporello, who does not recognize them.

Scene Four – A large room lit for festivities

Leporello distracts Masetto with dancing so his master can pursue Zerlina. When Zerlina cries for help from

another part of the house, Don Giovanni unsuccessfully blames Leporello for her distress. Elvira, Anna and Ottavio unmask, and everyone confronts Don Giovanni.

INTERMISSION

ACT II

Scene One – A street

Leporello tells his master he will leave unless Don Giovanni gives up women. After paying him to stay, the master makes his servant exchange cloaks with him so Leporello can distract Donna Elvira while Don Giovanni pursues her maid. After Leporello leaves with Elvira, Masetto arrives with armed peasants bent on killing Don Giovanni. The disguised Don Giovanni gives them false directions and, after the peasants leave, beats up Masetto. Zerlina arrives and comforts her fiancé.

Scene Two - A dark courtyard in Donna Anna’s house

Leporello and Elvira try to find a way out of the courtyard. As Elvira pleads with him not to leave her, they are surprised by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto. Mistaking servant for master, they threaten Leporello, who unmasks and then escapes. Now convinced that Don Giovanni is the Commendatore’s murderer, Ottavio leaves to get the authorities. Re-affirming his love, he asks the others to watch over Donna Anna.

Scene Three - A cemetery

Don Giovanni hides in a cemetery and is soon joined by Leporello. Don Giovanni’s laughter is interrupted by a voice coming from the statue of the Commendatore. Don Giovanni commands Leporello to invite the statue to dinner. To Leporello’s shock and dismay, the statue accepts the invitation.

Scene Four - A room

Don Ottavio pleads with Donna Anna not to put off their wedding date. Still mourning the death of her father, she refuses to marry until he is avenged.

Scene Five - The hall in Don Giovanni’s house

Don Giovanni is eating when Elvira rushes in and begs him to repent. He dismisses Elvira, then hears her scream from outside the room. The Commendatore’s statue enters, and Don Giovanni accepts its handshake. Boldly refusing the statue’s command to repent, Don Giovanni is pulled down into the flames of hell.

The others arrive, and Leporello tells the tale of his master’s downfall.

World Premiere: National Theater, Prague October 29, 1787

By 1784 Mozart had transitioned, for the most part, from virtuoso performer to composer. The following years saw the creation of many of the works upon which his posthumous reputation rests, including his last three great symphonies, several string quartets, and of course, his greatest operas. Opera seemed to offer the most likely opportunity for official recognition and the financial stability he sorely needed to support his growing family.

Despite Joseph II’s famous (and possibly apocryphal) criticism (“an extraordinary number of notes”) Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1782) had been the most popular work produced by the German opera company the emperor had tried to establish. The composer then tried to make inroads at the Imperial Italian opera company. His Le nozze di Figaro (1796), composed to a libretto by the new court poet Lorenzo Da Ponte, was a success (the emperor instituted a policy of prohibiting encores of ensembles when the evening went on for too long.) A production later that year in Prague was such a tremendous hit that the impresario Pasquale Bondini immediately commissioned a new opera from the composer, to be premiered in that city.

Bondini gave Mozart a libretto by Giovanni Bertati which had been used by Giovanni Gazzaniga as the basis of his one-act opera Don Giovanni Tenorio. It was the impresario’s intention that Mozart set that libretto, but Mozart instead went back to Lorenzo Da Ponte, asking him to flesh out the story into a full-length opera.

By this point Da Ponte was at the high point of his brief career as court poet and opera librettist. In addition to Figaro he had a great success with composer Vicente Martín y Soler’s Un cosa rara and was writing new librettos for Martín y Soler (L’arbore di Diana) and Antonio Salieri (Axur, re d’Ormus). According to his colorful but unreliable memoirs, the poet wrote for Mozart in the evening, Martín y Soler in the morning, and Salieri in the afternoon. He writes that he “sat down at my table and did not leave it for twelve hours at a stretch – a bottle of tokai to my right, a box of Seville snuff to my left, in the middle an inkwell.” Under such pressure, and before copyright was an issue, he drew freely from Bertati’s version of Don Giovanni in composing his own libretto.

The Don Juan legend had for a long time been considered a low-class, bawdy entertainment, suitable for the unsophisticated masses and not for cultured audiences. The earliest written treatment was Tirso de Molina’s El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra, followed by

versions by Molière and Goldoni. In all these versions, Don Juan receives his just punishment by being either struck dead or dragged to hell for his sins, thus making the story morally acceptable. It has also been pointed out that in Mozart’s opera, none of Don Giovanni’s attempts at seduction succeed, despite the long list of conquests that Leporello enumerates in his catalogue.

The Prague audiences had taken Mozart to heart, and Don Giovanni was rapturously received. Among the first night audience was Da Ponte’s friend from his dissolute Venetian youth, the famous womanizer Giacomo Casanova (who may have contributed a line or two of his own to the libretto). News of the positive response to the opera reached the emperor, who ordered a performance in Vienna. For the Vienna performances, a few adjustments were made to suit new singers, including the addition of two new arias and a duet. Sarasota Opera will be performing the opera as the premiere audience heard it in Prague, without the additions for Vienna.

In Vienna, the opera’s success was not nearly as enthusiastic as it had been in Prague, but it did run for 15 performances. The emperor, who was on the battlefield of the Austro-Turkish War, did not attend, but after looking at the score told Lorenzo Da Ponte (according to the latter’s memoirs) “The music is divine… But such music is not meat for the teeth of my Viennese.” Upon hearing this, Mozart responded: “Give them time to chew on it.”

Chew on it they did, and Don Giovanni became one of the few operas to remain in the repertoire throughout the 19th century. Liszt, Chopin, Rossini, Beethoven, and Offenbach all quoted from it. Tchaikovsky, upon seeing the manuscript of the opera said that he was “in the presence of divinity.”

Don Giovanni reached the United States in 1825 when Da Ponte (who had fled Europe in 1804 to escape his creditors) convinced the singer and impresario Manuel García to add it to the repertoire of his touring opera company. The opera was produced during the first season of the Metropolitan Opera in 1883. It entered the repertoire of Sarasota Opera in 1977 (at the Historic Asolo Theatre) and has also been performed in 1989, 2005, and 2011.

Richard Russell is Sarasota Opera’s General Director.

MARCH 11, 14, 16, 18M, 22, 26M

AACHEN, GERMANY, 23 JULY 2020: The golden interior of the Palatine Chapel

ERNANI

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Lyric Drama in four parts, sung in Italian Poetry by Francesco Maria Piave

Based on the play Hernani by Victor Hugo

First performed at Sarasota Opera on March 8, 1997

New production created by Sarasota Opera

CONDUCTOR

STAGE DIRECTOR

SCENIC DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER CHORUS MASTER ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

SURTITLE SUPPLIER SURTITLE TRANSLATOR

ERNANI, the bandit

DON CARLO, King of Spain

DON RUY GOMEZ DE SILVA, a Spanish Grandee

ELVIRA, his niece and betrothed

GIOVANNA, her nurse

DON RICCARDO, the King’s squire

JAGO, Don Ruy’s squire

Sarasota Opera Orchestra

Chorus: Sarasota Opera Apprentice and Studio Artists

Victor DeRenzi

Martha Collins

Steven C. Kemp

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Ken Yunker

Kellen Eason

Lindsay Woodward

Logan Souther, Alaina de Bellevue, Jamin Kim

Words for Music

Victor DeRenzi

Rafael Davila +

Ricardo José Rivera (debut)

Mariano Buccino (debut)

Aviva Fortunata (debut)

Elizabeth Novella *

Levi Hamlin *

Eric McConnell (debut)*

+ The Jan Schmidt Endowed Artist

* Studio Artist

PART I— THE BANDIT

Scene 1

Ernani, a bandit, is distraught that Elvira, the woman he loves, will be forced to marry her uncle, the elderly Don Ruy Gomez de Silva the next day. When the bandits learn Elvira returns Ernani’s love, they enthusiastically agree to help rescue her.

Scene 2

In her room at Silva’s castle, Elvira anxiously awaits Ernani. Unexpectedly, she is visited by Don Carlo, the King of Spain, who declares his love. Elvira spurns his advances, and he taunts her for preferring Ernani. When he attempts to force her to submit to him, Ernani bursts in. He challenges the King to a duel to pay for having killed his father and stolen his honor. As Elvira pleads with them to consider her own honor, Silva suddenly enters. He is shocked to find her alone with two men and he mourns her betrayal. Not recognizing the King, he challenges both men to a duel. When the King’s identity is revealed, Silva begs for forgiveness, which Carlo grants saying he needs Silva’s support. Carlo frees Ernani, but Ernani vows revenge.

INTERMISSION

PART II— THE GUEST

The next day, the guests are celebrating the upcoming wedding of Elvira and Silva. Ernani enters disguised as a pilgrim and Silva grants him hospitality. When Elvira enters in her bridal dress, Ernani throws off his disguise and offers the price on his head as a wedding gift. Silva refuses to hand him over to the King’s men as his honor will not allow him to break his word and his earlier offer of hospitality. Silva leaves with his men to arm the castle.

Alone with Ernani, Elvira assures him of her faithfulness, and shows him the dagger she is planning to turn on herself rather than marry Silva. Silva returns, and he is furious to find the couple embracing. When his squire announces that Don Carlo is at the castle to arrest Ernani, Silva hides Ernani in a secret passage, so he can take his own revenge later.

Don Carlo demands that the rebel leader be delivered to him, but Silva will not betray his word and offers the king his own life instead. Don Carlo orders the castle be searched, but when his men cannot find Ernani, he leaves, taking Elvira with him as hostage in order to ensure Silva’s loyalty.

Alone with Ernani, Silva challenges him to a duel. Ernani asks that he be able to see Elvira one last time, but Silva reveals she has

been taken away by the king. Ernani tells Silva that Don Carlo himself loves Elvira and is their rival. Silva realizes his mistake, and Ernani urges that they suspend their quarrel and work together to free Elvira. When Silva questions whether he can trust Ernani’s word, he hands Silva his hunting horn and pledges that at the moment it is sounded he will kill himself. Silva agrees, and together with Silva’s men they set off in pursuit.

INTERMISSION

PART III— THE PARDON

At Charlemagne’s tomb in Aix-la-Chapelle, the king ponders the fate of the conspirators who will soon meet to plot his assassination. He vows that if he is elected the Holy Roman Empire’s new emperor, he will rule wisely and strive to be worthy of the honor of the throne. He hides in the tomb.

Ernani, Silva, and a group of conspirators gather to plot the king’s assassination. They draw lots, and Ernani is chosen to carry out the deed. Silva asks Ernani to allow him the honor in exchange for his life, but Ernani refuses. The men all swear an oath to fight their oppressors.

Don Carlo emerges from the tomb when cannon shots announce that he has been elected emperor. He commands the traitors be punished, the nobles executed, and the commoners imprisoned. Ernani asks that he too be beheaded as, unbeknownst to all, he too is a nobleman, the former Don Juan of Aragon.

Elvira pleads with Don Carlo to show mercy. Don Carlo, wishing to emulate the virtues of Charlemagne, pardons all the conspirators and decrees that Elvira and Ernani shall marry. While all praise the new emperor, Silva vows to seek vengeance for his slighted honor.

PART IV—THE MASK

Ernani has resumed his rightful position as Don Juan of Aragon, and at his castle the guests are celebrating his wedding to Elvira. They notice a menacing, masked man and order him away. As Ernani and Elvira pledge their love, a horn sounds in the distance. Recognizing the signal from Silva, Ernani sends Elvira away.

Silva appears, removes his mask, and demands Ernani honor his promise—he has sounded Ernani’s horn and now Ernani must kill himself. Elvira returns and begs Silva for mercy, but he is unmoved. Left with no choice, Ernani keeps his vow.

World Premiere: Teatro La Fenice, Venice March 9, 1844

In 1843, at the age of thirty, Verdi’s fame was primarily centered in Milan, where each of his first four operas had premiered. Flush with his success, the young composer was ready to branch out and for his fifth opera he accepted a commission from Teatro La Fenice in Venice. It was the Director of Performance of that opera house who suggested the opera be based on Victor Hugo’s play Hernani.

With Hernani, Hugo had dared to break down the well-established and strict rules of French drama to create a play that was much more naturalistic and passionate than the norm. The premiere in Paris had caused several nights of rioting between the traditionalists and the devotees of the new ‘Romantic’ movement which became known as “The Battle of Hernani.” The heightened emotion on the stage intensified that of his devoted audience and the Romantic movement dominated, changing French drama forever.

Verdi’s response to the idea of transforming Hernani into an opera was decidedly enthusiastic. “Oh, if we could do Hernani! That would be something wonderful! The action is all there, and the interest is immense.”

The librettist chosen for the project was the young poet Francesco Maria Piave (with whom Verdi would later go on to create eleven more operas including La traviata and Rigoletto). This collaboration would be Piave’s first opera, and thus put the more experienced Verdi in a position of being able to demand all he wanted and needed from his librettist in order to create the vision he had for the work. “I would like the libretto to be magnificent and at the same time passionate. There should be a great deal of fire and action in it, and it should be concise. Remember brevity and passion.” Throughout the process he dogmatically demanded multiple changes and rewrites until he had the concise, taut drama he had envisioned.

This was Verdi’s first opera based on an existing literary work, and his willingness to undertake a story by one of the most controversial authors of the time was daring. However, while there is a political element to the story of Ernani, what made it the most popular opera of its day is the moving, human tragedy of the four characters at the center of it. All four are nuanced, multi-faceted characters that fascinate us.

The theme of honor has long been a mainstay of drama and literature. Verdi was to revisit this subject many times in his career – notably with Macbeth, La forza del destino

and even his comedy Falstaff – but never more so than with Ernani . This story of three men all in love with the same woman is deepened and complicated by the challenges all four face to preserve or defend their honor sometimes even to their own detriment.

Ernani deeply loves Elvira, but his blind hatred for Carlo leads him to declare a fatal oath which honor demands he keep. Elvira holds on to her honor by refusing to submit to either Silva or Carlo while remaining true to her beloved Ernani. Silva’s determination to honor his pledge of hospitality to Ernani results in his losing the woman he loves. Meanwhile, Carlo realizes that in order to be honored as a great leader, he must choose to emulate the venerable leaders of the past.

Verdi had a hand in all aspects of the creation and premiere of this opera and history proves that his vision and determination paid off. The reviews of the opening night were rapturous: “In the lobbies, the streets, the drawing rooms, the new songs are on everyone’s lips.” “ Ernani is Verdi at his most irresistibly melodic and dramatic.” With this opera’s gripping, moving character study, Verdi stepped out onto the world stage and achieved international fame.

Sarasota Opera first produced Ernani in 1997 as part of its Verdi Cycle.

Martha Collins is the Director of Education for Sarasota Opera where she has been a Stage Director since 2004. She is the director of this production of Ernani.

French Revolution: portrait of Lucile Desmoulins (1770-1794) guillotinee on 13 April 1794

Photo © The Holbarn Archive / Bridgeman Images

MARCH

17, 19M, 21, 23, 25M

Thérèse JULES MASSENET

Musical Drama in two acts, sung in French Text by Jules Clarétie

Sarasota Opera Premiere

New production created by Sarasota Opera

CONDUCTOR

STAGE DIRECTOR

SCENIC DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

WIGS AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER

CHORUS MASTER

ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

SURTITLE SUPPLIER SURTITLE TRANSLATOR

THÉRÈSE

ARMAND DE CLERVAL

ANDRÉ THOREL

MOREL

FIRST OFFICER

SECOND OFFICER A MUNICIPAL OFFICER

Sarasota Opera Orchestra

Chorus: Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists

Louis Lohraseb (debut)

Katherine M. Carter

Ryan Howell (debut)

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Ken Yunker

Kellen Eason

Lindsay Woodward

Jesse Martins, Arthur Bosarge, Jamin Kim,

Tessa Hartle

Words for Music

Stephanie Sundine

Lisa Chavez

Andrew Surrena

Sean Anderson

Eric Luis Viñas (debut) *

Miles Herr *

Andrew Simpson (debut) *

Justin Ramm-Damron **

*Studio Artist

**Apprentice Artist

ACT I ACT II

October 1792. Clagny, near Versailles, on the grounds of a château dating from the time of Louis XIV French revolutionary soldiers, on their way to Paris, pause to rest on the grounds of a château, which was abandoned by the Marquis de Clerval and purchased by a leader of the Girondist party, André Thorel. Thorel and his wife Thérèse watch the soldiers, and she expresses her anxiety about what the future will bring. She is grateful not to be in Paris and instead in the relative peace of the château, which Thorel intends to return to his childhood friend the Marquis Armand de Clerval. Left alone Thérèse expresses her affection for her husband, at the same time reminiscing about her past love for Armand. After she leaves, Armand appears, wanting to visit his childhood home once more before he joins the Royalist troops. When he sees Thérèse he tries to rekindle her affection, but she resists. Thorel happily greets his old friend. When a soldier seems to recognize Armand, Thorel vouches for him and takes him under his protection.

