Richard Russell News

On Saturday, January 28th, 2023 from 12:00-2:00 pm, Sarasota Opera House will be opening its doors to the community for performances, activities, backstage tours, and more.

After Covid dealt a stuttering start to the year, 2022 brought some standout shows and performances. Here are some of our critics' highlights from the past twelve months.

The Sarasota Opera Guild will host its 38th Annual Poinsettia Luncheon to be held Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at Michael's on East, 1212 S. East Avenue, Sarasota, starting at 11:30am.

2022 got off to a shaky start. The shadow of Omicron loomed threatening another year of cancellations and a return to the online realm. But as soon as Covid worries dissipated and theatres reopened their doors with confidence, a gentle tide of scandals and uproars ebbed and flowed across the theatre world. Yes, theatre is back, but is it better than ever?

Sarasota Opera has received a $60,000 Arts Appreciation Grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Aligning with their mission to find meaningful ways to invest in the arts, Gulf Coast Community Foundation allows grant award winners flexibility with their funding in order to pursue their own artistic missions. 

Sarasota Opera's Curtain Raiser Dinner will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of General Director Richard Russell on October 16, 2022.

A dazzling meditation on human transience

The Hermitage Artist Retreat announces a new program presented in partnership with Sarasota Opera featuring the work of Hermitage Fellow Hilan Warshaw, a filmmaker and musician whose work focuses on the lives and works of some of music's most influential figures.

Schmidt Vocal Arts has announced that soprano Nicole DiPasquale (18) has won the top prize of $10,000 in the first national edition of the Schmidt Vocal Competition. Hailing from Tampa, Florida, DiPasquale has just graduated with a Cambridge international diploma from Bell Creek Academy High School. Second prize of $7,500 went to soprano Dalila Lugo (17) of Miami, Florida, and third prize of $5,000 to tenor Benjamin Riverón (17) of San Antonio, Texas.

The top three winners from each of 13 regional competitions will compete for the first national prize in the competition's 25-year history.

Don't miss all the joyous comedy, singing and dancing from Sasha Regan's award-nominated crew on board the All-Male H.M.S. Pinafore at the Theatre Royal Winchester, but you will need to hurry...must end this Wednesday 27th April.

As it moves into the final stretch of its 25th anniversary season, Schmidt Vocal Arts (SVA) is eagerly anticipating the final destination: from June 3–5, 2022, Sarasota Opera will host over 30 singers – the top three winners from each of 13 regional competitions and from an independent, virtual cohort are eligible – competing in the company's William E. Schmidt Opera Theatre for the first national award in the Schmidt Vocal Competition's history.

Following their run in London, Sasha Regan's award-nominated All-Male H.M.S. Pinafore crew dock at the Theatre Royal Winchester from Thursday 21st - Wednesday 27th April.

Last chance to 'sail the ocean blue' with Sasha Regan's smash hit award-nominated All-Male Company at Wilton's Music Hall. Must end in London on 9th April before setting sail to the Theatre Royal Winchester from 21st - 27th April.

The 2022 Fall Season will feature Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage, along with a production of the Sarasota Youth Opera, Dean Burry's The Secret World of Og. Opening the 2023 Winter Opera Festival on February 18 will be Puccini's Madama Butterfly, followed by Mozart's Don Giovanni, Verdi's Ernani, and Massenet's Thérèse.

Come and 'sail the ocean blue' with Sasha Regan's smash hit All-Male H.M.S. Pinafore which docks at Wilton's Music Hall next week for another nautical adventure.

The Sarasota Opera House will be the scene of great celebration on the evening of Saturday, March 26, as the company pays tribute to Maestro DeRenzi’s 40th anniversary. Festivities will begin at 5 PM with a reception of passed hors d’oeuvres and libations under a spacious and elegant tent covering Pineapple Avenue.

Sarasota Opera is rescheduling the 7:30 pm Thursday, February 24 performance of Tosca in response to COVID exposures in the Chorus. The Tosca performance is rescheduled for Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 pm.

Regan De Wynter Williams Productions has announced Sasha Regan's All-Male H.M.S. Pinafore crew. Gilbert & Sullivan's much-loved operetta will run at Wilton's Music Hall from 16th March - 9th April before sailing to the Theatre Royal Winchester from 21st April - 27th April.

Sasha Regan's swashbuckling all-male take on W. S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance' returns to living rooms around the globe this Christmas.