Florida Grand Opera Hosts 72nd Season Gala Tonight, 11/17

Florida Grand Opera will celebrate the start of the 72nd opera season with its annual gala - "An Evening at the Café Momus". Held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, this glamorous themed evening will follow the opening night performance of Puccini's La bohème tonight, November 17, 2012, featuring opera stars Ailyn Pérez and Arturo Chacón-Cruz.

Step into the world of La bohème as the Lynn Wolfson Stage is transformed into Café Momus, a well-known gathering place of bohemian life for artists and writers in 19th century Paris. Located in Montmartre's famed Latin Quarter, the Café is the romantic setting for Act II in Puccini's enduring musical masterpiece and the location of this one-of-a-kind dinner-dance.

Gala guests will also enjoy an elegant pre-performance VIP cocktail reception and silent auction as well as mingle with the opera's cast, including the stars of the evening - Mexican-American soprano Ailyn Pérez and Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz. Pérez returns to FGO following a recent feature in Vanity Fair Magazine and the honor of receiving the 2012 Richard Tucker Award. Chacón-Cruz comes to FGO once again in a role he has made his signature and performed with top companies worldwide.

Gala reservations for the dinner-dance on the Lynn Wolfson Stage - inclusive of pre and post opera receptions, silent auction, and intermission - begin at $750 per person. Table reservations range from $7,500 to $100,000. Reservations are subject to availability. Tickets to the gala night performance of La bohème only, range in price from $21 to $250.

To reserve tables or individual tickets for the full gala evening as well as sponsorship or underwriting information, please contact Denise Courshon at (305) 854-1643 or dcourshon@fgo.org. For information about La bohème performances, contact the Box Office by phone at (800) 741-1010 or online at www.FGO.org.