Paris, June 1793. A wealthy middle-class interior of that time Living in Paris, Thérèse expresses her fear at the increasing violence and hatred that are overtaking the country. Thorel tries to comfort her and tells her he has arranged for a safe passage for Armand. Once the marquis is safely gone, Thorel and Thérèse can leave Paris and live a happy and secluded life. The janitor Morel enters and warns Thorel that an angry mob is forming at the Tuileries and that it will end badly for the Girondist party to which Thorel belongs. When Morel leaves, Thorel gives Armand the safe passage, urging him to flee. Thorel tells the pair that duty calls him to the demonstration and after he leaves Thérèse entreats Armand to leave immediately. Armand tries to entice her to join him and when she hesitates, he declares that if she won’t leave with him, he will stay to face certain death. Just after she agrees to flee with him Morel reenters, telling Thérèse that Thorel has been arrested. She convinces Armand to depart, insisting that she will soon join him. After he has left, Thérèse looks out of the window and sees Thorel being led to jail. Desperate to share Thorel’s fate, she cries out “long live the King!” Revolutionaries storm her home and lead her away.

World Premiere: Opéra de Monte-Carlo, February 7, 1907

A rehearsal for the world premiere of Thérèse, Monte-Carlo (1907). Lucy Arbell as Thérèse, Edmond Clément as Armand, director Raoul Gunsbourg, and composer Jules Massenet (seated).

The French Revolution has not proven to be a particularly fertile subject for opera. Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chenier (1896) was the first, and apart from Jules Massenet’s Thérèse (1907) and Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites (1957), there are only a few works that have mined this rich topic that would seem a perfect mix of tragedy and terror.

Massenet might not have tried his hand, had it not been for his infatuation with the English/French mezzo-soprano Lucy Arbell. She was the final of his three operatic muses to inspire him to create several of his most important works. The first was the Californian Sibyl Sanderson, a great beauty with a brilliant and extended top range, for whom he wrote Esclarmonde and Thaïs Next, he showed his admiration for the art of the well-known French soprano Emma Calvé, by writing leading roles for her in Sapho and La Navarraise. Arbell was his final muse. Thérèse and Don Quichotte were two of the operas in which she was featured. After the composer’s death she would cause great embarrassment to his heirs when she sued (unsuccessfully) for exclusive rights to perform the heroines he composed for her.

In Mes souvenirs (My memories), Massenet writes of the genesis of Thérèse. During a visit with friends to the Carmelite convent in Paris, where one of the great massacres of the Reign of Terror took place, the group saw what they took to be a ghost. It turned out to be Lucy Arbell, who had moved away from the group in order to hide her emotion on hearing the tragic story of Lucile Desmoulins, who was sent to the guillotine for defending her husband, executed a few days earlier. Later, at a lunch in the Italian embassy, the Countess Tornielli told of how the building, formerly the home of the Gallifet family, had been guarded against confiscation by a faithful servant. The servant had awaited the family’s return and turned over the home to one of the few surviving family members. This loyalty is mirrored, in the opera Thérèse, by the actions of the son of a family retainer, André Thorel, who buys the Clerval estate hoping to return it to his childhood friend, the Marquis Armand de Clerval.

For the libretto Massenet turned to Jules Clarétie, with whom he had previously collaborated on La Navarraise and who had written a novel about the Desmoulins. The composer began serious work on the opera in December 1905, working with his librettist via telephone, a novel enough occurrence that it would be mentioned in the reviews as evidence of how modern the composer was. The opera received its premiere on February 7, 1907 at the Salle Garnier in Monte Carlo, a company under the direction of the enterprising Raoul Gunsbourg and under the patronage of Prince Albert, with whom Massenet was friendly. The first performance was a great success. The opera was first seen in Paris in 1911 (on a double bill with the premiere of

Ravel’s L’heure espagnole) and over the next few years Thérèse was repeated numerous times in theaters throughout France. Excerpts, via a piano reduction published concurrently with the premiere, were very popular in Paris’s fashionable salons.

Over 25 completed operas, Massenet displays a great diversity of subject and as a result, of musical treatment. His most famous work, Manon, is an opéra comique, on a popular novel, while Le Cid is a true grand opera, based on the story of an historical hero, treated with great pageantry. Cendrillon is a version of the Cinderella story and is entitled an opéra féerique and La Navarraise, composed in a much more naturalistic vein, has been associated with verismo. In an interview the composer stated, “You will notice… that my works are taken from a variety of subjects… I tear myself away from one world to immerse myself immediately in another one that is very different. That is the best way to avoid monotony.”

In Thérèse Massenet takes a story similar in nature to Giordano’s Andrea Chenier, where lovers embrace execution as sign of their love and fidelity, but dispenses with any additional characters (apart from the janitor Morel), minimizes the use of the chorus, and concentrates on the love triangle of the heroine, her husband, and his childhood friend, who had once been her lover. The tension of the Revolution is evoked through naturalistic touches: a newsboy offstage, drum rolls, and the sounds of rifle butts hitting the ground, while the pre-revolutionary era is evoked in a gentle minuet as Armand and Thérèse recall their earlier love. At the same time the focus remains on the relationship of the three main characters, which is generally expressed in richly romantic terms. In this compact work, the bulk of the drama takes place in a series of romantic duets in which Thérèse declares her love and respect for her husband Thorel or agonizes over her past relationship with Armand. Her resolute acceptance of her duty occurs in a brief but dramatic moment as she joins her husband in their ultimate fate.

Although initially quite successful, changing tastes meant that Thérèse was not destined to remain a repertoire piece, but it is an opera worth hearing to explore the richness of Massenet’s talent. In his review of the premiere, Gabriel Fauré wrote, “Many situations in Thérèse give rise to enticing melodies, expressions of tenderness, noble or pathetic strains, charming episodes, all of which flow with abundance and ease from the wellspring that Massenet has drawn on many times without its ever running dry.”

Richard Russell is Sarasota Opera’s General Director.

Baritone • Seneca, SC ANDRÉ THOREL

Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Germano, La scala di seta (2021)

Vincenzo Gellner, La Wally (2020)

Don Pizarro, Fidelio (2016)

Debut: Eisenstein, Die Fledermaus (2006)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Danilo, The Merry Widow, Knoxville Opera

Almaviva, Le nozze di Figaro, Opera Delaware

Haskell, Finding Wright, Dayton Opera

Music Staff • Boulder, CO ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Assistant Conductor,  La Fille du régiment (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Pianist, Central City Opera

Repetiteur, Centennial State Ballet

Vocal Coach, Colorado State University

Soprano • Aurora, IL STUDIO ARTIST

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Older Leah, Uncovered, City Lyric Opera

Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus, Central City Opera

Bass • Needham, MA STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Studio Artist (2020)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2019)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Lorenzo, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Bel Cantanti Opera

Il re di Scozia, Ariodante, Opera Neo Sergeant Sulpice (cover), La Fille du régiment, St. Petersburg Opera

Arthur Bosarge

Music Staff • Fairhope, AL

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Don Giovanni, Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Assistant Conductor, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Touch, Opera Birmingham

The Werewolf, Opera Southwest

Carmen, Man of La Mancha, Utah Festival Opera

Bass • Naples, Italy

SILVA

Ernani

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Timur, Turandot, Malmö Opera

Oroveso, Norma, Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa

Sparafucile, Rigoletto, Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa

Stage Director • New York, NY

STAGE DIRECTOR

Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Stage Director,  Les Pêcheurs de perles (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Revival Director, La bohème, Canadian Opera Company

Intimacy Director, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Metropolitan Opera

Stage Director, Das Barbecü, On Site Opera

Stage Director, Le nozze di Figaro, Mannes Opera at the New School

Heeseung Chae

Baritone • Busan, South Korea

PRINCE YAMADORI

Madama Butterfly

STUDIO ARTIST

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Kenosha Opera Festival

Schaunard, La bohème, Palm Beach Opera

Marullo, Rigoletto, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Alaina de Bellevue

Mariano Buccino

Emily Blair

Katherine M. Carter

Andrew Boisvert

Sean Anderson

Lisa Chavez

Soprano • Oakland, CA

THÉRÈSE, Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Fidalma, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Dido, Dido and Aeneas (2021)

Rosina, Il barbiere di Siviglia (2018)

Carmen, Carmen (2018)

Debut: Madame de Croissy, Dialogues des Carmélites (2017)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Maggie Bell, Stonewall, New York City Opera

Isabella, L’italiana in Algeri, Opera San Jose

Suzuki, Madama Butterfly, Shreveport Opera, Knoxville Opera

Martha Collins

Stage Director • Ottawa, Canada STAGE DIRECTOR Ernani

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Attila (2022)

L’inganno felice (2021)

Roméo et Juliette (2020)

I masnadieri (2006)

Debut: Apprentice Artists Program

Stage Director (2004)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

La scala di seta, Opera Southwest

Faust, Tri-Cities Opera/New York

Ariadne auf Naxos, Land of Enchantment Opera/New Mexico

Marcello Cormio

Conductor • Trani, Italy

CONDUCTOR  Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Les Pêcheurs de perles (2022)

La serva padrona (2021)

Rita/Il segreto di Susanna (2019)

Debut: Assistant Conductor (2010 Winter & Fall)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

La traviata, La Musica Lirica Summer Festival

A Room with a View, Così fan tutte, L’elisir d’amore,  Michigan State University

Hänsel und Gretel, Savannah VOICE Festival

Jordan Costa

Tenor • Ridgefield, CT STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Studio Artist (Fall 2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Remendado, Carmen, Glimmerglass Festival

Nemorino, L’elisir d’amore, Opera in Williamsburg

Caitlin Crabill

Soprano • Kettering, OH

DONNA ELVIRA

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Tosca, Tosca (2022)

Wally, La Wally (2020)

Turandot, Turandot (2019)

Pepa, Tiefland (2018)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2017)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Soprano, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Dayton Philharmonic

Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly, Central City Opera

Mimì, La bohème, Bay View Music Festival

Rafael Davila

Tenor • Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

ERNANI, Ernani

The Jan Schmidt Endowed Artist

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Hagenbach of Sölden, La Wally (2020) Otello, Otello (2012)

Cavaradossi, Tosca (2015, 2009)

Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly (2011)

Turiddu, Cavalleria rusticana / Canio, Pagliacci (2005)

Debut: Puccini Concert (2003)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Don Carlo Don Carlo, Don José Carmen, Giasone Medea, Metropolitan Opera

Des Grieux, Manon Lescaut, San Francisco Opera, Liceu de Barcelona, Ópera de Valencia General Alfredo Lopez, Bel Canto, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Don Alvaro, La forza del destino, Washington National Opera Calaf, Turandot, Ópera de Puerto Rico

Stefano de Peppo

Bass • Milan, Italy

LEPORELLO

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Geronimo, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Uberto, La serva padrona (2021)

Gaudenzio, Il signor Bruschino (2021)

Dr. Dulcamara, L’elisir d’amore (2020)

Debut: Bartolo, Il barbiere di Sivigla (2008)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, Teatro Bicentennial/Mexico

Don Magnifico, La Cenerentola, Nashville Opera

Leporello, Don Giovanni, Finnish National Opera

Victor DeRenzi

Conductor • New York, NY CONDUCTOR

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor since 1982

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Tosca (2022)

Attila (2022)

La scala di seta (2021)

La Wally (2020)

Debut: Orphée aux enfers (1982)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

A Verdi Celebration, Opéra de Montréal

La fanciulla del west, Théàtre de l'Opéra de Nice

Un ballo in maschera, Canary Islands/Spain

Mezzo-Soprano • Cortlandt Manor, NY

KATE PINKERTON

Madama Butterfly

STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Studio Artist (Fall 2022)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Third Lady, Die Zauberflöte, Northern Lights Music Festival

Nireno, Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Connecticut Lyric Opera

Second Spirit, Die Zauberflöte, Palm Beach Opera

Smeton, Anna Bolena, dell’Arte Opera

Kellen Eason

Resident Hair and Make-Up Designer Portland, OR

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Winter (2021)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Wig and makeup designer, Eugene Opera

Wig and makeup assistant, Florida Grand Opera

Wig and makeup assistant, Portland Opera

Raquel González

Stage Director • New York, NY

STAGE DIRECTOR

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

La Fille du régiment (2022)

La serva padrona (2021)

La bohème (2020)

L’Italiana in Algeri (2017)

Debut: Benoit, La bohème (2006)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Les Pêcheurs de perles, Winter Opera St. Louis

Così fan tutte, Mobile Opera Nabucco, Union Avenue Opera/ Missouri

Soprano • Lawrence, KS

CIO-CIO-SAN

Madama Butterfly

Sarasota Opera Debut

The David and Edith Chaifetz

Endowed Artist

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly, Washington National Opera

Mimì, La bohème, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Glimmerglass Festival

Baritone • Udine, Italy

SHARPLESS

Madama Butterfly

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Count Robinson, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Marcello, La bohème (2020)

Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia (2018)

Debut: Lescaut Manon Lescaut (2018)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Dandini, La Cenerentola, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Slook, La cambiale di matrimonio, Teatro São Carlo, Lisbon

Roberto, Margherita, Wexford Festival

Aviva Fortunata

Soprano • Calgary, Canada

ELVIRA

Ernani

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Norma, Norma, The Dallas Opera Giorgetta, Il tabarro / Suor Angelica, Suor Angelica, Pacific Opera Victoria

Gutrune/Dritte Norn, Götterdämmerung, Canadian Opera Company

Scenic Designer • Philadelphia, PA

SCENIC DESIGNER

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

La bohème (2020)

Rigoletto (2019)

Manon Lescaut (2018)

L’amore dei tre re (2017)

Debut: Maskarade (1995)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

The Consul, Seattle Opera

Radio Golf, Arden Theatre Company Director of Design & Production, Mason Gross School of the Arts/ Rutgers University

Tenor • Battle Creek, MI

DON RICCARDO

Ernani

STUDIO ARTIST

The Ron and Barbara Archbold

Endowed Artist

SARASOTA OPERA

Paolino, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Spoletta Tosca (2022)  Studio Artist (2020)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2018)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Macduff Macbeth, Opera North Don Ottavio Don Giovanni,  Northwestern University

Sarah Ann Duffy

David P. Gordon

Levi Hamlin

Mark Freiman

Filippo Fontana

Tessa Hartle

Music Staff • Pittsburgh, PA

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Assistant Conductor, Les Pêcheurs de perles (2022)

Assistant Conductor, (2020, 2014)

Debut: Apprentice to the Music Staff (2011)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Porgy and Bess, Des Moines

Metro Opera

Pagliacci, Opera San Antonio

Le nozze di Figaro, Intermountain Opera Bozeman

THE ARTISTS WINTER 2023

Miles Herr

Tenor • Lenox, MA

GORO

Madama Butterfly

FIRST OFFICER

Thérèse

STUDIO ARTIST

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Ramiro, La Cenerentola, Fargo-Moorehead Opera

Bardolfo, Falstaff, Crested Butte Music Festival

Stevie and Professor Scott, The Cradle Will Rock, Opera Saratoga

Paul Leland Hill Ryan Howell

Bass • Salt Lake City, UT

THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER

Madama Butterfly STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2020)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Angelotti, Tosca, Opera on the James

Billy Huyler

Baritone • Florham Park, NJ

MASETTO

Don Giovanni

STUDIO ARTIST

The Gabriel and Valerie Schmergel

Endowed Artist

SARASOTA OPERA

Studio Artist (2022)

Apprentice Artist (2020)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2019)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Sid, Albert Herring, The Princeton Festival

Tarabotto, L'inganno felice, Opera Southwest

Heather Johnson

Mezzo Soprano • New York, NY

SUZUKI

Madama Butterfly

SARASOTA OPERA

Maddalena, Rigoletto (2012)

Elizabeth Proctor, The Crucible (2011)

Cenerentola, La Cenerentola (2010) Hansel, Hänsel und Gretel (2010)

Debut: Beppe, L'amico Fritz (2009)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Laura, Luisa Miller, Metropolitan Opera

Jan Arnold, Everest, Austin Opera  Dinah, Trouble in Tahiti, Boston Lyric Opera

Costume Designer • Oceanside, NY

RESIDENT COSTUME DESIGNER

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: 1998

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Alley Theatre

Asolo Center

Florida Grand Opera

ABC

PBS

Ringling Bros. Clown College OperaDelaware

Baltimore Opera

Kentucky Opera Barter Theater

Scenic Designer • Pittsburgh, PA

SCENIC DESIGNER

Thérèse

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

The Magic Flute, Opera Theatre Saint Louis

Ariadne auf Naxos, Cincinnati Opera

Atalanta, The Julliard School

Scenic Designer • Houston, TX

SCENIC DESIGNER

Ernani

SARASOTA OPERA

La Fille du régiment (2022)

