Sarasota Opera Celebrates National Opera Week, Now thru Nov 4

Sarasota Opera joins opera organizations nationwide to celebrate NATIONAL OPERA WEEK (October 26 – November 4), coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today, and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and opera training programs across the United States will be shared through free, dynamic activities designed to engage novices, opera lovers and everyone in between.

OPERA America and participating organizations are thrilled to announce legendary artist and opera lover Aretha Franklin as the program's Honorary Chairwoman. "I may be known as the Queen of Soul, but I love opera, which is why I'm delighted to be the Honorary Chairwoman of National Opera Week," declared Franklin. "It would be wonderful to see more people involved in classical music. It truly is enriching."

A brief welcome statement from Ms. Franklin is available HERE.

"From behind-the-scenes tours to enlightening performance talks to Twitter contests and more, there is something for everyone during National Opera Week," states Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America. "National Opera Week draws attention to the creativity and dynamism that propels our field today. We are proud to highlight this depth of opera activity across the United States."

Sarasota Opera is thrilled that the first day of National Opera Week coincides with the opening of their fall opera, Verdi's tragic masterpiece Rigoletto, running from Friday, October 26 through Monday, November 12. In addition, there will be several events around the Sarasota Youth Opera's world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland as well as community outreach and education concerts.

For more information about National Opera Week events around the country, visit www.operaamerica.org/operaweek. Join the National Opera Week conversation on Twitter with #OperaWeek.

Sarasota Opera National Opera Week Event Details

Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi
Sarasota Opera House
Friday, October 26, 2012 8pm
Sunday, October 28, 2012 1:30pm
Thursday, November 1, 2012 8pm
Saturday, November 3, 2012 8pm
Verdi's tragic masterpiece Rigoletto follows the story of a hunchbacked jester as he tries to shield his beautiful daughter Gilda from the evils of the world. When the licentious Duke of Mantua swindles her love, Rigoletto is driven to plot a revents which ends in tragedy.
Ticket prices range from $19 - $120 and can be purchased online at www.sarasotaopera.org or by calling the Box Office at (941) 328-1300.

Panel Discussion on the works of Windsor McCay and the newly commissioned Opera
Little Nemo in Slumberland
Selby Gallery/Ringling College of Art and Design
Saturday, October 27, 4:30pm
Ringling College and Sarasota Opera will host a panel discussion on the works of Windsor McCay and the creation of the new opera Little Nemo in Slumberland at the Selby Gallery located on the campus of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Maestro Victor DeRenzi will moderate the discussion and the panel will include composer Daron Hagen, librettist J.D. McClatchy, and members of both the artistic team and cast of Little Nemo in Slumberland. This is a FREE event!

Palm Avenue First Friday Walk with Sarasota Opera
South Palm Avenue and Main Street
Friday, November 2, 7:00pm – 8:0030pm
Join Sarasota Opera artists as they perform selections from the 2012-2013 Season in the beautiful and intimate settings of Sarasota's famous art galleries. There will be four 15 minute presentations of famous arias and scenes in both Galleria Silecchia (20 South Palm Avenue) and Art to Walk On (16 & 18 South Palm Avenue). This is a FREE event!

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