Karim Sulayman to Sing in Florentine Opera's THE CORONATION OF POPPEA

The Florentine Opera Company's March production of The Coronation of Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi will feature GRAMMY Award-winning tenor Karim Sulayman in the role of Emperor Nerone. At the 61st GRAMMY Awards on February 10, 2019, Mr. Sulayman won Best Classical Solo Vocal Album for Songs of Orpheus (his debut solo album).

The Coronation of Poppea runs March 22, 24, 30 & 31 in the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall inside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The creative team includes stage director Robin Guarino in her Florentine debut, who has directed at opera companies across the country from The Metropolitan Opera to San Francisco Opera. World-acclaimed harpsichord virtuoso Jory Vinikour will return to the Florentine stage as conductor, leading an authentic Baroque ensemble from his harpsichord.

Claudio Monteverdi was a key figure in the creation of opera as we know it today, and The Coronation of Poppea is considered one of the world's first great operas. It follows the love story of Emperor Nerone and his lover Poppea, who is determined to become empress. When a plot to get rid of Poppea backfires, Nerone's wife Ottavia is sentenced to exile, and Nerone and Poppea celebrate their marriage with one of opera's most beautiful duets, "Pur ti miro."

The Coronation of Poppea will also feature the exciting Florentine debut of countertenor Nicholas Tamagna as Ottone. Returning to the Florentine stage for this production are mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider as Poppea and soprano Katherine Pracht as Ottavia.

This new production is being built by the Florentine Opera with original costumes designed by Florentine Opera costume shop manager Melissa Benson. This marks Ms. Benson's mainstage design debut.

Major support for this work is provided by the Gary and Cynthia Vasques Family Foundation. Learn more about this production at www.florentineopera.org.