.Keeping with its decade-long tradition ofperforming either unusual works, or originalversions of Verdi’s operas… every operalover must feel endebted to the SarasotaOpera Company for its choosing to walk aless traveled path.”

Nicola Lischi, Radiotelevisione Italiana

“Where else can one spend the morningreveling in the beauty of works by Rubens, Hals and Botticelli andthe afternoon lolling on a powdery white sand beach? That is thelure of Sarasota, where John and Mable Ringling, the circusimpresario and his wife, set the stage for a vibrant cultural life.”

NY Times

Sarasota’s recently completed Verdi Cycle: “Such an enormousundertaking is a daunting challenge… To pull it of f with suchmusical excellence is a mightily impressive achievement.”

Opera News

“Outstanding soprano Michelle Johnson sounds like a youngLeontyne Price.” The Globe & Mail

F lorida’s innovative Sarasota Opera, now celebrating itsfifty-eighth season, has established itself in recent yearsas one of our most imaginative and successful regionalcompanies. The Mediterranean Revival Opera Houseremains an intimate and charming venue listed in our

National Historic Registry as an authentic Florida landmark, butit is now equipped with the most up-to-date technical facilities.For the past decade, our repeat travelers have recognized thehigh quality of the Sarasota Opera and continue to choose Marchas the ideal time for a Florida escape from winter.

The Sarasota Opera’s outstandingproductions and unusual repertory aredue to the leadership of Artistic DirectorVictor DeRenzi. Under Mr. DeRenzi’slong-term commitment, the company’s2017 season will encompass four majoroperas. In contrast to the offensive ‘Euro-trash’ that has infiltrated many of theworld’s leading houses, we can all be

grateful that the Sarasota Opera’s traditional stagingscontinue to honor the values envisioned by thecomposers.

In chronological order, this year’s reper toire will includeRossini’s ‘bel canto’ Italian comedy, TheItalian Girl in Algiers (1813); Puccini’smelodic tragedy, Madama Butter fly(1904); Italo Montemezzi’s gripping‘verismo’ melodrama, The Love of ThreeKings (1913); and Francis Poulenc’s 20thcentur y French masterwork, TheDialogues of the Carmelites (1957).There are very few companies in the U.S.where opera aficionados can indulge in theluxury of four dif ferent performances ofsuch high quality on four successive days.The Sarasota Opera continues to set anambitious example during this era ofeconomic austerity by mounting realisticsets. Three of the operas will be staged innew productions.

Our first daytime excursion this year willinclude the Ringling Museum of Art. A

THE SARASOTA OPERAFour Great Operas

Wednesday, March 15th through Saturday, March 18th

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Stephanie Sundine

Ca’ d’Zan, Ringling Museum

Victor DeRenziArtistic Director

second excursion will take us to the lushMarie Selbye Botanical Gardens. Thearea’s combination of musical, artisticand natural treasures truly of fers theenticing winter break that everyone islooking for. The glorious coastal sandsof Sarasota’s Key islands continueunbroken for several miles and arejustifiably ranked by NationalGeographic magazine as one of the threefinest beaches in the world, matched only by Waikiki and theFrench Riviera .

IMPORTANT: We urge you to make your air reservations ASEARLY AS POSSIBLE to avoid inflated high season airfares.

Our accommodationsare for four nights atthe Hyatt RegencySarasota. Convenientlylocated, the Hyatt isfully equipped with anoutdoor swimming pooland health club, ScaliniRestaurant diningfacilities, and room

service from 6:00 am until midnight. During the busy operaweeks, the Hyatt Regency is a popular choice for out-of-townerswho return annually to enjoy the personal service and relaxedambience. The Hyatt was completely refurbished a few yeas agoand is now in optimum condition.

Early Wednesday evening, March 15th, a pre-theatre dinner isplanned at the elegant Bijou Café , where we will enjoySarasota’s finest continental cuisine in a private room. The BijouCafé is directly across the street from the Opera House and iswell known as the best restaurant in town.

At 7:30 pm on Wednesday, our first opera will be a newproduction of Francis Poulenc’s The Dialogues of theCarmelites. Premiered at La Scala in 1957, this poignant andemotionally gripping drama depicts the fears and ultimate faith ofa group of Carmelite nuns who join together in martyrdom at theguillotine during the Robespierre ‘reign of terror’ of the FrenchRevolution. Poulenc succeeded in drawing five major portraitsfor varying female voices, which will be sung in Saratoga by

Sandra Lopez as the fear-possessed Blanche, MichelleJohnson returning from lastseason’s Aida to por tray thepivotal new Mother SuperiorMme. Lidoine, Leann Sandel-Pantaleo as the Old Prioresson her deathbed, and OliviaVote as Mother Marie of theIncarnation, the only nun towhom the gift of martyrdom isdenied. (Remaining cast TBA).The director will be Mar thaCollins , and the sets aredesigned by Robert Little. Theconductor is David Neely. Sungin French with English surtitles.

