Florida Opera Festival, Under Baton of Daniel Lipton, Releases Schedule for 2015-2016 Season

Tampa, Fla. The 2015-2016 Florida Opera Festival presented by Opera Tampa is certain to exhilarate every opera buff and fascinate any curious opera novice. It promises to be a magnificent festival of love, lust and loss featuring the work of Mozart and Verdi.

"We've put together another remarkable Florida Opera Festival," said Straz Center President Judy Lisi. "The new season is designed to be entertaining, compelling and stimulating and one that our fervent opera-going audiences here in the Tampa Bay area are certain to embrace."

In his fourth season as artistic director and conductor, Daniel Lipton will again bring his vast experience on international stages, charismatic personality and love of music to the Florida Opera Festival. Lipton's fresh ideas and individual sound have made him a Tampa Bay favorite.

"We have been so successful with our past seasons that we are adding another opera to our next one, with three masterpieces: Verdi's beautiful courtesan, Violetta in La Traviata, Mozart's ladykiller, Don Giovanni and his delightful Così fan Tutte. A season not to be missed," said Lipton. "Be a part of it!"

The 2015-2016 Florida Opera Festival includes:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's

Così Fan Tutte

Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, at 2 p.m.

Ferguson Hall

Mozart's madcap musical genius barely contains itself in this mischievous comedy centered around a bet that women can't be faithful. Goaded by their cynical bachelor pal Don Alfonso, engaged young officers Ferrando and Guglielmo agree to test their betrotheds' fidelity, and as the guys disguise themselves as foreign suitors, the young brides-to-be find themselves in a real fickle pickle.

Presented in Ferguson Hall's intimate setting, Mozart's gem Cosí Fan Tutte will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Maestro Lipton will lead a cast that includes the Opera Tampa New Voices along with the Opera Tampa Orchestra.

Giuseppe Verdi's

La Traviata

Friday, March 11, 2016, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 2 p.m.

Morsani Hall

Verdi's soaring score of this iconic opera tells the tale of captivating courtesan Violetta Valéry's ultimate sacrifice: condemned to die from the ravages of consumption, she meets Alfredo Germont, an earnest admirer, who awakens in her a desire to feel true love. But their happily-ever-after goes horribly wrong when Germont's father challenges Violetta's view of the future. She leaves her beloved to live the life he deserves, but Alfredo falls into despair when she returns to her former life in the city. Love shows its vengeful face until the lovers reunite in forgiveness - and not a moment too soon.

La Traviata will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Maestro Lipton will lead an international cast along with the Opera Tampa Orchestra and Chorus.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's

Don Giovanni

Friday, April 8, 2016, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 10, 2016, at 2 p.m.

Morsani Hall

Dastardly Don Giovanni seems to get away with murder, but, in the end, he's the one who gets burned. Seducer, set-up artist, liar and cheat, Don Giovanni's charms make him Mozart's masterful villain audiences love to hate. Following the last two days of Giovanni's life, this scandalous opera climaxes in a series of sex, murder and non-stop parties ... audiences can't turn away as Don Giovanni's life goes up in flames.

Don Giovanni will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Maestro Lipton will lead an international cast along with the Opera Tampa Orchestra and Chorus.

Those interested in acquiring season tickets or group tickets should call the Straz Center Ticket Office at 813.229.STAR (7827) or outside the Tampa Bay area at 800.955.1045 or visit www.operatampa.org for specific on-sale information.Renewing season ticket holders, Opera Tampa League members and Straz Center Annual Members receive priority seating for season tickets and seating upgrade requests. Priority increases according to giving level. Individual opera tickets will go on sale at a later date.

For more information about the Florida Opera Festival presented by Opera Tampa and its upcoming events, please visit www.operatampa.org.

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