Sarasota Opera Announces Casting for 2016/2017 Season

Thrilling music, exciting new voices, and compelling theater will launch Sarasota Opera into its 58th Season of presenting grand opera on the south Florida gulf coast, the first season in 28 years to not include any operas by Giuseppe Verdi.

Starting this fall, Sarasota Opera will launch an exciting new venture entitled "Sarasota Firsts" in which the company will produce operas never before seen on the Sarasota Opera House stage. For the 2016/2017 season, Sarasota Opera will present three operas in association with this new series as well as re-mount operas that have been beloved by Sarasota Opera audiences for years.

"In addition to introducing new works to our audience through the Sarasota Firsts program, we will be featuring new artists as well," says Maestro Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor at Sarasota Opera. "We are happy to bring back many of the talented singers who are audience favorites, as well as to welcome new artists to our stage."

Executive Director Richard Russell commented that "we hope this is a fascinating and diverse season for our audience. Although many of the works are new to our repertoire, some are operatic favorites like Don Pasquale and The Italian Girl in Algiers, and others are more rarely heard, and yet have proven popular with opera audiences like Dialogues of the Carmelites and The Love of Three Kings."

Starting at just $19, single tickets for the 2016/2017 season go on-sale exclusively online at www.sarasotaopera.org Monday, August 1st. Single tickets will be available for purchase by phone or in-person at the Sarasota Opera Box Office on Thursday, September 1st.

2016 Fall Season

Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti

Sarasota Opera will open its 9th consecutive fall season with the Sarasota Opera House premiere of Donizetti's witty and clever opera Don Pasquale. Being dissatisfied with his only heir, Ernesto, Don Pasquale has resolved to marry and produce another heirs. Twists and turns ensue as Pasquale's friend Malatesta assists Ernesto and his beloved Norina with a plan to make them, and Don Pasquale, one happy family.

This opera will have a cast full of Sarasota Opera favorites. Baritone Marco Nisticò (Aida, Don Carlos) returns as the scheming Don Pasquale. Tenor Hak Soo Kim (Un giorno di regno, La Cenerentola) returns as the nephew Ernesto and Soprano Angela Mortellaro (Cosi fan tutte, La bohème) will return as his beloved Norina. Finally, baritone Gideon Dabi, who made his main stage debut as Schaunard last season in Puccini's La bohème, will return as Dr. Malatesta.

Maestro Victor DeRenzi will conduct and Stephanie Sundine (La bohème, Aida) returns to direct.

The Secret World of Og by Dean Burry

This fall, the Sarasota Youth Opera will present the United States premiere of The Secret World of Og by Canadian composer Dean Burry who will travel to Sarasota for the production. Adapted from the popular children's book by Canadian author Pierre Berton, the story follows a group of siblings who venture into the subterranean world of the Og's to rescue their baby brother and cat. This story has been a favorite with Canadian children since it was first introduced in the 1960's.

In addition to this being the U.S. premiere of the work, Sarasota Youth Opera has commissioned an orchestration to be created by Mr. Burry for this production. Previous productions of this work have only used piano accompaniment.

The opera was originally commissioned by the Canadian Children's Opera Company and given its world premiere in 2010. Dean Burry is also the composer of The Hobbit, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, which received two critically acclaimed, sold-out performances by the Sarasota Youth Opera in 2014.

All sung roles will be performed by members of the Sarasota Youth Opera program. Stage director Martha Collins (The Hobbit, Brundibár) returns to direct and Youth Opera Music Director Jesse Martins will conduct.

2017 Winter Season

Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini

Sarasota Opera's 58th season will open on February 11, 2017 with Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Set in Japan around 1900, the story follows a young geisha Cio-Cio San, affectionately known as Madama Butterfly, who is swept off her feet by the American Naval Officer, B.F. Pinkerton. Leaving her with promises of returning one day, Butterfly waits faithfully for his return which comes three years later, but with unexpected disappointments and a tragic end. Filled with Puccini's most expansive melodies, Madama Butterfly is at the top of a very short list of most performed and best loved operas of all time.

Making her Sarasota Opera debut in the title role will be soprano Joanna Parisi. Ms. Parisi's career has already taken her to leading opera houses in Europe, Mexico and around the United States, as well as her being named one of "The Next Generation of Great Opera Singers" by New York's WQXR Classical. Mezzo-soprano Laurel Semerdjian, a former Sarasota Opera apprentice artist who has sung with Bellevue Opera and Pittsburgh Opera, will make her principal artist debut as Butterfly's maid Suzuki. Also making his principal artist debut will be tenor Matthew Vickers as Naval officer B.F. Pinkerton. A former Studio Artist, Mr. Vickers won great acclaim last season for stepping in at the last minute for an ailing colleague as Arrigo in Verdi's The Battle of Legnano.