La Wally (2020)

Debut: Tiefland (2018)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Opera San Jose

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Over 100 designs for Off-Broadway and regional theatre including Asolo Repertory Theatre

Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Steven C. Kemp

Music Staff • Seoul, South Korea

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA

Assistant Conductor, Roméo et Juliette, L’elisir d’amore, La Wally (2020)

Assistant Conductor, Rigoletto, Brundibár (2019)

Debut: Apprentice to the Music Staff/ Pianist (2019)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Rehearsal Pianist, Die Zauberflöte, Cendrillon, Amahl and the Night

Visitors, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, SUNY Purchase

Voice Coach, Staff Pianist, Manhattan School of Music

Assistant Conductor, The Pirates of Penzance, Opera North/ New Hampshire

THE ARTISTS WINTER 2023

Conductor • Schenectady, NY

CONDUCTOR

Thérèse

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Tosca, LA Opera

La traviata, Komische Opera Berlin

Carmen, Semperoper Dresden

Young Bok Kim

Bass • Seoul, South Korea

THE UNCLE BONZE

Madama Butterfly

IL COMMENDATORE

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Attila, Attila (2022)

Colline, La bohème (2020)

Timur, Turandot (2019)

Oroveso, Norma (2018)

Debut: Sarastro, Die Zauberflöte (2004)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Silva, Ernani, Opera Boston

Colline, La bohème, New York City Opera

Basilio, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Dallas Opera

Mezzo soprano • Holland, PA STUDIO ARTIST

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Nelly/Heather, The Hours (concert-world premiere), The Philadelphia Orchestra

La Zia Principessa, Suor Angelica

Olga, Eugene Onegin, The Academy of Vocal Arts

Zita, Gianni Schicchi, International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia

Music Staff • New York, NY APPRENTICE TO THE MUSIC STAFF

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Staff Pianist, Mannes School of Music

Coach, Trentino Music Festival

Vocal Coach, Eastman Opera Theatre

Anna Mandina

Soprano • Kansas City, MO

ZERLINA

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Serpina, La serva padrona (2021)

Mimì, La bohème (2020)

Liù, Turandot (2019)

Berta, Il barbiere di Siviglia (2018)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2017)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Susannah Polk, Susannah, Opera Fort Collins

Contessa Almaviva, Le nozze di Figaro, Landlocked Opera

Soprano • Philadelphia, PA STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Elisetta, Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Debut: Studio Artist (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Alcina, AlterEgo Opera

Violetta La traviata, Vincero Academy

Mimi La bohème, International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia

Music Staff • Sapiranga, Brazil DIRECTOR OF STUDIO ARTISTS PROGRAM / ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Don Giovanni, Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA

Conductor, The Secret World of Og (2022)

Conductor, La Fille du régiment (2022)

Conductor, Dido and Aeneas (2021) Program and Music Director of the Apprentice Artists/ Chorus Master (2020)

Debut: Youth Opera Music Director (2011)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Assistant Music Director, Opera Factory/New Zealand

Brenna Markey Jesse Martins

Chelsea Laggan Ava Linvog

Jamin Kim

Louis Lohraseb

Bass-Baritone • Denver, CO

STUDIO ARTIST

JAGO

Ernani

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Carl-Magnus, A Little Night Music, Union Avenue Opera

Bartolo, Le nozze di Figaro, Virginia Opera

Colline, La bohème, Virginia Opera

THE ARTISTS WINTER 2023

Soprano • New York, NY

GIOVANNA

Ernani

STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Giannetta, L’elisir d’amore (2020)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Maia, The Cows of Apollo, Aspen Music Festival

Gertrude, Hänsel und Gretel, Manhattan School of Music

Pamina, Die Zauberflöte, Amalfi Coast Music Festival

Christopher Oglesby

Tenor • Woodstock, GA

LT. B. F. PINKERTON

Madama Butterfly

SARASOTA OPERA DEBUT

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Edmondo, Manon Lescaut, San Francisco Opera

Jaquino, Fidelio, San Francisco Opera

Boris, Kát’a Kabanová, West Edge Opera, California

Choreographer • Englewood, NJ

CHOREOGRAPHER

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Choreographer, Rigoletto (2012)

Choreographer, Hänsel und Gretel (2010)

Choreographer, La rondine (2009)

Debut: Choreographer, Rigoletto (2008)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Director, Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet

Former Principal Dancer, Le Grands Ballets Canadiens

Former Principal Dancer, The Sarasota Ballet

Fight Choreographer • Union City, IN

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Roméo et Juliette (2020)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Stage Director, Choreographer, Little Women, New York University

Stage Director, Modern Works Festival, Urbanite Theatre/Sarasota

Stage Director, Playwright, Within This Tower, FSU Asolo Conservatory/Sarasota

Soprano • East Greenwich, RI

DONNA ANNA

Don Giovanni

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Zerlina, Don Giovanni, Opernhaus Zürich

Musetta, La bohème, LA Opera

Pamina, Die Zauberflöte, Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Baritone • Houston, TX

DON CARLO

Ernani

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Silvano, Un ballo in Maschera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Schaunard, La bohème, CulturArte de Puerto Rico

Papageno, Die Zauberflöte, Aspen Music Festival

Bass-Baritone • Dallas, TX

SECOND OFFICER

Thérèse

STUDIO ARTIST

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: Studio Artist (Fall 2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Frank, Die Fledermaus, Central City Opera

Count Ceprano, Rigoletto, Central City Opera

Sparafucile (cover), Rigoletto, Central City Opera

Sam, Trouble in Tahiti, Florida Grand Opera

Angelotti, Tosca, Virginia Opera

Diane Partington

Eric J. McConnell

India Marie Paul

Elizabeth Novella

Erica Petrocelli

Ricardo José Rivera

Andrew Simpson

Music Staff • Atlanta, GA

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

SARASOTA OPERA DEBUT

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Assistant Conductor, The Hamptons Festival of Music  Conductor, Atlanta Music Project

Assistant Conductor, The Atlanta Opera

THE ARTISTS WINTER 2023

Stage Director • Moline, IL

STAGE DIRECTOR

Madama Butterfly

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Il matrimonio segreto (2022)

Tosca (2022)

Il signor Bruschino (2021)

La Wally (2020)

Debut: Tatiana, Eugene Onegin (1984)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Turandot, Des Moines Metro Opera

La fanciulla del West, Utah Opera

Les Pêcheurs de perles, Madison Opera, Atlanta Opera, Opera Carolina

Andrew Surrena

Tenor • Houston, TX

ARMAND DE CLERVAL

Thérèse

SARASOTA OPERA (partial list)

Nadir, Les pêcheurs de perles (2022)

Aeneas, Dido and Aeneas (2021)

Roméo, Roméo et Juliette (2020)

Tamino, Die Zauberflöte (2019)

Alfredo Germont, La traviata (2017)

Debut: Apprentice Artist (2014)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Don José, Carmen, Glacier Symphony Orchestra

Tonio, La Fille du régiment, Opera North/New Hampshire

Ferrando, Così fan tutte, Opera in the Heights/Houston

Baritone • New York, NY

MOREL

Thérèse

STUDIO ARTIST

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Sid, Albert Herring, Miami Music Festival

Dr. Falke, Die Fledermaus, Landmark Opera

Conte Almaviva, Le nozze di Figaro, University of Southern California

Tenor • Orange County, CA

DON OTTAVIO

Don Giovanni

Sarasota Opera Debut

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Rinuccio, Gianni Schicchi, Hawaii Opera Theatre

Sergio, Fedora, Metropolitan Opera

Riff, West Side Story, Houston Grand Opera

Timothy Laughlin, Fellow Travelers, Opera Columbus

Bass-Baritone • Asheville, NC

DON GIOVANNI

Don Giovanni

SARASOTA OPERA

Nourabad, Les pêcheurs de perles (2022)

Debut: Angelotti, Tosca (2022)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Killian & Old Hermit, Der Freischütz, Wolf Trap Opera

The Bonze, Madama Butterfly, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro, Aspen Music Festival

Soprano • State College, PA

STUDIO ARTIST

The Olga and John Olenick

Endowed Artist

SARASOTA OPERA

Apprentice Artist (2022)

Debut: Winter Apprentice Artist (2021)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Liza, Queen of Spades, The Glimmerglass Festival

Giunone, La Calisto, The Juilliard School

Kate Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly, Charlottesville Opera

Eric Luis Viñas

Brian Vu

Stephanie Sundine

David Weigel

Julia Wolcott

Logan Souther

Music Staff • Salt Lake City, UT

CHORUS MASTER / DIRECTOR OF APPRENTICE ARTISTS PROGRAM

Madama Butterfly

SARASOTA OPERA Director of the Apprentice Artists Program (2022)

Chorus Master (2022)

Assistant Conductor (2020, 2021)

Debut: Assistant Conductor (2019)

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Coach, Minnesota Opera

Chorus Master/Coach, Brevard Music Center

Movement Consultant • Tokyo, Japan MOVEMENT CONSULTANT

Madama Butterfly

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Japanese cultural consultant, movement coach and certified kimono dresser for opera including Regina Opera, Amore Opera, Bleecker Street Opera, New Rochelle Opera, Onsite Opera

Lighting Designer • Seattle, WA

RESIDENT LIGHTING DESIGNER

SARASOTA OPERA

Debut: 2007

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Principal Lighting Designer, Alliance Theatre Company (2004-2017)

Resident Lighting Designer, Atlanta Opera (1993-2015)

Lighting Designer, Americas Brazil, Florida Grand Opera, Bermuda Arts Festival, Utah Opera, New Orleans Opera, Tulsa Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera New Jersey, Toledo Opera, San Antonio Opera

PRODUCTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Ernani and Thérèse costumes provided by Sarasota Opera Costume Studio.

Madama Butterfly scenery constructed by Center Line Studios, Cornwall, NY and painted by Michael Hagen Inc., South Glen Falls, NY. Originally constructed in 2007.

Don Giovanni scenery constructed by Center Line Studios, Cornwall, NY and painted by Michael Hagen Inc., South Glen Falls, NY. Originally constructed in 2005.

Ernani scenery constructed and painted by Opera San Jose, San Jose, CA.

Thérèse scenery constructed and painted by Theatrical Builds LLC., Portsmouth, VA. Backdrops painted by Cobalt Studios, White Lake, NY and Laura C. McPherson, Havelock, NC.

Special Thanks

Dr. Francesco Izzo - Scholar in Residence

Language Coaches

German: Bobby Garibaldi-Sanders

Italian: Stefano de Peppo, Marco Nisticò

French: Hélène Lebleu, Camille Thinnes, Vincent, Ricaud

Company Drivers Dennis Bowman, Bob Francescone, Sam Levine, Olaf Maly and Richard Parlato

Intercoastal Medical Group - Doctors and staff for providing quality care in a timely fashion to our company.

Asolo Repertory Theatre - To our colleagues Vic Meyrich, David Ferguson, Shane Streight, Frank Paul, and the rest of the staff for their continued support and generosity.

Lindsay Woodward

Yoko Yamashita

Ken Yunker

SARASOTA OPERA ORCHESTRA 2023

Each season, some of the most accomplished instrumentalists in classical music come together to form the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Professional musicians from as far away as California and New York, as well as from here in Florida, join together to perform in one of the finest opera orchestras in the country. Many of our players have been with us for over five years, with several performing more than ten seasons. Having a resident orchestra gives Sarasota Opera the opportunity to thoroughly rehearse the season’s operas over the course of several weeks. The Sarasota Opera Orchestra is committed to presenting quality opera season after season.

Violin

Mark Chien — Brooklyn, NY (3)

Concertmaster

The Murray Bring and Kay Delaney Endowed Chair

Abigail Hong – Cherry Hill, NJ (1) Associate Concertmaster

Sun-Young Gemma Shin — Sarasota, FL (1) Principal Second Violin

Julia Birnbaum – Brooklyn, NY (6)

Jeremiah Blacklow – New York, NY (1)

Lu Friedman – Hartford, CT (14)

Juan Jaramillo – Pittsburgh, PA (16)

Ivelina Kofler – Laguna Hills, CA (5)

Yuri Kye – Oakland, CA (6)

Anna Leunis – New Haven, CT (3)

Natalia Vasilieva Maiden – Sarasota, FL (14)

Shelley Mathews – Wheaton, MD (7)

Milene Moreira – Sarasota, FL (16)

Adrianne Munden-Dixon – New York, NY (2)

Matthew Oshida – Palo Alto, CA (9)

Luke Santonastaso – Los Angeles, CA (5)

Jaya Varma – Houston, TX (1)

Ann Yu – Northfield, OH (1)

Viola

Alexandra VandeGeijn — Philadelphia, PA (8)

Principal

Isabella Mensz – Astoria, NY (3)

Elisa Rega – Portland, OR (1)

Laura Sacks – New York, NY (1)

Dan Urbanowicz – St. Petersburg, FL (1)

Madeline Warner – Ypsilanti, MI (2)

English Horn

Nadine Trudel — Sarasota, FL (18)

Principal

Julia Henderson – New York, NY (5)

Heewon Lee – Honolulu, HI (1)

Andrea Mills – Trumbull, CT (19)

The Eleanor Wilson Williams Endowed Chair

Edevaldo Mulla – Zephyrhills, FL (2)

Paul Swensen – New York, NY (6)

Gil S. Katz – Sarasota, FL (21)

Principal

Ryan Bassett – Pittsburgh, PA (3)

Kolten Heeren – Bloomington, IN (1)

Jacob McAleavey – Pittsburgh, PA (1)

Cello Bass Flute

Mira Magrill – New York, NY (2)

Principal

Allison DeFrancesco – Houston, TX (1)

Francesca Arnone*

Jennifer Case

Clarinet

Eric Anderson – Naples, FL (4)

Principal

The Ed and Jane Bavaria Endowed Chair

Benjamin Chen – Cleveland, OH (3)

Nicholas Davies – Great Falls, MT (1)

Bass Clarinet

Nicholas Davies

Galina Kiep – Chicago, IL (8)

Principal

Corinne Crowley – Cary, NC (1)

Bassoon Horn

Margarite Waddell – Eugene, OR (1)

Principal

Brian Goodwin – Highland Park, IL (1)

Heather Johnson – Slippery Rock, PA (1)

Allison DeFrancesco

Francesca Arnone

Piccolo Oboe

Rick Basehore – Silver Spring, MD (14)

Principal

Jennifer Case – Huntsville, AL (7)

Alyssa McKeithen*

Shane Wedel*

Sandra Swanson – Evanston, IL (23)

Trumpet

Paul Neebe – Chapel Hill, NC (5)

Principal

Larry Herman – Cleveland, OH (24)

Alan Evans*

Trombone

Whitney Clair – Jacksonville, FL (1)

Principal

Kathryn Curran – San Francisco, CA (10)

Matthew Russell – Montreal, Canada (1)

Bass Trombone

Jonathan Schubert – Harleysville, PA (14)

The Mr. and Mrs. William E. Chapman, II

Endowed Chair

Harp

Giuseppina Ciarla – Bari, Italy (19)

Principal

John Kieffer*

Mandolin

Rafael Ramírez*

Timpani Percussion

William Manley – Jamaica Plain, MA (17) Principal

Andre Sonner – Glen Carbon, IL (5) Principal

Aaron Nix – Sarasota, FL (7)

Greg Simonds – West Newton, MA (2)

Orchestra Contractor Orchestra Manager

Gregg Koyle

William Manley

Orchestra Librarian

William Manley

* – Associate Musician

ROSARIO ARMAS, Mezzo-Soprano

Tlaxcala, Mexico

Sponsored by Steve and Lynn Blackledge

MARY P. BURKE, Mezzo-Soprano

Centreville, Virginia

Sponsored by Hank and Melinda Foster

SCOTT HETZ CLARK, Baritone

Leesburg, Virginia

The Lynn and Steve Blackledge

Endowed Artist

LIZ CULPEPPER, Mezzo-Soprano

Austin, Texas

Sponsored by Ruth Kreindler

OLIVIA CURRIER, Mezzo-Soprano

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sponsored by Amanda and Dick Smoot

JEREK FERNANDEZ, Tenor

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sponsored by Forrest Crawford

STEELE FITZWATER, Bass-Baritone

Dawson, West Virginia

Sponsored by Larry and Carol English

HELEN HENDRICKS, Soprano

Phoenix, AZ

Sponsored by Ms. Katherine Benoit and Mr. John Brooks

APPRENTICE ARTISTS

MARK HOSSEINI, Baritone

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sponsored by Felicia and Andrew Hall

MELINA JAHARIS, Mezzo-Soprano

Winnetka, IL

Sponsored by Janice and Hobart Swan

JW KECKLEY, Tenor

Carl Junction, Missouri

Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. William Lloyd

KAREN KELLEY, Mezzo-Soprano

Tempe, Arizona

The Joel D. and Ellen S. Fedder

Endowed Artist

GIOWOOUNG KIM, Tenor

Seoul, South Korea

Sponsored by Joey Frye, in memoriam

AMANDA LEVY, Soprano

Smithtown, New York

Sponsored by Eleanor Faber

JAMES MANCUSO, Tenor

Shoreham, NY

Sponsored by Margaret Renner

SERGIO MANDUJANO, Tenor

Norwalk, CT

Sponsored by Janet Stern Solomon and Lewis D. Solomon

RANDELL MCGEE, Baritone

Saint Louis, Missouri

Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mallof

VIRGINIA MIMS, Soprano

West Palm Beach, FL

Sponsored by Alan Kesten and Pamela Jones

AMANDALYNNE PERZYK, Soprano

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Sponsored by Helena Panoyan

SAMUEL RACHMUTH, Bass-Baritone

New York, New York

Sponsored by Alain and Helene Lebleu

JUSTIN RAMM-DAMRON, Bass-Baritone

New York, New York

Sponsored by William C. and Joyce K. Fletcher

ELLEN ROBERTSON, Soprano

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The Joey Frye Endowed Artist

VERONICA ROBINSON, Soprano

Los Angeles, California

Sponsored by Paul and Sharon Steinwachs

ESTEBAN SENZIG, Tenor

Provo, Utah

Sponsored by Stephania and James McClennen

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

SPECIAL AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPS AND SPECIAL AWARDS 2022-2023

Each season the Sarasota Opera Guild, Bradenton Opera Guild, and individual donors and foundations award outstanding members of the company for their work. Names marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing with Sarasota Opera in the 2022-2023 season.

