Sarasota Opera's Madama Butterfly Begins to Take Flight
Sarasota, FL, October 10, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The artists have arrived, rehearsals have begun and music is once again emanating out of the Sarasota Opera House as preparations begin for the 2011 fall production of Giacomo Puccini’s classic love story Madama Butterfly running October 28, 2011 through November 15, 2011.
Maestro Victor DeRenzi, celebrating his 30th season as Artistic Director of Sarasota Opera, has assembled an international cast of talent that will be sure to sing life into Puccini’s heartrending music. Soprano Asako Tamura, who has sung the role of Butterfly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and in South America, and was last seen at Sarasota Opera in 2006 as Amalia in Verdi’s I Masnadieri, will return to sing the title role. Joining Ms. Tamura will be two Sarasota Opera favorites. Tenor Rafael Dávila, who has recently appeared at the Teatro San Carlo and New Zealand Opera, and who brought the house down as Oronte in the 2011 production of I Lombardi alla prima crociata, returns for his eighth season to portray the young Naval Officer B.F. Pinkerton. In addition, baritone Marco Nisticò, who was last seen in Sarasota as Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco and has recently appeared at the Teatro Regio di Torino and New York City Opera, sings the American Consul Sharpless. Finally, making her Sarasota Opera debut will be mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen singing the role of Butterfly’s faithful servant Suzuki. Ms. Nelsen most recently received accolades for her portrayal of Suzuki at both New York City Opera and at Royal Albert Hall in London. Martha Collins will return to direct this beautiful Sarasota Opera production, last seen in 2007, that features sets by David P. Gordon and costumes by Evan Ayotte.
With tickets starting at only $19 and the reinstatement of weekday matinees, there is no excuse to miss seeing one of opera’s greatest works brought to life here in Sarasota. Performances are October 28, 30 (matinee), November 2, 5 (matinee), 9 (weekday matinee), and 15. Evening performances begin at 8pm and matinee performances begin at 1:30pm.
Sarasota Opera thanks our Media Sponsor for Madama Butterfly, the Herald Tribune; their Magazine Sponsor for Madama Butterfly, Sarasota Magazine; and their 2011/2012 Season Sponsor, Fifth Third Bank.
All performances at the Sarasota Opera House at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL.
Madama Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
6 Performances: October 28, 30m, November 2, 5m, 9m, 15
About Sarasota Opera
Based in Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Sarasota Opera just finished its 52nd season. In 1960 the company began presenting chamber-sized repertoire in the historic 320-seat Asolo Theater on the grounds of Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art. Recognizing the need for a theater more conducive to opera, the company purchased the former A.B. Edwards Theater in downtown Sarasota in 1979 and first performing in it in 1984 as the Sarasota Opera House. The theater has just undergone a $20-million renovation and rehabilitation enhancing audience amenities, while updating the technical facilities including increasing the size of the orchestra pit. The theater, which reopened in March 2008, has been called “one of America’s finest venues for opera” by Musical America.
Since 1983 the company has been under the artistic leadership of Victor DeRenzi. Since then the company has garnered international attention with its Masterwork Revivals Series, which presents neglected works of artistic merit, as well as the Verdi Cycle producing the complete works of Giuseppe Verdi. Recognizing the importance of training, Maestro DeRenzi founded the Apprentice Artist and Studio Artist programs. Sarasota Opera also maintains a commitment to education through its Invitation to Opera performances for local schools and the unique Sarasota Youth Opera program.
2011-2012 season will feature Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in the fall. The 2012 Winter festival will include Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi’s Otello, and Barber’s Vanessa. Subscriptions are on sale by calling (941) 328-1300 or visiting the Sarasota Opera Box Office. Single tickets went on sale August 1st online (www.sarasotaopera.org) and September 1st in the Box Office.
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Maestro Victor DeRenzi, celebrating his 30th season as Artistic Director of Sarasota Opera, has assembled an international cast of talent that will be sure to sing life into Puccini’s heartrending music. Soprano Asako Tamura, who has sung the role of Butterfly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and in South America, and was last seen at Sarasota Opera in 2006 as Amalia in Verdi’s I Masnadieri, will return to sing the title role. Joining Ms. Tamura will be two Sarasota Opera favorites. Tenor Rafael Dávila, who has recently appeared at the Teatro San Carlo and New Zealand Opera, and who brought the house down as Oronte in the 2011 production of I Lombardi alla prima crociata, returns for his eighth season to portray the young Naval Officer B.F. Pinkerton. In addition, baritone Marco Nisticò, who was last seen in Sarasota as Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco and has recently appeared at the Teatro Regio di Torino and New York City Opera, sings the American Consul Sharpless. Finally, making her Sarasota Opera debut will be mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen singing the role of Butterfly’s faithful servant Suzuki. Ms. Nelsen most recently received accolades for her portrayal of Suzuki at both New York City Opera and at Royal Albert Hall in London. Martha Collins will return to direct this beautiful Sarasota Opera production, last seen in 2007, that features sets by David P. Gordon and costumes by Evan Ayotte.
With tickets starting at only $19 and the reinstatement of weekday matinees, there is no excuse to miss seeing one of opera’s greatest works brought to life here in Sarasota. Performances are October 28, 30 (matinee), November 2, 5 (matinee), 9 (weekday matinee), and 15. Evening performances begin at 8pm and matinee performances begin at 1:30pm.
Sarasota Opera thanks our Media Sponsor for Madama Butterfly, the Herald Tribune; their Magazine Sponsor for Madama Butterfly, Sarasota Magazine; and their 2011/2012 Season Sponsor, Fifth Third Bank.
All performances at the Sarasota Opera House at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL.
Madama Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
6 Performances: October 28, 30m, November 2, 5m, 9m, 15
About Sarasota Opera
Based in Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Sarasota Opera just finished its 52nd season. In 1960 the company began presenting chamber-sized repertoire in the historic 320-seat Asolo Theater on the grounds of Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art. Recognizing the need for a theater more conducive to opera, the company purchased the former A.B. Edwards Theater in downtown Sarasota in 1979 and first performing in it in 1984 as the Sarasota Opera House. The theater has just undergone a $20-million renovation and rehabilitation enhancing audience amenities, while updating the technical facilities including increasing the size of the orchestra pit. The theater, which reopened in March 2008, has been called “one of America’s finest venues for opera” by Musical America.
Since 1983 the company has been under the artistic leadership of Victor DeRenzi. Since then the company has garnered international attention with its Masterwork Revivals Series, which presents neglected works of artistic merit, as well as the Verdi Cycle producing the complete works of Giuseppe Verdi. Recognizing the importance of training, Maestro DeRenzi founded the Apprentice Artist and Studio Artist programs. Sarasota Opera also maintains a commitment to education through its Invitation to Opera performances for local schools and the unique Sarasota Youth Opera program.
2011-2012 season will feature Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in the fall. The 2012 Winter festival will include Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi’s Otello, and Barber’s Vanessa. Subscriptions are on sale by calling (941) 328-1300 or visiting the Sarasota Opera Box Office. Single tickets went on sale August 1st online (www.sarasotaopera.org) and September 1st in the Box Office.
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Contact
Sarasota Opera
Sam Lowry
(941) 328-1322
www.sarasotaopera.org
Sam Lowry
(941) 328-1322
www.sarasotaopera.org
Contact
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