Victor DeRenzi News

Sarasota Opera is the recipient of an $8,000 grant for the commissioning of composer Rachel J. Peters for the creation of Rootabaga Country, Sarasota Youth Opera's sixth world premiere scheduled to be performed on November 11 and 12, 2017. The grant is provided by OPERA America's Opera Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Sarasota Opera announces an expansion of their "HD at the Movie House" series entitled "Classic Moves at the Opera House." Originally designed as a movie house and vaudeville theater, Sarasota Opera is embracing the history of the building by bringing many of the classic films that once played at the theater when they originally premiered.

World premieres, new productions, and exciting artist debuts will make the 59th season at Sarasota Opera a season not to miss. Highlights of the upcoming year include the return of Giuseppe Verdi, the 6th Sarasota Youth Opera world premiere, and operas by composers such as Vincenzo Bellini and Eugen D'Albert whose operas have not been heard on our stage.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects across the country in the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $20,000 to the Sarasota Opera in support of the commissioning and world premiere of Rootabaga Country, a new opera by composer by Rachel J. Peters which will mark the company's 6th world premiere. The NEA received 1,728 Art Works applications and will make 1,029 grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

Sarasota Opera has joined forces with six opera companies nationwide to create a new commissioning initiative entitled Opera for All Voices: Stories of our Time. This new venture is committed to telling wide-ranging stories that resonate with audiences regardless of age or prior experience with opera. Selected works will be co-commissioned and co-produced with other participating companies including Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Minnesota Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Seattle Opera.

Sarasota Opera announced a new slate of officers and the appointment of a new board member at their annual meeting on May 1, 2017.

Sarasota Opera announced a new slate of officers and the appointment of a new board member at their annual meeting on May 1, 2017.

Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the line-up for the 2017 season of 'HD at the Opera House'.  This weekly Sunday afternoon series of filmed performances, which debuted in 2014, has allowed Sarasota Opera to expand its programming from the fall and winter season to year-around.

On Tuesday, March 21st, Sarasota Opera officially dedicated the newly built Steinwachs Artist Residences for Sarasota Opera located at 1444 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, FL.

Sarasota Opera The Love of Three Kings

 Due to overwhelming demand, Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce a 12th performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly has been added for Sunday, March 12th at 7:30pm. Since the opera opened on February 11th, every performance has been a sell-out with limited ticket availability for upcoming performances.

For the first time, Sarasota Opera and the Sarasota chapter of the Alliance Francaise will partner to present a free program entitled "Dialogues of the Carmelites: Beyond the Stage" today, February 15th at 7pm in the Kamlet Library at the Sarasota Opera House. 

Sarasota Opera announced its 2017/18 Fall and Winter Festival Season today at a press conference held on the Sarasota Opera House main stage in Sarasota, FL. The event was overseen by Maestro Victor DeRenzi, artistic director and principal conductor, and Richard Russell, Executive Director.

Thrilling music, exciting new voices, and compelling theater will launch Sarasota Opera into its 58th Winter Festival Season on Saturday, February 11th, 2017. This will be the company's first season in 28 years to not include any operas by Giuseppe Verdi.

For the first time, Sarasota Opera and the Sarasota chapter of the Alliance Francaise will partner to present a free program entitled "Dialogues of the Carmelites: Beyond the Stage" on Wednesday, February 15th at 7pm in the Kamlet Library at the Sarasota Opera House. 

Sarasota Opera is casting to find three children (boy or girl) to portray Butterfly's son in the 2017 Winter production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly.

Sarasota Opera has been awarded a $50,000 Arts Appreciation Grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant offers unrestricted funding to area arts organizations in support of their artistic mission.

Sarasota Opera and the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL will collaborate once again on a series of talks to be held at the Sarasota Opera House.

Sarasota Opera and the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL will collaborate once again on a series of talks to be held at the Sarasota Opera House.

Today, September 10, 2016, Sarasota Opera will open its doors for the 3rd annual Taste of Downtown Food & Wine Festival at the Sarasota Opera House.