THE STUART AND PATRICIA SILVER SCHOLARSHIP FOR A RETURNING APPRENTICE ARTIST, IN LOVING MEMORY FROM THEIR FAMILY

2022 Recipient

Tori Franklin

Previous Winners: Travis Lucas, Levi Hamlin*, Samuel Schlievert, Rachelle Moss, Alexander Charles Boyd, Mackenzie Gotcher, Jessie Malgieri, William Dwyer, Tania Maria Rodriguez, Lindsay Barche, Alissa Anderson, Nicole Mitchell, Joshua Marr, Emily Ezzie

THE JOAN HERROLD AND DAVID WOOD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE BY A STAFF MEMBER

2023 Recipients

Martha Collins

Jeremie Guglielmi

Brenda Tamm

Previous Winners: Susan Ashcraft, Eden François, Howard Tsvi Kaplan, David Sorrells, Scott Keclik, John Young, Jo Ann Whitehead, George Hemcher, Steve Grair, Brenda Tamm, Susan Ashcraft, Samuel Lowry, Cheryl Parete, Susan Reeves, Joel Cheatham, Claire Ryan, Jennifer Simms, Ken Tarasi, Jesse Martins, Benjamin D. Plocher, Samuel Lowry, Greg Trupiano, James Reid, Jeanne Smith, Richard Russell, Gloria Slyferth, Irek Sipowicz-Hicks, Christopher G. Burtless

THE BRADENTON OPERA GUILD HELEN JEPSON DELLERA FELLOWSHIP AWARD FOR A DESERVING STUDIO ARTIST

2022 Recipient

Levi Hamlin*

Recent Winners: Yvonne Trobe, Ganson Salmon, Sean Christensen, Alexander Charles Boyd, Matthew Vickers, Daryl Freedman, Tyler Putnam, Lindsay Barche, Matthew Hanscom, Sarah Asmar, Angela Mortellaro, Benjamin Gelfand, Maria D’Amato, David Crawford, Michael Redding, Mark T. Panuccio

GUNTHER AND ILSE KERN GRANT FOR OPERA ARTISTS

2022 Recipients

Kevin Harvey, Billy Huyler*, Gyan Singh Maria

Recent Winners: Ruthie Clark, Annie Chester, Jamin Kim*, Nicole Woodward, Nicolò Sbuelz, Giuseppina Ciarla*, Justin Pambianchi, Rachel Lucas, Elizabeth Tredent, Jon Jurgens, Malori Eileen Cade, James Kenon Mitchell, Greg Trupiano, Jonathan Burton, John F. Spencer IV, Kevin Wetzel, Stephen Fish, Tessa Hartle*, Young-Bok Kim*, Heath Huberg, Gary Casity, Jonathan Kimple, Vanessa Carridi, Scott Guinn, Michael Spassov, Daniel Holmes, Kendall C. Gladen, Julie Makerov, Jonathan Carle, Lisa Hasson, Christina Bouras, Michael Rice, Julia Turner, Ann Lavin, Anthony Barrese, Christina Arethas, Frank Martinelli, Roy Cornelius Smith, Simeon Esper, Roxanne Rowedder, Melissa A. Manseau

THE SARASOTA OPERA GUILD ANNE J. O’DONNELL AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE ARTIST

2022 Recipient

Julia Wolcott*

Previous Winners: Robert Gerold, Elissa Pfaender, Caitlin Crabill*, Beibei Guan, Andrew Surrena*, Emily Holsclaw, Robyn Marie Lamp, Rebecca Witty, Rhea Olivacce, Leah Dexter, Bernard D. Holcomb, Candra Savage, Adam Patrick Cromer, Christopher Harrison, Julia Benzinger, John Green, Anthony Zeller

THE SARASOTA OPERA GUILD LEO M. ROGERS AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE ARTIST

2022 Recipient

James Mancuso*

Previous Winners: Juliet Powar, Kevin Thomas Harvey, Paul G. L. Grosvenor, Anna Mandina*, Sean Christensen, Mary Evelyn Hangley, Andrew Surrena*, Keith Brown, Lenora Green, Jennifer Townshend, Joseph A. Valone, John Paul Huckle, Alexandra Rafalo, Benjamin Gelfand, Veronica Mitina

COU

ONE VIBRANT COAST OF CULTURE

There’s a good reason Sarasota County is known as Florida’s Cultural Coast™. Celebrating the arts just comes naturally here. Look around every corner and find creative energy—accentuated by a collaborative community of visual and performing arts. Between historic theaters and music halls, art organizations, galleries and museums, step out on the town this season and discover it for yourself.

COU NT Y

We

have art

Step inside and experience world-class contemporary art. Feel your hair stand on end. Savor a fleeting moment that leaves a permanent spark.

• Monthly Free Second Sundays

• Jazz Thursdays

• Shop for unique delights

• Bistro and coffee bar

• Something for all ages

SeeforyourselfVisitSAM

Perfect for those times when you don’t want or have time to cook but still crave something delicious. Morton’s kitchen offers an amazing array of gourmet entrees and comfort foods, all prepared from scratch and packaged to go.

Save time, money and effort while savoring the city’s best take-out, hands down. Don’t miss our huge selection of freshly made salads too! Serving

The cornerstone of our commitment to you.

SARASOTA 1586 Main Street CNTrustCompany.com (941) 366-7222

PAUL TARANTINO SVP, Wealth Advisor Ext. 50720

SUZANNE ELLIN, JD, CGMA, CTFA, CFP® SVP, Trust Administration Officer Ext. 50721

The freedom to focus on what’s important.

JOIN THE CHORUS AND Raise Your Voice FOR SARASOTA OPERA!

What role do you want to play? Support your passion or give to each opportunity. Here is how you can Raise Your Voice for Sarasota Opera!

SARASOTA OPERA STARS | $50 - $5,999

STARs are the largest group of donors, supporting the world-class productions and enriching education and community engagement programs each season. Becoming a donor at this level will also provide many opportunities for you to expand your knowledge of the art form and deepen your experience of Sarasota Opera productions.

Each season Sarasota Opera welcomes audiences into the historic Sarasota Opera House to share the experience of exquisitely produced art, led by the power of the unamplified human voice.

It takes hundreds of people to create an opera production. But opera doesn’t live until thousands of people from all walks of life come through the doors of the Opera House for the sights, sounds, and sensations of a live performance. Opera is a powerful tool to build a culturally vibrant community. We create a calendar of educational and community-building events centered around the main titles of each season to inspire conversation, social engagement, and increased knowledge of the nearly 500 years of opera history.

Sarasota Opera is also dedicated to music education and the development of emerging artists. Sarasota Youth Opera provides robust training in opera and theatrical skills to youth aged 8 to 18. Programs like Invitation to Opera and Explorations in Opera, along with Artists in Schools and Youth Opera Workshops takes the world of opera to kids in our community and invites them into the theater to experience the power of live performance. Finally, our Studio and Apprentice Artist programs give practical training to singers just beginning their careers.

Visit SarasotaOpera.org/support to join the chorus and raise your voice in support of all we do to contribute to our thriving community.

Already a donor? Increasing your gift by supporting another program not only supports our season, it expands your involvement. Each donor level and program offers more access to opportunities to connect with artists, directors, conductors, and designers.

YOUTH OPERA & EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $50 - $10,000 + Donors to Sarasota Youth Opera & Education programs support one of the most comprehensive youth opera programs in the country, providing a unique music education experience to youth, aged 8-18, from the greater Sarasota area and beyond. They also support our robust education programs that both invites students to the Opera House and takes the performances into their schools.

THE ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT FUND

| $5,000 +

The new Artistic Achievement Fund provides supplemental support to productions that are important to Sarasota Opera’s mission but might not draw the same audiences as a more well-known piece. The fund also helps to offset rising production costs across the whole Sarasota Opera season. Participants in this fund enjoy access-based benefits that bring them up close to the work of Sarasota Opera.

CO-PRODUCERS/SEASON

PRODUCERS | $6,000 - $30,000 + Co-Producers and Season Producers underwrite a substantial portion of the cost of producing world-class opera in Sarasota. Becoming a Season Producer or Co-Producer brings you VIP status and immerses you in the Sarasota Opera production process with access to dress rehearsals and concierge service from Sarasota Opera’s Development and Box Office staff.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN RAISE YOUR VOICE , call (941) 366-8450, ext. 813 or email development@sarasotaopera.org.

Beginning in the 2023-24 Season, all gifts of $50 or more include name recognition in our program books. Donors whose total annual giving equals $6,000 or more receive personal concierge service from a staff liaison, invitations to special donor appreciation events featuring Sarasota Opera Artists, access to The McCorkle Lounge, and name and photo recognition in our program books.

Sarasota Opera Association, Inc., a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization, acknowledges contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISON OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (1-800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #: CH429

Sarasota Opera’s 2015 production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel Photo by Rod Millington

SEASON PRODUCERS

Season PRODUCERS

Sarasota Opera is proud to celebrate its 64th season of producing opera for Sarasota audiences. Season Producers and Co-Producers are recognized for the number of years they have supported Sarasota Opera with a gift at this level. These gifts underwrite a substantial portion of production costs, and we gratefully acknowledge Co-Producer support of the 2023 Winter Festival Season in the following pages. To learn more about becoming a Season Producer or Co-Producer, contact Director of Development Scott Guinn at (941) 366-8450, ext. 416 or sguinn@sarasotaopera.org. Gifts and pledges are current as of December 15, 2022. Gifts and pledges received after this date will appear in the 2023 Fall Program Book.

Sarasota Opera is proud to celebrate its 63rd season of producing opera for Sarasota audiences. Production Sponsors, Season Producers, and Co-Producers are recognized for the number of years they have supported Sarasota Opera with a major gift. These gifts underwrite a substantial portion of production costs, and we gratefully acknowledge Co-Producer support of La scala di seta in the following pages. To learn more about becoming a Production Sponsor, Season Producer, or Co-Producer, contact Director of Development Scott Guinn at (941) 366-8450, ext. 416 or sguinn@sarasotaopera.org.

Gifts and pledges are current as of September 15, 2021.

ED

For both Ed and Jane, their love of opera began in their youth. Jane was raised in Greenville, Mississippi, and she and her family went to opera and operetta performances in Memphis – the nearest large city. As for Ed, “The first music I heard was most probably 1920’s vintage recordings of opera arias sung by the famous voices of that era, as well as listening to my Italian-born mother singing portions of the more wellknown arias.” Ed then participated in a musical group known as the Roseto Italian Boys Band as a clarinetist. The only music the group played was marches, opera arias, and opera overtures!

The Bavarias spent most of their adult lives living abroad or in Cincinnati. Their enthusiasm for opera became a passion when living in London in the early 1980s, then in Cincinnati where Ed was a member of the Cincinnati Opera and Symphony boards. They also were involved with Opera Pacific while living in California in the mid-90s.

S

Ed joined Sarasota Opera’s board in 1998. “I’ve been joyfully immersed in our opera company ever since.”

14 S M

BAVARIA in loving memory of Jane 25

Ed Bavaria, in loving memory of Jane 24

Murray Bring and Kay Delaney

LES AND CAROL BRUALDI 20

season of producing opera for Sarasota audiences. Production Sponsors, recognized for the number of years they have supported Sarasota Opera with portion of production costs, and we gratefully acknowledge Co-Producer learn more about becoming a Production Sponsor, Season Producer, Scott Guinn at (941) 366-8450, ext. 416 or sguinn@sarasotaopera.org. 2021.

Carol was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Brooklyn College and transferred to the University of Connecticut where she received a B.A. in Education and served as President of Alpha Delta Phi. She taught English for a number of years in Greenville, South Carolina. Carol has devoted much of her life to their wonderful family, raising three beautiful daughters and proudly talks about their seven grandchildren. She has also given a great deal of time to organizations like the Thursday Morning Club of Madison, New Jersey, for which she served as President. This civic organization focuses on improving the lives of citizens with a strong emphasis on children and families.

Les was raised in Connecticut and grew up in scouting, achieving Eagle Scout and is a USAF veteran. He received a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Connecticut, where he met Carol, an M.B.A. from Baruch School-CCNY, and an A.M.P from Harvard Business School. He retired as CEO of ADT Security Services after 23 years. Les joined the Sarasota Opera Board in 2004, became Vice Chair in 2006, and served as Chair from 2008 to 2011. Carol and Les are especially supportive of the Youth Opera, as well as assisting numerous teenagers in achieving their educational goals.

“We are delighted to be part of the Sarasota Opera team. The enthusiasm, support, and commitment to outstanding opera make engaging and working with the entire Opera community a wonderful pleasure.”

After several years as snowbirds, David and Edith became full-time residents of Sarasota during the summer of 2016. They came to love opera relatively late, about 18 years ago, when they both retired from their careers and moved to Sarasota. Prior to retirement in December 2004, David was Vice President and General Counsel of Praxair, Inc. a global producer of industrial gases. Edith was founder and owner of Brooklawn Travel, Inc. in Bridgeport, CT.

David joined Sarasota Opera’s Board of Trustees in 2006, became Vice Chair in 2011 and served as Chair from 2014-2017.

Over the years, both in Connecticut and Sarasota, David and Edith have held leadership positions and have financially supported many organizations whose missions are important to them. David currently is on the boards of the American Jewish Committee and Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Edith is currently on the board of the Perlman Music Program Suncoast and has previously served on the boards of All Faiths Food Bank and the Fairfield County Jewish Home for the Elderly Foundation. They jointly co-chair the Sarasota chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

David and Edith are both grateful for the success they have had in their careers and believe that it is important that they give back to their community in order to enhance the community’s quality of life.

David and Edith have three children and eight grandchildren.

DAVID AND EDITH CHAIFETZ 18

6 SARASOTA OPERA FALL SEASON 2021

Ed Bavaria, in loving memory of Jane 24 S

Les and Carol Brualdi 19 M

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

Murray Bring and Kay Delaney 14 S M

David and Edith Chaifetz 17 M

LARRY AND CAROL ENGLISH 25

Carol and Larry live on Longboat Key and spend summers in Simsbury, Connecticut. They both grew up in New Jersey and met while Larry was attending Rutgers University. Their love of opera began in 1981. While attending a convention in Philadelphia, they had an opportunity to hear Luciano Pavarotti sing Rodolfo in La bohème at the Academy of Music. They were smitten and soon had season tickets for the Connecticut Opera. Carol became an active fundraiser for the Connecticut Opera Guild and served as its President. She was later nominated to the Board and in 1994 served as its Chair.

The Englishes have been coming to Longboat Key since 1983. When they began spending more time in the Sarasota area, it was only natural that they became involved with the opera.

Carol is a member of Sarasota Opera’s Board of Trustees and is an active supporter of the Sarasota Animal Rescue Coalition and SPARCC. Larry is retired. He is an avid cyclist, a member of the Sarasota Manatee Cycle Club and The Eastern Block Cycle club in Connecticut.