Stage Director John Basil, who previously directed productions of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra and The Sicilian Vespers, returns to direct and Victor DeRenzi will conduct.

The Italian Girl in Algiers by Gioachino Rossini

Before The Barber of Seville or La Cenerentola came Rossini's rollicking comedy The Italian Girl in Algiers which makes its Sarasota Opera debut this coming season. Lindoro's attempts at escape from Mustafà, the Bey of Algiers, have been thwarted and, to top it all off, he is now faced with a hand-me-down bride since his beloved Isabella has gone missing. But a unique turn of events brings Isabella right where she needs to be to save her lost fiancé. And she knows exactly what to do to get them out of this bind.

Two artists make their main stage debut this season in this new Sarasota production.

Having sung leading roles at the Théâtre du Châtelet, La Scala and around the United States, mezzo-soprano Tara Venditti appears as the heroine Isabella and Italian baritone Bruno Taddia, who has bowed at the Royal Opera House in Convent Garden, La Fenice in Venice, and the Ravenna Festival with conductor Ricardo Muti, will sing Isabella's unwanted suitor Taddeo. Returning this season will be tenor Hak Soo Kim as Lindoro and bass Harold Wilson (Flying Dutchman, Fidelio) as Mustafà, the Bey of Algiers.

Rossini specialist Maestro Anthony Barrese (The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni) returns to conduct, scenic designer Michael Schweikardt (Fidelio, Turandot) will create the sets for this new production, and director Mark Freiman makes his Sarasota debut as stage director.

Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc

Based on real events and set during the French Revolution's infamous "Reign of Terror", Poulenc's opera Dialogues of the Carmelites tells the story of Blanche de la Force as she goes against the wishes of her aristocratic family and dedicates her life to God's service by joining a Carmelite order. The revolution threatens to destroy all that is most sacred to the nuns. Blanche's faith is put to the ultimate test to choose between life and following her sacred calling through to the end.

Several acclaimed artists will make their Sarasota Opera main stage debuts in this production. Soprano Sandra Lopez, who makes her Sarasota Opera debut as Blanche, has sung leading roles at some of the world's most celebrated opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Venice's Gran Teatro la Fenice, and the Salzburg Festival. Mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote, also making her Sarasota Opera debut as Mother Marie, has just returned to the U.S. after completing a two year guest artist contract at the Zürich Opera House. Other company debuts include soprano Claire Coolen as Constance, and tenor Sean Christensen as The Chevalier, Blanche's brother. Returning after their triumphal turn in Verdi's Aida last season, soprano Michelle Johnson (Aida, Don Carlos) will sing Madame Lidoine and mezzo-soprano Leann Sandel-Pantaleo (Aida) will sing Madame de Croissy.

Maestro David Neely (Of Mice and Men, Vanessa) will return to conduct and Martha Collins (The Battle of Legnano, Tosca) will direct. This new production will feature sets by scenic designer David Little.

The Love of Three Kings by Italo Montemezzi

One of opera's most passionate stories has music to match in this early 20th century masterpiece. Forced to marry Manfredo, the son of the man who conquered her country, Princess Fiora's heart belongs to Avito. The two lovers have been meeting in secret, but they are playing a dangerous game, as the blind King Archibaldo grows suspicious. Last seen at Sarasota Opera in 2003, the rich orchestral lines and expressive vocalism will make for an exciting night of theater.

Making his U.S. debut in this production will be Italian tenor Antonio Corianò as Avito. Mr. Corianò has previously appeared at the Cairo Opera House, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, and La Scala in Milan. Returning artists include soprano Elizabeth Tredent (principal artist debut) as the Princess Fiora, Marco Nisticò (Aida, Don Carlos) as Manfredo, and bass Kevin Short(Don Carlos, The Flying Dutchman) as the blind King Archibaldo.

This new production will be designed by scenic designer David P. Gordon (Aida, The Golden Cockerel). Victor DeRenzi will conduct and Stephanie Sundine (Aida, Don Carlos) will direct.

For more info and tickets go to www.sarasotaopera.org or call (941) 366-8450.

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