MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS ENTERTAINED BY THE SARASOTA OPERA STUDIO ARTISTS
Southwest FL - Once again, five Sarasota Opera Studio Artists delighted the members and guests at our January 15th luncheon. Sam Lowry, the Opera’s Director for Audience Development summarized this year's Winter Opera Festival, which will complete the 28- year Verdi Cycle, dedicated to performing every note of music written by Giuseppe Verde.
Tenor Raymon Godfrey Geis from Boistfort WA and baritone Joseph Ryan from Sarasota thrilled us with the impassioned duet, “Au fond du temple saint”, from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. Mr. Ryan is also cover (understudy) for Don Pizarro in Fidelio. They were followed by bass-baritone William Roberts, from Kingspoint NY, who sang the triumphant “O tu Palermo” from Verdi's I Vespri Sicliani. Mr. Roberts will sing the role of the Second Consul of Milan in The Battle of Legnano and also covers for Ramfis in Aida, Don Fernando in Fidelio and Marcovaldo in Legnano – an impressive repertoire, indeed.
Soprano Lindsey Anderson, from Traverse City MI, sang the courageous “Suicidio” from Ponchielli's La Gioconda. She will cover the heroine Lenore in Fidelio. Bass-baritone Isaiah Musik-Ayala, from Cotati CA, sang Banco's foreboding aria “Come dal ciel precipa” from Verdi's Macbeth; he is also cover for the King of Egypt in Aida and Frederico Barbarossa in Legnano. Messrs. Ryan and Roberts capped the program with a powerful rendition of “Suoni la tromba” from I Puritani by Bellini. Maestro Howard Lubin, music Director of the Studio Artist Program, expertly accompanied the singers.
The 2016 Winter Opera Festival begins Jan 30th with Verdi's beloved Aida, a passionate tale of a tragic love triangle, which will be the largest production ever presented by the Sarasota Opera. It will be followed by Mozart's delightful comedy Così fan tutte opening on Feb 6th; and Beethoven's only Grand Opera, Fidelio, on Feb 13th. When the final Verdi opera, The Battle of Legnano opens Feb 13th, the Sarasota Opera will become the only opera company in the world to have performed every note Verdi wrote. This historic achievement will be celebrated on March 20th with a Verdi concert, preceded by a gala dinner and followed by an After Party. Visitors from around the world, including two of Verdi's great-grand-children will be in attendance.
Tickets for all may be obtained from the Opera Box Office (328-1300) or www.sarasotaopera.org.
MOAS is the Sarasota Chapter of Military Officers Association of America. MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers with 370,000 members. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. For more information visit, www.sarasotamoaa.com
Are you a former military officer? Please come and join us at our monthly luncheon.
For More Information, Contact:
Alan Forrester
aforrester@tampabay.rr.com
(P) 941-504-5759
For Immediate Release