MR. AND MRS. ROBERT ESSNER 12

Bob and Anne Essner visited Sarasota for the first time soon after Bob retired from a career in the pharmaceutical industry. They bought a house in Lido Shores four days later and Sarasota has now become their home. One of the factors that attracted them to Sarasota was the reputation of its opera company. The Essners have been active at Lincoln Center in New York City for many years and still frequently attend the Metropolitan Opera. Bob and Anne have three children and two beautiful granddaughters.

SEASON PRODUCERS

HANK AND MELINDA FOSTER 20

Hank and Melinda are proud to be among the Season Producers and to celebrate the magic and majesty of Sarasota Opera. “We feel very fortunate to have this special opera company in our town. Each performance is a feast for the senses, complete with lavish sets and costumes in a beautiful opera house with amazing orchestra, singers and chorus. In this season and in those to come, we hope you will join us in support of Sarasota Opera.”

We love and support Sarasota Opera because we find the opera music and stories very relaxing with the bonus of the beaty of the singers’ notes that can move one to tears.

DR. FRANZ AND JOANNE HUMMERT 8

SEASON PRODUCERS

MR. WALDRON KRAEMER AND MS. JOAN LOVELL 11

After many winters on their sailboat in the Bahama Out Islands, Wally and his wife Joan were ready to relocate to an area with boating and culture. A short visit to Sarasota and the Opera in 2011 sealed the deal. They left the boating life, made the move, and have been happy to call Sarasota their home ever since.

After graduating from Colgate University and Harvard Law School, Wally returned to New Jersey to practice law with his firm, Kraemer Burns. Joan, a graduate of Wellesley College and Rutgers Law School, joined the firm ten years later. He currently serves as Chair of the Sarasota Opera Board of Trustees.

A longtime opera buff, Wally was a MET subscriber for over 30 years and for many years has received his summer dose of opera at Glimmerglass. Wally has a strong interest in expanding opera’s audience to include younger people, particularly college students.

Joan continues to practice law and is active in their neighborhood and condominium associations and enjoys ballet and poetry. Wally continues his law practice on a limited basis and play golf poorly but with great enthusiasm. He spends much time reading and enjoying opera.

ERNIE KRETZMER in loving memory of Alisa Kretzmer 24

Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer first met on New Year’s Day in 1982 and were married exactly one year later. Alisa was born in Jerusalem and lived there for the first 24 years of her life. Ernie lived in the lower Rhine region in Germany until he escaped from the evil regime at the age of 14. As it turns out, they lived for many years only nine miles apart in Monmouth County, New Jersey. When they met, both had been widowed and found they shared similar passions, including a love of classical music and opera. For well over 20 years they were dedicated patrons and supporters of Sarasota Opera and Ernie is continuing the tradition in Alisa’s memory.

SEASON PRODUCERS

CLAUDIA MCCORKLE 20

It is with utmost enthusiasm Claudia wishes to express her gratitude to Victor DeRenzi, Richard Russell and the entire staff of Sarasota Opera! To Claudia, Sarasota Opera is the “Crown Jewel” of the opera world. Many of the people affiliated with Sarasota Opera are the most fun to be around and have become her closest friends.

Claudia’s ever-present companion, Beau, is a Golden Doodle Service Dog trained by PET PEEVES in St. Petersburg. He enjoys opera, ballet, symphonic music, birdwatching, paddle boarding and a host of sporting events. His favorite opera, so far, has been The Magic Flute whereby the challenge for him was to resist from barking at Papageno!

As a volunteer Therapy Dog, Beau has enjoyed work at Plymouth Harbor, Sarasota; the Florida Cancer Institute, St. Petersburg; the Rehabilitation Center at Morton Plant, Clearwater; and the VA Hospital at Bay Pines, St. Petersburg. Beau is currently enrolled in Agility Training at the Dog Training Club in St. Petersburg.

AUDREY ROBBINS AND HARRY LEOPOLD 22

Dedicated operagoer and loyal supporter Harry Leopold has been a prominent member of the Sarasota Opera family for more than a decade. Harry and Audrey are passionate about encouraging the growth of young artists and are particularly supportive of the Youth Opera programs. They worked with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to create the new Arts Integration Initiative with the USF Graduate School of Education which brings more arts programs into Sarasota schools. Their permanent endowment at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, provides that all Sarasota high school students will be able to attend at least one live performance each year at either Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, Asolo Repertory Theatre, or Florida Studio Theatre.

BUD AND BETTY SHAPIRO 20

“Congratulations and thank you to Sarasota Opera for 64 years of stunning performances! We have had the good fortune to have enjoyed 30 years of these wonderful moments and look forward to many more years of pure enjoyment.”

ARTHUR SICILIANO AND B. ALINE BLANCHARD 14

Arthur Siciliano discovered the Metropolitan Opera on his radio when he was eight-years old and became an avid listener. As he is a second-generation Italian, opera was a sometimes visitor in his house, as his mother had attended occasionally. It wasn’t long before Arthur convinced his mother to take him to a Met performance in Boston.

Arthur and his wife, D. Aline Blanchard, knew that they had opera in common. Aline’s father was first horn for both WOR Symphony of the Air and later, the NBC Symphony under Toscanini. Her maternal grandparents were both opera fans, but other than Aida and Hansel and Gretel, it was a performance of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah that ignited that fire.

After an executive career in the chemical and cosmetic industries, Art co-founded a pharmaceutical and medical device company. Besides serving as Sarasota Opera’s Treasurer, he is on the Board of several other non-profits. Aline is a published novelist, poet, and former corporate consultant who is also a working experimental-mixed-media artist. Art and Aline recently sold their home on Casey Key and moved to a downtown Sarasota condo where they can walk to theater and opera performances.

TOBY AND NOEL SIEGEL 8

Toby and Noel Siegel have been spending time in Sarasota for many years. “Upon leaving New York, we were delighted to make our permanent home in Sarasota where we could enjoy and help support the wonderful quality and diversity of the arts and social services. We especially appreciate our outstanding opera company. Toby is proud to serve on the Board of Trustees of this exceptional organization.”

Sharon and Paul Steinwachs have called Longboat Key home since they moved from Buffalo, New York in 2000. They were drawn to the Sarasota area to be near family and for the plethora of cultural amenities available.

Mr. Steinwachs is a retired executive, having owned a mail order industries sign company that dealt both domestically and internationally. They have one son and three grandchildren, who also live in the Sarasota area.

Mr. and Mrs. Steinwachs are ardent supporters of the local arts scene and firmly believe it is vital for patrons to support the arts in this challenging fundraising environment to ensure the future of the arts in Sarasota. They were drawn to Sarasota Opera by the intimacy of the productions, the professionalism and commitment to creating great art. They hold a soft spot in their hearts for the music, acting, and visual designs of Sarasota Opera. They are proud to have helped Sarasota Opera build new residences for artists in the Rosemary District.

PAUL AND SHARON STEINWACHS 16

SEASON PRODUCERS

BILL AND REBECCA TOMPKINS 14

Bill and Rebecca Tompkins were born and raised in Alabama. Moving to Florida in 1985, they resided alternately or concurrently in Tampa, Boca Grande and Sarasota.

Because of its wealth in performing arts, especially Sarasota Opera, Rebecca and Bill made Sarasota their primary residence in 2002. At that time, they began their involvements in several of the local performing arts organizations as well as Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

Bill has been an avid opera fan for over 65 years. One of his longstanding hobbies is studying the great opera composers and their respective masterworks. Bill and Rebecca have attended numerous operas in NYC and in Europe and were Metropolitan Opera Patrons through 2008. They attended their first Sarasota Opera performance during its 2003 Winter Season. Bill has not missed attending any opera presented by Sarasota Opera since then. When Bill read this company’s motto of offering opera productions that are “true to the vision of the composer,” he said to Rebecca and others, “that is exactly how I have always believed that operas should be performed.”

Bill is on Sarasota Opera’s Board of Trustees and is chairs it Legacy Subcommittee.

Don and Rachael Worthington divide their time between homes in Florida and Vermont. Rachael was introduced to Sarasota Opera while a student at New College and together they have been opera enthusiasts for many years.

Don was born in Tampa and was able to trace his Florida ancestry to an 1817 Spanish Land Grant. He received a degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, became a Registered Professional Engineer, and founded several businesses in the field of industrial air conditioning. His interests include cooking, writing, genealogy, and woodworking.

Rachael was born in Atlanta and her family lived in numerous places around the world as she grew up. She received a Master of Music degree, and after a seven-year teaching career entered law school. She is an attorney in Vermont and Florida and has a particular interest in mediation. Rachael currently serves on the board of the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg as Vice Chair for Development.

Don and Rachael both enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

DON AND RACHAEL WORTHINGTON 22

SEASON PRODUCERS

NOT PICTURED:

MAX EISENBARTH TRUST

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE ONE ANONYMOUS SEASON PRODUCER.

QUADRUPLE CO-PRODUCERS

SYBLE DI GIROLAMO 15 M

Il matrimonio segreto, Madama Butterfly, Ernani, Thérèse

ROSE MARIE PROIETTI 7 S

Il matrimonio segreto, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Thérèse

MRS. MARGARET RENNER, in loving memory of Ernst Renner 7 S

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Ernani, Thérèse

NOT PICTURED: ELLEN V. PIERS FUND OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Ernani, Thérèse

Il matrimonio segreto,

Giovanni, Thérèse

TRIPLE CO-PRODUCERS

Il matrimonio segreto, Ernani, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Ernani, Thérèse

Il

Il matrimonio segreto,

RON AND BARB ARCHBOLD 10

Don

SUMNER AND IRENE BAGBY 15 CHARLES AND MARGERY BARANCIK FOUNDATION 8

matrimonio segreto, Don Giovanni, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Thérèse Il matrimonio segreto, Madama Butterfly, Ernani Don Giovanni, Ernani, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Ernani

LYNN AND STEVE BLACKLEDGE 15

DR. AND MRS. HERBERT KAUFMAN 11 GABRIEL AND VALERIE SCHMERGEL 18 JAN SCHMIDT 15

BRAD AND LYNDA BLAYLOCK 3 MURRAY BRING AND KAY DELANEY 15

Don Giovanni, Ernani

TRIPLE CO-PRODUCERS

NOT PICTURED:

MARGARET

DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS

JANET STERN SOLOMON AND LEWIS D. SOLOMON 4 S

ROCCO AND ELIZABETH AVERSA 3 S, M

Don Giovanni, Ernani, Thérèse

Don Giovanni, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Ernani, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Ernani, Thérèse

Il matrimonio segreto, Madama Butterfly

ROBERT AND CAMILLE THINNES 3

MS. KATHERINE BENOIT AND MR. JOHN BROOKS 9 S

MICHAL AND JIM WADSWORTH 8

BONNIE AND WILLIAM CHAPMAN 11

Madama Butterfly, Ernani, Thérèse

ROMANES 15 S

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS

ANNE TERRY BRENNAN DAVIS 3 S, M

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM LLOYD 12

ROBERT L. FOWLER AND SUSAN E. GILBERT 4

MR. AND MRS. ARNOLD KAPLAN 9

Don Giovanni, Ernani

Il matrimonio segreto, Thérèse

Don Giovanni, Ernani

Il matrimonio segreto, Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly, Ernani Ernani, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse Don Giovanni, Ernani

ELEANOR FABER 11 S

FRANCES D. FERGUSSON AND JOHN BRADBURY 10

PAUL AND MARILYN R. FREDERICK 8

ROGER AND KRISTIN KAUFMAN 9

RUTH B. KREINDLER 18

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS

MARTHA MURPHY 18

JOE AND NORA STEPHAN 17

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni Madama Butterfly, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni, Ernani Il matrimonio segreto, Ernani

JAMES AND ANN MAGEE 7 ELIZABETH MOORE 1

JUDY RUDGES, in loving memory of Stan Katz 6

JOHN SUHRE AND CARLA KOEFFLER 9

DR. PETER AND LOUISE SHIMKIN 7 S

JANIS AND HOBART SWAN 7

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

JOHN G. AND ANNA MARIA TROIANO FOUNDATION, INC. 22

DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS

ANONYMOUS

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse

ANONYMOUS

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse

ANONYMOUS

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

NOT PICTURED:

Madama Butterfly, Thérèse

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni

HELEN PANOYAN 7 S

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

ELTON AND GORDIE WHITE 14

Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

COLLINSWORTH FAMILY FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY, in memory of Malama Collinsworth 12

Madama Butterfly, Ernani

CO-PRODUCERS

MS. PEGGY ALLEN AND MR. STEVEN C. DIXON 7

PHILIP AND SUZANNE CONOVER 6

JAMES AND LORNA MACK 1

STAN AND ALMA ABSHIER 21 S

Madama Butterfly Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

SHARI AND STEVE ASHMAN 2

RUTH A. BARKER 5

DAVID BIALOSKY AND CAROLYN CHRISTIAN 1

S Sarasota Opera Guild member

Manatee Opera Guild member

MARK FAMIGLIO 18

LOU AND MARIANNE COHEN 5

A. SCOTT BUSHEY 23

Ernani

Ernani

Madama Butterfly

Don Giovanni

Ernani

Madama Butterfly

Thérèse

Don Giovanni

Thérèse

Madama Butterfly

Don Giovanni

DIANE TAYLOR FOXMAN 5

FORREST S. CRAWFORD, in loving memory of Sally H. Foote 12

JAMES AND LOIS CHAMPY 1

BARBARA AND TONY FRANKE 7 S

MERIWETHER AND STEPHEN EISENHARD 2

DR. OCTAVIO AND MRS. NELA CHOY 6

BETTY G. EWING, in memoriam 5

ANDRE AND ISABELLE CHRISTEN 10 S

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

HERMAN AND SHARON FRANKEL 13 Madama Butterfly

CO-PRODUCERS

PAT AND ANN KENNY 3

DONNA LYNN HECKER 11

Thérèse

Madama Butterfly

Ernani

Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly

Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

Ernani

Ernani

Madama Butterfly

ALAN KESTEN AND PAMELA JONES 5

DOUG AND CAROLYN ANN HOLDER 11 S

JO ANN FRYE, in memoriam 23 M

DR. MARSHA KINDALL-SMITH AND DR. HUGH SMITH 1 S

RICHARD JOHNSON 12

FELICIA AND ANDREW HALL 4

MARLENE KITCHELL 3 S

ELAINE KEATING, in loving memory of Sidney Katz 10

FR. JEFFREY HAMBLIN, M.D. 4

Opera Guild member

SANFORD AND RAE LOUISE FRANKEL 1 S

Madama Butterfly

CO-PRODUCERS

DRS. LOUIS AND ROSEANNE MARTORELLA 8 S

HÉLÈNE LEBLEU, in loving memory of Alain Lebleu 5

BEVERLY L. KOSKI 15

Ernani

Thérèse

Madama Butterfly

Thérèse

Madama Butterfly

Ernani

Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni

Thérèse

Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

JOAN MATHEWS 11

CHRISTOPHER AND MARGO LIGHT 5

DR. JOSEPH AND CAROL KREIT 5 S

MR. AND MRS. LEONARD A. MCCUE, III 5

RICHARD A. MACKEN 7

PETER E. KRETZMER AND MELODY GENSON 4

AMY MCGOWAN 1 S

MARTIN MARTEL AND BONNY F. HEET 15

DIANA LAGER 24

RALPH AND JINNY SCHEFFERT 6

MARY S. RIEBOLD 14

Ernani

Thérèse

Ernani

Ernani

Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni

Madama Butterfly

Thérèse

Don Giovanni

Thérèse

In memoriam –Arnold J. Simonsen Family Charitable Foundation 2

PIERO AND RACHELE RIVOLTA-BARBERI 24 S

KEITH F. NELSON AND JUDITH K. MARQUIS 1

DAVID AND BARBARA SMITH 8

ESTHER ROSE, in loving memory of Rabbi Herbert Rose 7

PATRICK AND KIM NETTLES 11

ZONA SPRAY STARKS 3 S

GAIL AND SKIP SACK 14

CHARLOTTE AND CHARLES PERRET 12

S Sarasota Opera Guild member | M Manatee Opera Guild member

MARY J. MITCHELL 7

Ernani

Madama Butterfly

MS. SUSAN K. STRAUS 11 Don Giovanni

MELLISS SWENSON, in loving memory of Curtis Swenson 2

Madama Butterfly

MR. KY L. THOMSON AND MS. MARGARET E. MELUN 2 M EVE AND MICHAEL WILLIAMS-JONES 6

Ernani Madama Butterfly

MR. AND MRS. J. RUSSELL WILTSHIRE 20

DR. RICHARD WIRES 18

Madama Butterfly

ANONYMOUS Thérèse

MR. AND MRS. ROBERT ARTHUR 9 Ernani

CARL A. AND SUSAN HINKO BATLIN 1

Madama Butterfly

MARK AND RUTH BRUS 1

Madama Butterfly

NEIL AND SANDRA DEFEO 4

Madama Butterfly

NOT PICTURED:

WILLIAM C. AND JOYCE K. FLETCHER 4

Madama Butterfly

FLORA GARSTEN, in loving memory of her husband, Irwin Garsten 4 Thérèse

DOROTHY LAWRENCE 9 S Madama Butterfly

JOE AND PAM LODATO 1 Don Giovanni

JOAN H. WOOD 30

Thérèse

MR. AND MRS. PHILIP LOMBARDO 3 Don Giovanni

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH MALLOF 8 Ernani

STEPHANIA AND JAMES MCCLENNEN 1 S Madama Butterfly

DR. C. WARREN OLANOW 1 Ernani

AMANDA AND DICK SMOOT 3 Madama Butterfly

MR. PETER SOLMSSEN AND MRS. SARAH SOLMSSEN 1 Don Giovanni

SKIP STEARNS 8 Don Giovanni

HENRY AND MARILYN TAUB FOUNDATION 2

Thérèse

CHARLES O. WOOD AND MIRIAM M. WOOD FOUNDATION 17

Thérèse

STARS

STARs of Sarasota Opera support Maestro DeRenzi’s vision to produce impassioned opera performances true to vision of the composer as well as our education and community engagement activities. For more than six decades, this community of supporters has raised its voice for world-class opera in Sarasota, and we gratefully acknowledge the contribution of each individual. To learn more about becoming a STAR donor, contact Individual Giving Officer Brenda Tamm at (941) 366-8450, ext. 250 or btamm@sarasotaopera.org.