Thursday morning, March 16th, we will visit the pricelessgalleries of the Ringling Museum of Art. The large eclecticcollection includes 17th century Italian paintings, tapestriesand cartoons by Peter Paul Rubens, and other masterworksfrom the Dutch, Flemish and Spanish Baroque schools. Thespacious Renaissance cour tyard is flanked by full-sizesculptural reproductions, including a bronze cast ofMichelangelo’s David.

At 7:30 pm on Thursday evening, we will return to the OperaHouse for a performance of Italo Montemezzi’s The Love ofThree Kings. Montemezzi’s intense ‘verismo’ world of sexualintrigue, last encountered in Sarasota in 2003, of fers “richorchestral lines and expressive vocalism for an exciting night oftheater. Forced to marry Manfredo, the son of the man who

conquered her country, Princess Fiora’s heart belongs to Avito.The two lovers have been meeting in secret, but they are playinga dangerous game, as the blind King Archibaldo growssuspicious.” (Sarasota Opera). The cast is headed by ElizabethTredent as Fiora, Antonio Coriano as Avito, Marco Nistico asManfredo, and Kevin Short as King Archibaldo. This will be anew production, directed by Stephanie Sundine and designed

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Michelle JohnsonSandra Lopez

Antonio CorianoElizabeth Tredent Kevin Short19

Hyatt Regency pool

by David P. Gordon. The conductor is Victor DeRenzi. Sungin Italian with English surtitles.

Friday, March 17th, a morning excursion will take us to theMarie Selbye Botanical Gardens , containing literallyhundreds of species of orchids and other tropical plants. Theoutdoor grounds and the greenhouse specimens are studied bybotanists and horticultural enthusiasts from all over the worldand rank among Sarasota’s most important attractions.

Friday evening at 7:30 pm, we will enjoyGiacomo Puccini’s poignant tragedy,Madama Butterfly, justifiably among themost popular works in the operaticrepertoire. In addition to the famous aria ‘Unbel dì vedremo’, the challenging title rolerequires vocal stamina combined withsympathetic lyricism and dramatic credi -bility. “Butterfly is the apotheosis of the frail,suffering heroine so oftenencountered in Puccini’sgallery.” (New Grove Dict -ionary of Opera). Feat uredin the cast will be sopranoJoanna Parisi as Cio-Cio-San, mezzo-soprano LaurelSemerdjian as Suzuki,and tenor Mat thew Vick -ers as Pinker ton. Sarasota

Opera’s revival will be directed by John Basilwith scenic designs by David P. Gordon. Theconductor is again Victor DeRenzi. Sung inItalian with English surtitles.

Early Saturday evening, March 18th, a pre-theatre dinner will be arranged at Roast, oneof the Gulf coast’s newest restaurants servingMediterranean cuisine. ‘Roast’ is convenientlylocated a very short walking distance from the opera house.

At 7:30 pm on Saturday, our final performance will be a newproduction of The Italian Girl in Algiers. This PremiereProduction will bring Gioachino Rossini’s rollicking comedy toSarasota, offering seamless melodic invention and coloraturavirtuosity in this early buffo triumph. The light-hearted libretto

revolves around Lindoro’s attempts to rescue his belovedIsabella from the lascivious Mustafà, the ruling Bey of Algiers,after they have been captured due to a shipwreck. The cast of‘bel canto’ specialists will include Tara Vendetti in the title role

of Isabella, Hak Soo Kim as her loyal suitor Lindoro, BrunoTaddia as Isabella’s companion Taddei, and buffo bass HaroldWilson as Mustafà. The staging is directed by Mark Freiman,and Michael Sdchweikardt is responsible for the scenery.

Anthony Barrese will be the conductor. Sung in Italian withEnglish surtitles.

Independent departures should be on Sunday, March 19th.

The Sarasota Opera

Price per person, based on double occupancy $ 2,975

Single room supplement $ 680

Airfare NOT included.

Sarasota Opera House

Hak Soo KimTara Venditti Harold Wilson

Matthew Vickers

Joanna Parisi

Fountain in Ca’ d’Zan, Ringling Museum

Rubens’ Archduke Ferdinand,Ringling Museum

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