St. Petersburg Opera Hosts 'Evenings with the Maestro: Character Roles in Opera', 2/4

February's edition of the St. Petersburg Opera's popular Evening with the Maestro series will examine the "character" roles in opera, such as jailers, servants, and villains. Maestro Mark Sforzini has lined up a number of musical examples, which will be sung by frequent SPO artist Joseph Ryan and by Rolando Sanz. Mr. Ryan, a baritone, was featured as Rapunzel's prince in SPO's Into the Woods and has participated in the Emerging Artist Program. Mr. Sanz was the first place winner in the 2009 Florida Suncoast Opera Guild's Young Professionals competition and has won first place in the Orange County district Metropolitan Opera auditions. A tenor, Mr. Sanz will be making his Carnegie Hall debut on February 9, 2010 and has been garnering rave reviews for his appearances throughout the U.S.

The presentation will be at the Music Gallery, 5990 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, at 6:00 p.m. on February 4, 2010. 

Each of these first Thursday of the month lectures addresses a different theme to enhance your understanding of opera and of music in general and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Following the program, the audience is invited to join the Maestro and the cast for conversation and refreshments at a local restaurant. Details will be announced at the performance. 

Tickets are $10 ($5 seniors and students) and are available in advance on the St. Petersburg opera website, www.stpeteopera.org or by calling the office at 727-823-2040. All tickets at the door will be $10.

Pictured: Joseph Ryan