Gifts are current as of December 15, 2022. Gifts received after this date will be recognized in the 2023 Fall Program Book.

Benefactors ($3,000 - $5,999)

Anonymous +

William C. and Vicki A. Anderson +

Mr. Jeffrey Bain and Rabbi Anat Moskowitz

Drs. Claudia and Lodovico Balducci +

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry H. Bilik

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Coch +

Gerald Fickenscher and Wendy Babb +, S

Josephine Franz and Russ Gill +

Mrs. Maia Hopper +

Alastair Hunter-Henderson and Noralyn Marshall +

Ambassador

($2,000 - $2,999)

Gregg and Cynthia Baran

Karen and Tom Bernstein +

Ricky and Susan Boyd +

Mr. Fred W. Camp +

Mr. Jeremy Caplin

Mr. David Chivas and Mr. Ronald Rice +, S

Dr. Gabriel R. and Mrs. Amy Cipau +

Nelson and Lilia Co +

Mr. Joseph Cyr +, S

Leon R. and Margaret M. Ellin +

Herbert Fox and Janet Zinner +, S

NOT PICTURED:

Richard and Grace Kiltie, in memory of Camilla R Murphy +

Andrew Kotsatos and Heather Parsons +

Ms. Vicki Leaden +

Drs. Robert and Barbara McClure +

Nancy and Bill Newman, in memory of Jane R Newman

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Noel Jr.

Mrs. Ingrid Nutter +

Edward and Helen Rhawn Fund +

Martin and Beverly Rosenberg +

In memory of Dr. Dimitar Georgiev, by his wife Maria +

Dr. Kofi Glover +

Rosemary Iversen, in loving memory of Alfred Iversen +

Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Kauffman +

Richard Kiegler and Ruthann Sturtevant-Kiegler +

Dr. and Mrs. James Koppel

Angela Helfter Korsmo +, M

Tom LeFevre

Susan and Arthur Luger

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mann +

Mary L. Kenzie Foundation

Mr. and Ms. Anthony Sanzo

Jacqueline E. Schafer +

Ms. Barbara J. Telander

Arthur Weldon +

Chip and Jean Wood +

Sally and Douglas Wright +

Mr. and Mrs. Jim McAlpine

Jamie and Meg McLane

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Moore

Ms. Sue Morey

Peter and Tova Phillipes +, S

Andra and Irwin Press +

Gretchen Rimmer +

Arthur and the late Rona Cader Rosenbaum

Laurie Rosin +

Ms. Stephanie Sonnabend +

Petra Travnicek, M.D.

Carol Von Allmen, in memory of Frank Von Allmen +, S

MIKE AND MARY GLYNN +, S

MRS. SHIRLEY FEIN + CHARLES NEHLS +

DR. GEORGE J. STRASCHNOV + SANDRA AND GARY YAKES +

Regent

($1,250 - $1,999)

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Aref Bsisu S

Beverly and Michael Budin

Janice and Tom Burne +

Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Daley +

Jeanie Dorton +

Antoinette and William Dowling +, S

Melva M. Eidelberg

Mr. Howard Elder, in memory of Marcia K. Elder

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Gallick

Roz Goldberg +

Julia and Steve Goldberg

Mrs. Judith Goldman

Gregory P. Hetter, M.D. and Mrs. Anita Pihl-Hetter

Joan S. Langbord

Dr. Allan J. Kennedy and Ms. Isa Engleberg

Thomas I and Linda Z Klein

Philanthropic Fund

Robert M. and Victoria Kupec

Dr. John Mahoney

Lou and Carolou Marquet

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Pepe

Jay Plager and Lynne Pettigrew

Mrs. Barbara C. Raphael + and Mrs. Helene Demers

Sue Rupp and Josh Ingojo

Dr. Gerald Shaikun and Laurie Smith

Corinne and Morton Weber

Ms. Diana Smith and Mr. Barry Cohen

Drs. John and Jillian Woodilla

Associate

($600 - $1,249)

Hank Ames

Mr. Chuck Angulo and Mrs. Kathleen A. Fisher +

Dolly and Stanley Bass S

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick A. Bastien

Tom and Loretta Beaumont + , S

Mr. Glen Behrendt and Ms. Lenore Shapiro

Marc Behrendt, in memory of Everett Behrendt

Mr. and Mrs. David A. Beliles +

Joseph and Sylvia Bloom Fund +

Elio Boccitto +

Mr. Tom Bradley

Thomas Brannin and Mariano J. Vera

Mr. and Mrs. Larry G. Brown +

Mr. David A. Brubaker

Ms. Catherine R. Burt +

John and Lynne Collins +

Mr. Robert Cook +

Mr. Larry Cuervo

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Dale +

Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Domber +

Neil and Patricia Eigen

Dr. Phyllis J. Faw +

Ms. Jane S. Fondiller

Marlene and Arthur Francis +

Alex and Eija Friedlander +

Jo Ann Frye Trust

Martha and Tom Galek

Aldo and Rita Giovanucci +

Jennifer and Larry Goichman +

Peter Goldbecker +

Mrs. Alice B. Gorman

Mrs. J. Wesley Gray, Jr. +

Mr. and Mrs. Barney Greenhill

Ms. Angela Haines

David S Harris

Mr. and Mrs. Jay P. Hartig +

Ned Holstein and Sherry Moss

Mr. Philip Hubbell +

Alan and Eleanor Israel

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Israel +

Elizabeth M. Johnston +

D. Anthony Jones +

Jeanne and Dr. Stan Kagin

Mr. and Ms. Kenneth Karlin

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Krambeck +

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Lake +

Lynn Lefebvre +

Dr. Jerome Levy

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew MacBeth

Margaret L. Maguire +, S

Dr. Miles L. Marsh

Wesley G. McCain, Noreene Storrie and Malcolm W. S. McCain Family Fund

Lynne Miller +

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Neumann

Thomas Nixon and Dan Sherbo +

Virginia and Stuart Peltz +

Julie Planck and Charles Albers +, S

David and Patricia Porter +

Vinod and Judith Gail Sahney

Salten Weingrod Family Fund

Dr. Thomas Schmidlin

Cyvia and David Snyder

Mr. and Mrs. Greg Stikeleather

Mr. and Ms. Paul Vegliante

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wegman

Ann C. Weingartner +

Lawrence H. Weiss +

Jane Woods +

Ms. Marsha Zapson

Patron

($350 - $599)

Anonymous +

Tom Adams and Lynne Cahill +

Jerry and Sue Ellen Addicott +

Cecile Alexander, in loving memory of Stu Alexander +

Janice and Ray Ball

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Ballard +

Lois Bartis+

Edward John Bash +

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry G. Beck +

Jim Bennett +

Mr. Dale Berkebile and Mrs. DonnaBelle Talty

Mary A. Boyer

Irwin and Sybil Broh

Ms. Linda Buchhart M

Edward and Ursula Carroll +

Victor and Marilyn Cassella +

Janine and Douglas Cohen

Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Cohen +

Cornelia L. Cook +

Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Crootof

Ms. Elizabeth O. Del Pico

Jayne Dietsch and Marvin Kowalewski, PhD +, S

Dr. and Mrs. Lee E. Edstrom

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Finn

Dr. and Mrs. Robert J. Frank +

Ms. Patricia Golemme and Mr. Tim Fullum

Ms. Susan Gordon

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Groninger +, S

Scott Guinn and Jonathan Courtemanche S, M

Maryanne and Ray Hazen +, M

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Iovanna

JJ and Barbara Johnson

Sandra Kamin +

Stephen and Mary Sue Kitchen

Bruce Kurtz +

Brenda Lee Landry

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Landy

Dr. and Mrs. K. D. Lee

Dr. M. S. W. Lee

Steven J. and Karen A. Lee

Fr. Frank B. Lenz

Mr. and Mrs. Terrance L. Lindemann

Ms. Gretchen B. Littlefield M

Ms. Marina Markantonatos, in memory of Antony Markantonatos

Gary and Gloria McKinley

Beverly Meadows and Garo Partoyan

Mr. James I. Messer

Ronda Montminy, in loving memory of Arnold Simonsen

Mr. Charles Naftalin

Paul and Mary Neuhauser +

Jeff and Janice Newman S

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. O'Connell

Wiley and Margaret G. Osborn

Evelyn Paster +

Mr. William W. Patterson +

Marshall Pearman

C. Louis Putallaz

Cheryl and Frank Raimondi

Mr. William A. Robson

Stanley and Laurel Rothbardt

Mr. and Mrs. John Russo

Lee Ann Salle +

Mr. and Ms. Richard Schworm S

Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Shagrin

Terry Shea and Seigo Nakao

Jan and Elliot Silverman +

Mr. Roy Sommerhalter

Drs. Robert and Mary Helen Spear +

Patron

(CONTINUED)

Carol and David Stern +

Dr. Braughn Taylor and Dr. Kenneth Warlick +

Jackie and John Thompson

Mary Ann Tittle +

Dr. Ralph V. Turner +

Joe and Sheila Varady +, M

Dr. Ronald Weintraub and Mrs. Margo Howard

Mr. Peter Wender

Mr. Bryan Yunker

Sustainer

($250 - $349)

Anonymous

Robert C. Anderson +

Scott A. Arndt and Mary E. Bennett +

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Axelrod +

Mrs. C. William Baisley

Ms. Amy Barkin +

Mr. and Ms. Brian Beggerow

The Rev. Gerald L. Bennett +

Donald H. and Barbara K. Bernstein +

June and Stewart Beyer

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brand +

Dr. James A. Brown and Ms. Barbara A. Boykin

Mr. Michael A. Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Corley

William and Stephanie Cotton +

Patricia Dal Cortivo +

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur D'Alessandro

Kathy and Philip Dierstein +

Camille and Robert Dulaney

Helen and Alec Feiner

Mr. Roland Fiore

Martin Fried +

Lawrence Fullerton and Maple Cervo +

James Garde, in memory of Dan Garde

Mr. and Mrs. John Gartner +

Dr. and Mrs. Philip M. Gelber

Dr. Thomas N. Guffin, Jr.

Karen and Werner Gundersheimer

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hannum+

Ms. Laura Henderson

Joel Herman and Milt Sleeter

James Hindman and Heidiemarie Nyhuis +

Jane Hoover +

Denise Horner Mitnick and Stephen Mitnick

Jack and Lenora Jost +

Dr. and Mrs. Barry Kirschenbaum

Tony and Dorid Lamb +

Ellen and Dave Levine

Bonney and Len Libman +

Mr. and Mrs. W. Thomas Margetts +

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. McEntee +

Mr. and Mrs. Donald McLagan

Dr. and Mrs. John M. Nelson

Robert and Patricia Newman +

Mrs. Joanne Olian

Tom and Jane Perkins

Bernadine Richey and Michael Hays

Kathy Romanella +

Jerold and Lee Dougherty Ross +

Ned and Lynn Rule +

Dona and Kenneth Satir

Mr. Gary S. Schieneman and Ms. Susan B. Fisher +

John and Carole Segal +

Sue Shepard and Don Helgeson +

Mario S. Spalatin +

Susan D. Sprague

Mr. Robert Theis

Dr. Mary B. Trube

Mr. J. David Ulrich

Sandra VanLangen +

Brad L. Vincent +

Mr. Rick Waller

Ms. Vicki Wallshein

Mr. and Mrs. Irving Weiser

Mr. Kenneth Winter

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Yarnold +

Sponsor

($150 - $249)

Anonymous

Mr. and Ms. Joe Adajian

Ms. Pamela Adelstein and Mr. Kurt Leunis

Mrs. Laurel M. Akhund

Edward P. Andershock +

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon I. Aptekar

Ms. Sarah Barney

David and Susan Batchelor

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beyer

Ms. Elizabeth Bisordi

Marilyn Blausten +

Cookie Bloom +, S

Mr. William Bosron +

Suzanne Bralow, PhD +

Mr. Alfred G. Brown

Christopher and Katherine Brown

Mr. Duncan Brown

Mr. and Mrs. George Castrucci +

Anne Chase +

Dot and Alan Cohler

Suzanne L. Coleman +

Cindy and Mark Condyles

Mr. and Mrs. William Draeger, Jr. +

Ms. Carole Dubosky

Carl W. Duyck and Dennis J. Flood +

Douglas W. Endicott +, S

James Ferrara +

Mr. Dan B. Franks and Dr. Kimberly S. Swanson +

Mrs. Otto J. Glasser +

Mr. and Ms. David Goldrich

Grace M. Goldstein +

Ms. Donna Gora

Dr. and Mrs. James Halikas +

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hearn

Joseph and Margaret Heery +

Ruth Herrman +

Drs. Marc Hoffman and Janis Reed

Mr. Gary Hollingsworth

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Honeycutt

Dr. Bruce Jackson +

Ron D. Johnson and Dr. Nancy Fogg-Johnson

William (Coty) and Marjorie Keller +

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Kennedy +

Anthony and Jaclyn Kilpattrick

Milton Kimura

Maria Kirlangitis, in loving memory of V. Rev. Fr. Frank Kirlangitis

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Kolschowsky +

Dr. Warren Koontz

Mrs. Deborah Kostroun, in memory of Robert Kostroun +

Judy Kozlowski

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin D. Krause +

Lakewood Ranch Women's Club

Richard and Lyn Manning +

Ms. Nancy Meyerson

Mr. William Moga

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morra

Neat Print Inc

John J. Olivo

Edith Perry and Blakemore Overall

Larry and Jackie Pettit +

Mr. Robert Pevitts and Mrs. Beverly Byers-Pevitts

Mr. Dennis Pidherny

Ms. Lisa Pierce-Goldstein

Ms. Lizette Radovic

Jim and Debbie Reda

Mr. Gary Rinck

Sandra and Richard Romley +, M

Roger and Shannon Santora

Ms. Odile Sarti +

Mrs. Barbara Schwartz and Mr. Jerry Flum +

Edward and Dorothy Segowski +

Ms. Sandra Shepherd

Mr. Thomas R. Shewell

Arlene and Paul Skversky +

Ronald Smith +

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Sobel

Mr. Mark Sochar

Dr. and Mrs. J. Robert Spencer +

Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Stelzner +

Dr. Joseph and Marie Suarez +

Mr. Andrew H. Sutton

Dr. Bogdana Tchakarova, in memory of Ivanka Tchakarova +

Dan and Michlyne Thal +

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Tillman

Sofiya and Douglas Vogt +

Mrs. Anne M. Vose

Shawna West

Mr. Gerald Wilemski

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wilkinson

Mr. Chris Williams

Dr. and Mrs. S. Jerome Zackin +

Raye Ziring +

Donor ($75 - $149)

Anonymous

George and Polla Abed +

Mr. Ray Alba and Mrs. Miriam Rullan-Alba +

Stephanie Arthur and Michael Vlaisavljevich

Martha Allen, in honor of June Fiorelli

Mr. and Mrs. Livingston Baker

Mr. John F. Bellantoni

Ms. Linda Bentley

Jean M. Thielen Blair +, S

Marilyn and Paul Blankman +

Diana Britton +

Mr. David Brown

Ms. Donna Butchko

Jayne G. Cacciapuoti

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Calamaras

Ms. Fran Campagnuolo +

Joanne Cashetto

Belinda M. Chase

Mr. and Mrs. C. John Clarke +

Ellen K. Cone +

Juanita and Clyde Connell +, S, M

Dr. James F. Conway Jr

Mr. and Mrs. John Corbellini +, M

Mr. and Mrs. James Curtis +

Joan P. DelGiudice +, S

Ms. Emilia DeMarco

Stephen and Susan Delman

Carol Der Garry

Ms. Patricia Dodge S

Tom and Janice Donan +

John Duffy

Lisa and Jerrold Falk

June and Bernard Fineman +

Ms. Ann Fiorelli

Jean and Michael Freed +

Mrs. Barbara D. Frey S

Ralph and Nancy Friedland +

Mr. John Garton

Mr. Timothy Gaylard

Mrs. Rita G. Glosser

Mr. Ernie Goffi

Ms. Rhoda L. Goldberg

Mr. Barry Golin

Albert and Kathleen Gossweiler

Ms. Kathleen Grant

Ann L. Grosz +

Tim and Pat Guarino

Ms. Mary E. Gustafson, in memory of Dan Garde

Ms. Merle Haber

Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Hollowell

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Huberman

Dr. Lawrence M. Hurvitz +

Dr. and Mrs. John Intravia

Debra M. Jacobs

Mr. Oliver Janney

Mr. William E. Jarvis

Mr. and Mrs. Fraser Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne E. Johnston

Ms. Sara A. Jones S

James Kihm

Mr. Sergei A. Kravets

Mr. and Mrs. John Krayesky S

Mr. and Mrs. Emile Langlois

Ms. Gail M. Larose

Stephen Luchter and Catherine Gotschall

Mrs. Deborah Mackler

Mr. Gary E. Majer

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Matanky

Dr. and Mrs. Peter Mattina

Jane McCormack

Mr. James E. Miller

Peggy Gordon Miller

Mrs. Roberta L. Miller

Mrs. Sharon Moone-Jochums

Mr. and Mrs. Randall E. Moore

Lovella L. Naylor

Mr. Robert Naylor

Alexander Nichols

Ms. Jan O'Brien

Piotr and Elzbieta Odrowaz-Pieniazek

Mr. John Page

Emilio and Diane Palermo

John Papp

Mrs. Karen Pasternak

Mr. David Peradotti

Dr. and Mrs. Marc Pohl

Jerry and Carole Reid

Sandy and Edward Rich

Dr. Nigel Richards

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Riley

Jacqueline Robinov

Dr. Brent and Mrs. Ricki Rubin

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Safir

Marjorie and William Sandy

Alexa Scanziani

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Schulz

Mr. James Scully

Mr. John Sedlak

Mr. Sheldron Seplowitz

Nancy R. Sheridan +

Dmitry Shtark

David and Carole Silverman

Charles and Faith Simmons

Mr. Max Skjoldebrand and Ms. Jane Coakley

Ms. June Stark

Lesley Svenson

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Tennenbaum

Dr. Mafalda D. Tesorero Tengco

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Thomas

Mr. Greg Thornburg

Mr. and Mrs Sigmund Tobias

Ms. Janet Tolbert S

Dr. Martin Tucker +

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace E. Turner

Mr. Carl Tursi and Mrs. Jennifer Javier Tyler Holdings LLC

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Watkins

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Weiner

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Whalen

Mr. Shawn Wilson

Mr. and Ms. Lewis I. Winarsky

Dr. June Wolgemuth

Celia Young S

Music... Theater... Visual Art... Literature... Dance... where it all begins.

20th Anniversary Season

The Hermitage brings the world’s leading artists to Sarasota for free public programs... 15 Pulitzer Prize Winners, plus Grammy, Tony, Oscar, Emmy Winners, and more!

“The work produced at the Hermitage is seen and heard around the world and guides us toward the light in our humanity.”

– Mark Campbell, Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize Winner

GREAT OPERA ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE OF GREAT ARTISTS.

To learn more about the Hermitage and upcoming programs: HermitageArtistRetreat.org

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Winner DOUG WRIGHT

Grammy Award Winner ROBERT SPANO

ETHEL Co-Founder RALPH FARRIS

Award-Winning Musical Composer ADAM GWON

Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner LYNN NOTTAGE

Grammy and Pulitzer Winner DU YUN

Tony Award Winner GAVIN CREEL

Grammy Award Nominee NATHALIE JOACHIM

Avery Fisher Prize Winner CLAIRE CHASE

Pulitzer Prize Winner MICHAEL R. JACKSON

WNYC/WQXR Evening Host TERRANCE McKNIGHT

Tony Winner and Pulitzer Finalist JEANINE TESORI

Contemporary Opera Artist LISA E. HARRIS

Grammy and Pulitzer Winner MARK CAMPBELL

Acclaimed Opera Composer LAURA KAMINSKY

ABT Principal Dancer and Choreographer JAMES WHITESIDE

Acclaimed Harpist ASHLEY JACKSON Metropolitan Opera Composer NICO MUHLY

TIDEWELL FOUNDATION

Work with Tidewell to build a brighter community by helping those who need it most. Volunteer at Tidewell Hospice. Share a human connection with a patient during their most difficult moments. Give a few hours of rest to a busy caregiver. Be a source of strength for a child who has lost her mother. Donate to ensure all who need care receive it. Get involved, and let your light shine through.

Let’s brighten lives together.

TidewellFoundation.org

Tidewell Foundation is grateful to our sustaining annual corporate partners for their ongoing sponsorship of the Foundation’s mission.

Partners in Excellence:

Partners in Compassion:

We extend special thanks to Elisabeth Ault-Meyers Cameron, and to all who have made a provision for Sarasota Opera in their estate plans. Endowment and planned gifts are a great way to make sure Sarasota Opera has the resources to serve our community with impassioned opera performances for years to come.

To discuss your planned gift, please contact Donor Relations Officer Stacy Ridenour at (941) 366-8450, ext. 246 or sridenour@sarasotaopera.org.

MEET

Elisabeth Ault-Meyers Cameron

KRETZMER LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBER

Elisabeth has led a colorful and exciting life, starting out as a musician and later turning to aviation. As the child of a Philadelphia family that would sing around the piano, she learned to love music. At the age of 12 years, she went to see the movie The Great Caruso with Mario Lanza, which had an enormous impact on her and began her career as a singer. A middle school teacher appreciated her vocal talent and cast her in Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. From there she was accepted at the Settlement Music School and became a regular on the Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour and learned the staging and production aspects of performances. Throughout high school she performed in concerts and was fortunate enough to meet and get the support of Eugene Ormandy to go on to the Temple University music program. She learned to appreciate the disciplines of practicing and taking constructive criticism which she emphasizes as necessary for all successful careers.

Along the way she discovered that applying the techniques of music also brought her joy in flying airplanes. She progressed to flying large airplanes and had her own private charter plane company. From there she began working for the FAA where she gave numerous talks and rose in the management ranks.

A long time resident of Miami and then Australia, where she was active with the Sydney Opera, she and her husband chose to return to Florida but, having varied musical interests, found Sarasota on the west coast to offer more of what they wanted.

Elisabeth is a great believer in continuing the operatic genre and a strong proponent of contributing to the Youth Opera, directly and through the Legacy program. She is deeply impressed with the great leadership of Maestro DeRenzi and the teamwork that has built up Sarasota Opera to achieve a broad reputation far beyond Florida’s borders.

Contributing writer Janet Stern Solomon is a member of Sarasota Opera’s Board of Trustees.

Elisabeth is a great believer in continuing the operatic genre and a strong proponent of contributing to the Youth Opera, directly and through the Legacy program.

ENDOWMENT AND LEGACY GIFTS

Sarasota Opera recognizes and thanks the generous individuals who have made an endowment gift to Sarasota Opera. We also honor those who made a legacy provision that has been realized. To learn more about how you can support Sarasota Opera’s endowment now or with a planned gift, please contact Donor Relations Officer Stacy Ridenour at (941) 366-8450, ext. 246 or sridenour@sarasotaopera.org.

Edward Alley

Carl Patton Anderson

Dr. Leonard Apfelbach

Harry and Harriet Bernbaum

Joseph and Sheila Berner

Joseph and Sylvia Bloom

Bradenton Opera Guild

Les and Carol Brualdi

Raymond L. and Marlynn Buczynski

Inge Burg and George Maltenfort

Richard Cameron

Glenn R. and Jean Carley

John W. Carrier

David and Edith Chaifetz

Bonnie and William Chapman

Sylvia Cohodas

Even T. Collinsworth

Bert and Mary Ellen Criste

Forrest S. Crawford and Sally H. Foote

Dominick DeCecco and E. Patricia

Becker DeCecco

Syble Di Girolamo

Danuta Dorozynski

Kathryn Dunlap

Max Eisenbarth

Joel and Ellen Fedder

Lois Flagg for Bradenton Opera Guild

Jean Lucille Frank

Joey Frye

Joseph and Martha Glass

Herbert and Rita Gold

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Groninger

Robert S. Haft

Foster and Martha Harmon

Perry and Rose Harten

Barry and Casiana Hilton

Mr. W. Paul Hoenle and Ms. Ursula Heitmann

Marie Hoffberg

Huisking Foundation

Charles and Lillian Huisking Fund of the CFSC

Arlene and Henry Jacobs

Elayne Kalberman

In honor of Jonas Kamlet

Dr. Morris E. Katz

Charles Kelsea

Gunther and Ilse Kern

Richard Kiegler and Ruthann Sturtevant-Kiegler

Marvin Kowalewski, Ph.D

Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer

Alice Lazarus

Catherine Wingate Levine

Reg Irvine and Alan Marlor

Joan Mathews

James G. McDaniel

Mrs. Catherine McNeary

Jane Newman

John and Olga Olenick

F. Warren O’Reilly

Gordon C. and Harriet D. Paske

Betty Jean Peters

Ellen V. Piers

Roland B. Potter

Ila S. Preti

Rich and Stacy Ridenour

Howard Rooks

Camille A. Salls

Sarasota Opera Guild

Dr. Henry S. Sauls

Beatrice Schafer

William E. and Casiana Schmidt

Jan Schmidt

Ulla Searing

Roselyn Sedlezky

Mrs. Stuart R. Silver and family

Arnold Simonsen and Ronda Montminy

Don Smally

David and Barbara Smith

Pat Starke

Robert Stoval

Elissa Soyka and Bud Borax

Joe and Nora Stephan

Theodore and Ann C. Tellstrom

Bill and Rebecca Tompkins

Alma Trainor

Anna and Mildred Vlcek

Eileen Walker Watts

Mildred Weissman, in memory of George Weissman

Mrs. Edie Winston, in loving memory of Herb Winston

Joan H. Wood

Sandra and Gary Yakes

IN MEMORIAM

Sarasota Opera joins friends and loved ones in mourning these members of our opera community who passed away in the last year. While celebrating their lives, we also offer our thanks for the joy their extraordinary generosity made possible. The information presented here is correct to the best of our knowledge, as of January 15, 2023. We apologize for any inaccuracies or omissions and ask that you inform us so our records may be corrected.

Mrs. Barbara Barstow

Mrs. Ruth H. Beck

Mr. Ben Bierbrier

Dr. Susan M. Brainerd

Mr. William Buttaggi

Mrs. Natalie K. Cohen

Mr. Dominick DeCecco

Mrs. Susan Finman

Mrs. June E. Fiorelli

Mrs. Karen Fugate

Mr. Daniel F. Garde

Mr. Donald Helgeson

Mrs. Lyn H. Jacobson

Mr. Jack Kesler

Mrs. Marcella Krambeck

Ms. Georgette Louis

Mrs. Sue Michel

Mr. Edward J. Neumeyer

Mr. Michael S. Petillo

Mrs. Jane Riggin

Mr. Howard Rooks

Mrs. Betty S. Sembler

Mrs. Mary Ann Simon

Co-Producer Co-Producer

Co-Producer

Co-Producer

Former Board Member, Co-Producer, Manatee Opera Guild Member

Co-Producer

BETTY EWING

NANCY GRIDLEY

ALAIN LEBLEU PAT STARKE

JOEY FRYE

RONA CADER ROSENBAUM

public partners provide key support to our mission to entertain and enrich our voice. To learn more about supporting Sarasota Opera through these programs, Michael Ayres at (941) 366-8450, ext. 402 or at mayres@sarasotaopera.org. Gifts and

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & PUBLIC SUPPORT

Corporate, Foundation & Public SUPPORT

Sarasota Opera’s Corporate, Foundation, and public partners provide key support to our mission to entertain, enrich, and educate our community through the power of the human voice. To learn more about supporting Sarasota Opera through these programs, contact Senior Development Officer Melissa Voigt at (941) 366-8450, ext. 581 or by email at mvoigt@sarasotaopera.org.

Gifts current as of December 15, 2022. Gifts received after this date will be recognized at SarasotaOpera.org/instutionalgiving.

Sarasota Opera’s Corporate, Foundation, and public partners provide key support to our mission to entertain and enrich community through the power of the human voice. To learn more about supporting Sarasota Opera through these programs, contact Corporate and Special Events Officer Michael Ayres at (941) 366-8450, ext. 402 or at mayres@sarasotaopera.org. pledges are current as of December 15, 2021.

$150,000+:

General Operating Support

$150,000 +

Sarasota Opera’s 2023 Winter Festival Season productions are made possible, in part, by State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council of Arts and Culture

$75,000 - $149,999

General Operating Support

$50,000-$149,999:

Dinner Series

Co-Producer Dinner on Stage Gala

Sarasota Opera’s 2022 Winter Festival Season is made possible in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues

Sarasota Opera's 2023 Winter Festival Season is made possible, in part, by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.

$50,000 - $74,999

General Operating Support

Production Support: Madama Butterfly

Series Sponsor: Moonlight & Melodies Dinner Series

Series Sponsor: Moonlight & Melodies Dinner Series

Premier Sponsor: The Curtain Raiser, The Opera Gala

Premiere Sponsor: Curtain Raiser Dinner, Co-Producer Dinner on Stage Verdi Circle Sponsor: The Opera Gala

$25,000 - $49,999

Sarasota Opera’s 2022 Winter Festival Season productions are made possible, in part, by State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council of Arts and Culture

Lead Sponsor: Youth Opera & Education Programming

Event Partner: The Opera Afficionado Dinner

General Operating Support Sarasota Youth Opera

Sarasota Opera’s 2022 Winter Festival Season is made possible in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues

Sarasota Youth Opera

Series Sponsor: Moonlight & Melodies Dinner Series

Premier Sponsor: The Opera Gala

Sarasota Opera’s 2022 Winter Festival Season productions are made possible, in part, by State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council of Arts and Culture

$10,000 - $24,999

A HANSEN, PRESIDENT/CEO

$453,000

Co-Producer

General Operating

Sarasota Youth Opera

General Operating Support Endowment

Curtain Raiser Dinner

Sponsor:

Event Sponsor:

Co-Producer Dinner on Stage, Co-Producer Dinner General Operating Support

Sarasota Youth Opera & Education

Programs

$5,000 - $9,999

Event Sponsor: The Opera Champions Dinner on Stage

Puccini Circle Sponsor: The Opera Gala Special

- $4,999

Behind the Blue Curtain

Opera

Sarasota Opera since 1974. The Harry Sudakoff Foundation Sarasota Youth Opera

COAST ITALIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY Co-Producer

- $2,499

THANK YOU TO THESE RESTAURANTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 2022 SARASOTA OPERA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL.

Sarasota Youth Opera

For 39 years Sarasota Youth Opera has given thousands of young people the opportunity to experience opera firsthand through participation in Sarasota Opera mainstage productions, summer workshops, fully staged Youth Opera productions and after-school concerts throughout the community. As the only program in the United States committed to presenting annual full-scale opera productions for young voices, accepting all who wish to participate regardless of skill level or ability to pay, Sarasota Youth Opera is a national model for opera education.

Part of Sarasota Opera’s commitment to young people includes the commissioning of new operatic works written for young and developing voices. Six new works have been presented as part of this mission: Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabaga Country (2017), Daron Hagen’s Little Nemo in Slumberland (2012), John Kennedy’s The Language of Birds (2004), Tom Suta’s Eye of Ra (1998), Polly Pen’s Her Lightness (1993), and Deadline (1989)

In addition to their own productions, Youth Opera members have the opportunity to participate in Sarasota Opera Mainstage performances as members of children’s choruses. Since 1986 they have appeared in over 30 productions as singers and many more as supernumeraries. When appropriate, Youth Opera members have also been cast as soloists on the mainstage, including as the three spirits in The Magic Flute and Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro

Since 1991, Sarasota Youth Opera has offered summer workshops for young people. Under the direction of Sarasota Opera’s professional staff, participants experience the magic on the stage and behind the scenes as they study the many facets of opera, from music and acting to opera appreciation and production.

YOUTH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

These initiatives offer interactive access to opera by introducing students and educators to the world of opera and helping to create audiences for future generations.

INVITATION TO OPERA

Each season over 1,000 students and educators experience live opera through orchestra dress rehearsals and interaction with performers during intermissions.

EXPLORATION IN OPERA

In partnership with The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Schools, students and educators from middle schools are invited to delve into a mainstage production each season through workshops, education resource guides, and post-dress rehearsal activities at the Sarasota Opera House.

YOUTH OPERA SCHOOL MATINEE

In Partnership with Embracing Our Differences and The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, over 1,000 students attend Sarasota Youth Opera’s annual full-scale production and receive in-depth arts integrated resource materials at no cost.

OPERA ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS

Members of Sarasota Opera’s Apprentice and Studio Artists programs engage students and teachers in interactive school visits, providing direct access to opera and the people that make it happen.

OPERA HOUSE & CAREERS TOURS

In-depth tours highlighting the history of the Sarasota Opera House and careers in the arts introduce students and teachers to the history of opera in Sarasota and careers both onstage and behind the scenes.

YOUTH OPERA WORKSHOPS

Sarasota Education staff go into the community and schools to provide workshops that initiate young people into the world of opera.

The Hobbit - Photo by Rod Millington

SIGNATURE EVENTS

MOONLIGHT & MELODIES DINNER #3: SPANISH FEAST

Monday, March 20, 2023 | 6:30 AM | Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt

Courtyard

Sarasota Opera welcomes our community for an immersive themed dinner that highlights composers from the season and their contemporaries. As we come together to share our awe for the exquisite art these composers created, enjoy curated cocktails and food prepared by the best of Sarasota’s chefs in a setting that will transport you to a different location each evening. Make your reservations now so you don’t miss out on this exciting event!

SALUTE TO THE STARS AWARDS LUNCHEON

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 | 11:30 AM | Sarasota Yacht Club

Tickets: $75 per person or $125 per person Patron Ticket with sponsor recognition and premium seating

Join us and celebrate the outstanding Sarasota Opera Apprentice and Studio Artists who will be honored in 2023. Enjoy a gourmet lunch while you experience performances by the awardees. The awards are presented through the generosity of visionary individuals as well as the Sarasota and Manatee Opera Guilds.

TRAVEL WITH SARASOTA OPERA VISIT SANTA FE

For more information about our Santa Fe Trip, please contact Nancy Guyer at (941) 366-8450, ext. 538 or nguyer@sarasotaopera.org.

SARASOTA OPERA VISITS SANTA FE

AUGUST 1-6, 2023

Join Sarasota Opera on this popular opera-lovers trip! Stay at the luxurious Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi right off the square in downtown Santa Fe. Performances will include Monteverdi’s Orfeo (in a new orchestration by Nico Muhly) starring Rolando Villazón, Dvořák’s Rusalka with Ailyn Pérez, and Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman with Elza van den Heever. We will also attend a concert at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Optional performances include Pelléas and Melisande.

Breakfast at the hotel and one additional meal daily are included as well as customized tours of some of the treasures in and around Santa Fe.

$6,500 per person ($2,000 Single supplement) –airfare and airport transfers not included. Includes a $1,000 tax deductible contribution to Sarasota Opera.

Sarasota Opera’s Signature Events are produced by

For tickets, visit SarasotaOpera.org/Events

Series Partners

Photo by Rod Millington

Photo by Rod Millington

YOUTH OPERA & EDUCATION CONTRIBUTORS

Sarasota Opera has one of the most comprehensive youth opera programs in the country, giving local young people the opportunity to study all aspects of opera. Members perform in choruses, Sarasota Opera productions, and, unique to Sarasota Youth Opera, a fully staged production on the Sarasota Opera mainstage. Apart from performance opportunities, participants are introduced to foreign languages, history, and culture, all while participating in a program that builds self-confidence. Contributions to the Youth Opera provide general program support as well as scholarships for those in need. These donors also support our robust education programs that both brings youth into the Opera House and takes impassioned performances into schools.

If you would like more information on giving a gift to support Youth Opera & Education programs, contact Brenda Tamm at (941) 366-8450 ext. 250 or btamm@sarasotaopera.org. Thank you for your support! Gifts are current as of December 15, 2022. Gifts received after this date will be acknowledged in the 2023 Fall Program Book.

Premier Patron

($5,000 +)

Les and Carol Brualdi, Les and Carol Brualdi Summer Camp Scholarship Fund

The Exchange, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Garden

Mrs. Helene Lebleu, in loving memory of Alain Lebleu

Manatee Opera Guild

Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation

Publix Supermarkets Charities

Sarasota Opera Guild

William E. Schmidt Foundation

Rafael and Diana Viñoly Foundation, in memory of Alain Lebleu

Sponsor

($1,000 - $4,999)

Stan and Alma Abshier

Mr. Jeffrey Bain and Rabbi Anat Moskowitz

Ms. Katherine Benoit and Mr. John Brooks

Lynn and Steve Blackledge

Murray Bring and Kay Delaney

Forrest S. Crawford, in loving memory of Sally H. Foote

Gulf Coast Italian Culture Society

Felicia and Andrew Hall

Dr. Marsha Kindall-Smith and Dr. Hugh Smith

Dr. Joseph and Esther Landin Memorial Fund of Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Joyce Mailhouse

Joan Matthews

Dr. Galina Nesterova and Yulia Nesterova

Preti Family Fund of Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Dennis Sherwin Memorial DCO Charitable Fund

Toby and Noel Siegel

Zona Spray Starks

Paul and Sharon Steinwachs

Melliss K. Swenson

Robert and Camille Thinnes

Bill and Rebecca Tompkins

Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Wiltshire

Co-Sponsor

($500 - $999)

Ms. Peggy Allen and Mr. Steven C. Dixon

Sumner and Irene Bagby

Gerald Fickenscher and Wendy Babb

Dr. George J. Straschnov

Ms. Susan K. Straus

Janis and Hobart Swan

Fredricka Taubitz and Dennis Mtn. Griffin

($250 - $499)

Dee and Mike Bennett

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Burkmier

Martha and James Chadwick

Raymond Chinn

Elizabeth M. Johnston

Mrs. Gloria B. Moss

Joe and Sheila Varady

Dr. Richard Wires

Program Donor

($50 - $249)

Katherine and Sebastien Brion

Lyndy and David Caplan

Ms. Elizabeth Cecchetti

Dr. Octavio and Mrs. Nela Choy

Sharon and Steve Dickman

Jayne Dietsch and Marvin Kowalewski, Ph.D

Leda Freedman Fund of Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Mrs. Otto J. Glasser

Annelie Gustke

Carl Hazell

Ms. Jennifer L. Herman

Ruth Herrman

D. Anthony Jones

Roger and Kristin Kaufman

Ms. Sandra Y. Klapperich

Peter E. Kretzmer

Joan S. Langbord

Phyllis and Saul Lowitt

Margaret L. Maguire

Ms. Regina I. McArdle

Barby McKown

Ms. Renee S. Nadiv

Nautical Gin

Peter and Tova Phillipes

C. Louis Putallaz

Sandra and Richard Romley

Jerold and Lee Dougherty Ross

Dr. Thomas Schmidlin

Mrs. Ann M. Sears

Norma Minturn Stilwell

Supe Family

Anthony J. Vlahides

Carol Von Allmen, in memory of Frank Von Allmen

Mr. Jim Worthington

Scholarship Donor

The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch®:

Bravo!

When it comes to setting the stage for a spectacular future, no one does it better than The Glenridge. With a focus on lifelong learning, a commitment to fitness and health, a true passion for the arts, and the assurance of continuing care, our award-winning community has created a culture where members truly flourish. Now that we’re well underway on a major expansion that includes new Club Homes and Villas, and with enhancements to our Performing Arts Center and a new dining venue on the horizon … no wonder we continue to get rave reviews!

2022 BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN SARASOTA

Sarasota Magazine (13 Years in a Row) | Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Call 941-552-5369 today to set up your private tour or telephone appointment. 7333 Scotland Way • Sarasota, Florida 34238 941-552-5369 • www. eGlenridge.com

Copyright © 2023 The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch®. All rights reserved. 88171 PRAD 2023SO

MAJOR EXPANSION AT THE GLENRIDGE! First Phase Sold Out and Additional Homesites Are Going Quickly!

Fes ta Nap oletana ! a

2023 SARASOTA OPERA GALA

Sarasota Opera House

Celebrate the 2023 Winter Festival with the Sarasota Opera community! This evening of joy, great music, and delicious food and wine will feature all the best of Naples, Italy in a festa napoletana!

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

5:30pm – Grand Reception

6:30pm – Celebration Concert

8:00pm – Gala Dinner

SarasotaOpera.org/OperaGala

Full Evening Ticket Prices

Maestro’s Circle Sponsors ($12,500 for table | $1,250 for one ticket) Verdi Circle ($7,500 for table | $750 for one ticket) Puccini Circle ($3,500 for table | $350 for one ticket)

For questions or to purchase tickets, email SOAEvents@sarasotaopera.org or call (941) 366-8450, ext. 416 by March 10, 2023.

Partial Evening Ticket Prices*

Grand Reception & Concert ($150 per ticket)

Celebration Concert Only ($25 per ticket)

* these tickets can be purchased online or through Sarasota Opera’s Box Office at (941) 328-1300

The 2023 Sarasota Opera Gala is produced by

GUILDS

We invite you to explore our Opera Guilds — These two groups of dedicated opera lovers are committed to seeing opera thrive in our community. Both Guilds offer members and guests the opportunity to learn about the operas being performed during the season. They also hold fundraisers and friendrasier events in support of Sarasota Opera and the Youth Opera. For more information about the activities of the Sarasota Opera Guild and the Manatee Opera Guild, please visit our website at SarasotaOpera.org/Opera-Guilds.

President

1st Vice President

2nd Vice President

VP-Communications

VP-Marketing

VP-Membership

VP-Special Events

VP-Volunteer Coordinator

Recording Secretary

Corresponding Secretary

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Past President

Parliamentarian

Sarasota Opera Liaison

Meryl Gale

Pat Dodge

Pat Hirt

Elizabeth Aversa

John Alan Fischer

Richard Schworm

Terry Brennan-Davis

Rae Frankel

David Chivas

Antonette Cunningham

Cecile Adams

Julie Planck

Ann Waller

Peter Phillipes

Nancy Guyer

Sarasota Opera Guild supports Sarasota Opera through a variety of events including their:

• Annual Poinsettia Luncheon, Sarasota’s premier December holiday event

• Summer Salons which feature local musical talent

• Talks and lectures about opera-related topics that are informative and entertaining

Each year the Sarasota Opera Guild presents four awards to deserving Apprentice Artists.

President Vice President

Vice President - Special Events Secretary Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Publicity Chair Education Chair

Hospitality Co-Chairs

Richard DeGennaro

Jeanne Yeagle

Syble DiGirolamo

Angela Korsmo

Maryanne Hazen

Carolyn Doyle

Brenda Ianiro

Elizabeth Aversa

Cathy Knobel

Rochele DiAntonio

The Manatee Opera Guild promotes knowledge and appreciation of opera to our community and raises funds for Sarasota Opera through a variety of events including:

• Concerts on-Stage at the Opera House

• Stars of Tomorrow concert featuring Apprentice Artists of Sarasota Opera

• Talks and lectures about opera-related topics that are informative and entertaining

• Annual Fashion Show that raises funds for Sarasota Opera

Each year the Manatee Opera Guild presents awards for deserving Sarasota Opera singers:

• Deane Allyn Award supports Youth Opera members

• Helen Jepson Dellera Award awarded to an outstanding Studio Artist

Monthly meetings are held on Wednesday morning at Palm Aire Country Club. A short social period and business meeting are followed by a performance featuring singers from Sarasota Opera.

SOG Poinsettia Luncheon Costume Show

Above: MOG Stars of Tomorrow Concert; left: MOG Dick Hyman Concert

OPERA VOLUNTEERS

Sarasota Opera is proud of its robust tradition of Volunteers. Each season more than 200 opera lovers volunteer their time and skills to Sarasota Opera, helping to bring this great art form to our community. Their hard work and generosity keeps the beauty and passion of opera in Sarasota alive. We applaud each of our Volunteers from drivers to stitchers, ushers to administrative helpers, productions assistants to supernumeraries—and thank each one for their unique contribution to this organization.

Sarasota Opera Volunteers (AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2022)

Cecile Alexander

Rose Amato

Chuck Angulo

Laurel Ash

Marie Beck

Judy Blaine

Ingrid Bookbinder

Joanne Bogers

Dennis Bowman

Diana Byrnes

Joan Campbell

Yara Carvalho

Alice Cotman

Judy Cottone

Greg Courter

Laurie Criden

Ruth Danielle

Ginny Dellutri

Beatriz Diamond

John Dickie

Sharon Dickman

Steve Dickman

Cate Diletto

MaryJo Drantel

Genya Dubinsky

Deborah Dunham

Janice Erdstein

Martha Ferrera

Dawn Finnerty

Kathleen Fisher

Josephine Fontana

Bob Francescone

Nancy Friedland

Ralph Friedland

Roseann Gaglio

Lisa Gambino

Bobby Garibaldi-Sanders

John Gartner

Suzanne Gladfelter

Pam Gordon

Mary Grimalskaia

Michael Gula

Carol Hagglund

Betty Ann Hamilton

Merle Heiden

Elsa Herro

Susan Hetzler

Dolores Higgins

Katalin Holzmann

Jan Housinger

Mimi Housinger

Anita James

Veronika Jamieson

Maribeth Jergens

Candace Kammerer

Diane Kamphaus

Sandy Kravitz

Bea Krajcsik

Arlene Krum

Mary Kukainis

Brigitte L’Heureux

Meryl Langbort

Lynne Lash

Hélène Lebleu

Bill Leland

Terry Leland

Ed Leopold

Pauline Leopold

Samson Levine

Telma Levinson

Rebecca Lyons

Susan Mailaender

Olaf Maly

Gloria Markiewicz

Maris Margulies

Elaine Marks

Leslie Mass

Maureen Matthews

Mary May

Linda Mayberry

Louise Mazius

Lynda Mitchell

Richard Mitchell

Jeannetta Mouncey

Carolyn Nathan

Eileen Olive

John Olivo

Karen Olson

Michele Pariseau

Richard Parlato

Dierdre Peeler

Adrianne Petillo

Sherie Philpott

David Preves

Patti Preves

Rita Prouix

Dan Rankin

Ronnie Riceberg

Susan Richardson

Margaret Romanes

Steve Rosenberg

Joyce Rubinstein

Ellen Sakamoto

Mary Ann Samolyk

Rosemarie Sanson

Jo Ann Seidman

Paul Sellers

Phyllis Sellers

Tatiana Solilova

Joan Sussman

Camille Thinnes

Barbara Totaro

Joan Verhulst

Loretta Viscount

Nancy Vittorini

Barbara Waisburd

David Waisburd

Carolyn Wedekind

Stephanie Weisbroth

Steven Weisbroth

Alicia Wickiffe

Sandra Wolf

Greg Wright

Lynda Wright

Vincent Zappacosta

THREE EXCEPTIONAL ORCHESTRAS! ONE-NIGHT-ONLY CONCERTS!

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti, Music

Director

March 1, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel

In his final season as Music Director, Riccardo Muti leads the internationally acclaimed Chicago Symphony in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition. Be there to witness this extraordinary partnership!

ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

JOSÉ

March 12, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel

The most recorded chamber orchestra in the world, the Londonbased English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jose Serebrier, performs Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Haydn’s Symphony No. 49, La Passione, and other works by Purcell and Tchaikovsky.

BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC

JOANN FALLETTA, MUSIC DIRECTOR

March 27, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel

Music Director JoAnn Falletta leads the Grammy Award-winning orchestra in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto featuring internationally renowned violinist Sandy Cameron. Join us for the exciting conclusion to our 2023 Great Performers Series!

2023 SPRING SEASON

PROGRAM 5 – PRESENTING COMPANY

February 24 - 27 | FSU Center

• The Sarasota Ballet Presents DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

PROGRAM 6 – LA SYLPHIDE

March 24 - 25 | Van Wezel

• Johan Kobborg’s Production BOURNONVILLE’S LA SYLPHIDE (Company Premiere)

PROGRAM 7 – TRIBUTE TO BALANCHINE

April 28 - 29 | Opera House

• George Balanchine’s DIVERTIMENTO NO. 15

• George Balanchine’s THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS

• George Balanchine’s WESTERN SYMPHONY

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org

Lauren Ostrander & Ricahrd House Photography Matthew Holler

SHARING THE STORIES OF SARASOTA

WEDU PBS brings you a closer look at your community and beyond. Through hyperlocal storytelling, we educate, explore and engage by helping you get to know the people & places in your own backyard.

A FEW OF OUR AWARD-WINNING LOCAL PROGRAMS: