2012-2013 SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES AND TICKET INFORMATION A Season of Sensations Tosca Nathan Gunn In Concert A Midsummer Night s Dream Elijah
Dear Friends, Welcome to the 2012-13 Season at Opera Naples! Eight years ago, Opera Naples was founded on a vision to bring professional level opera to the people of Southwest Florida. The first performance, of Puccini s Tosca, played to a capacity crowd and rave reviews, and a new cultural presence was felt in Naples. Our first production of this new season brings us full circle back to Tosca, this time presented in two performances at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. We are excited to make our fully-staged debut in this first-class facility with a terrific cast, and a beautiful production from Seattle Opera. Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, celebrated around the world for her vocal artistry, makes her Opera Naples debut in the title role. Local favorite Paul Nadler returns to the podium to lead the Naples Philharmonic. Don t miss this milestone event in our history! The season continues with a wonderful mix of repertoire, artists and performance venues. Superstar baritone Nathan Gunn appears for one night only in a special recital of opera and popular songs at Moorings Presbyterian Church. We return to the Miromar Design Center to experience the magical world of Benjamin Britten s A Midsummer Night s Dream, in a new production for Opera Naples. The season concludes with Mendelsohn s triumphant Elijah, an oratorio presented in semi-staged form at Moorings Presbyterian Church. Opera Naples is committed to offering ticket prices that are accessible to everyone in our community. Seats start as low as $30, and students, teachers and groups can save even more! With some productions taking place in more intimate venues, these performances will sell out. Don t wait, order your seats today! Vissi d arte! Steffanie Pearce Founding Artistic Director Thomas Smith Executive Director & CEO Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs as Floria Tosca Dinyar Vania as Mario Cavaradossi Andrea Zese as Baron Scarpia Paul Nadler Conductor TOSCA Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica Thursday, Dec. 20 ~ 7:30pm, 2012 Saturday, Dec. 22 ~ 2:00pm, 2012 Presented in partnership with The Philharmonic Center for the Arts Sponsored by Our presentation of Tosca features artists that are truly world class! Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, heard worldwide in the Sirius radio broadcast of Tosca from the Met is joined by tenor Dinyar Vania as Cavaradossi, and Andrea Zese in his American debut as Scarpia. Metropolitan regulars Tomer Zvulun ( Director) and Maestro Paul Nadler (leading the Naples Philharmonic ) will make this an experience to remember! Artist Sponsors: Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs ~ sponsored by Edward J. and Cindy J. Stegemann Dinyar Vania ~ sponsored by Martha and Frank Ibarra Andrea Zese ~ sponsored by AML Vitale Consultants 2 3
Photos by M. Sharkey Photography Nathan Gunn in Concert Friday, February 8, 2013 ~ 7:30pm Moorings Presbyterian Church, Naples Grammy Award-winning American baritone Nathan Gunn is one of the most sought after artists in the world. With a voice of stunning authority (New York Times) and superb acting skills, Mr. Gunn has mastered a variety of roles, from Billy Budd and Papageno to the creation of new roles such as Alec Harvey in Andre Previn s Brief Encounter and Paul in the world premiere of Daron Hagen s Amelia. Mr. Gunn makes his Naples debut in a recital concert of opera standards and crossover selections, accompanied on piano by Julie Jordan Gunn. A Midsummer Night s Dream Music by Benjamin Britten Saturday, February 23, 2013 ~ 7:30pm Sunday, February 24, 2013 ~ 4:30pm Miromar Design Center, Estero Welcome, wanderers! Prepare to be lost in a realm of enchantment as we present Benjamin Britten s adaptation of this Shakespeare classic. John Gaston makes his Company debut as Oberon, and Opera Naples favorite Heather Buck sings Tytania in this new production conceived by Cecil Mackinnon and Philip Watson for Opera Naples. Richard Bernas 4 Nathan Gunn is sponsored by Moran Edwards Asset Management Conductor 5 Sponsored by John Gaston as Oberon Heather Buck as Tytania Photo by David Junker Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
Elijah 2013 By Felix Mendelsohn Thursday, March 21, 2013 ~ 7:30pm Friday, March 22, 2013 ~ 7:30pm Moorings Presbyterian Church From the opening declamation by Elijah, to the thundering conclusion by the chorus, this masterpiece has been in demand since its premiere in 1846. Continuing Opera Naples commitment to collaborative partnerships, the Company s resident chorus will be joined by members of the Florida Gulf Coast University Choir in this semi-staged production. Stephen Morscheck makes his Opera Naples debut in the title role, and is joined by soprano Steffanie Pearce and tenor Kirk Dougherty. Willie Anthony Waters leads the Opera Naples Orchestra. Kirk Dougherty Tenor Photo by Lisa Hancock Stephen Morscheck as Elijah Willie Anthony Waters Conductor Steffanie Pearce Soprano MAKE PL ANS FOR THESE ADDITIONAL EXCITING EVENTS! Opera Naples Presents Tuesday, March 19, 2013 At a private club in Port Royal Honorary Chairperson, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa A glittering, glamorous gala direct from the Roaring 20 s! This fundraising event includes cocktails, dinner, jazz, flappers, vintage cars, fantastic auctions and lots of surprises. Order your tickets today! and Present Florencia en al Amazonas by Daniel Catán May 18, 2013 The Philharmonic Center for the Arts This modern classic tells the story of opera diva Florencia Grimaldi, who returns to Manaus, Brazil in search of a long lost love. Performed in Spanish with English surtitles. For more information, contact the ArtsNaples World Festival at www.artsnaplesworldfestival.org. 6 7
GET THE BEST SEATS AT THE BEST VALUE ~ SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Opera Naples ~ Accessible to All! Don Giovanni - January, 2012 Benefits of being an Opera Naples Subscriber: Savings Enjoy the only guaranteed discount; a subscription purchase saves you 15% off single tickets prices. More Savings! Subscribers receive a 10% discount on additional single ticket purchases. Convenience Lost your tickets? One call to Opera Naples, and your tickets are replaced free of charge. Flexibility Subscribers may exchange their tickets at no charge for a different performance of the same production, subject to availability. Show Boat - November, 2011 Our commitment to you includes... making the opera affordable, with ticket prices as low as $30 and 50% discounts for students. Preference Renewing Subscribers are offered first selection of seats before they go on sale to the general public. Groups save BIG! Groups of 10-19 save 10% off regular single ticket price. Groups of 20+ save 20% off regular single ticket price. providing a variety of works, including a family-friendly opera each season projecting real-time English translations at every foreign language performance encouraging you to be comfortable tuxes and gowns not required! 8 For more information, please call Gary Kelson at 239.963.9050, or e-mail us at info@operanaples.org. 9 Photos by Pat Shapiro ~ Flying Colors of Naples, Inc.
Moorings Presbyterian Church 791 Harbour Drive Naples, FL STAGE VIP Premium Premium Preferred General Miromar Design Center 10800 Corkscrew Rd. Estero FL Orchestra STAGE Aisle Opera Naples 2012-2013 TICKET Order form Complete and return this form to Opera Naples, Attn: Ticket Office, 2408 Linwood Avenue, Naples, FL 34112 For faster service, call 239.963.9050 or visit us online at www.operanaples.org. TOSCA: To order tickets for Tosca, please contact the Philharmonic Center for the Arts 239.597.1900, 800.597.1900 or www.thephil.org THREE-SHOW Subscription: Nathan Gunn in Concert, A Midsummer Night s Dream, Elijah (15% Savings) Premium Seating: #of subscriptions x $263 = Dates? Preferred Seating: #of subscriptions x $179 = Dates? General Seating: #of subscriptions x $94 = Dates? Choose performance dates: Midsummer 2/23 2/24 Elijah 3/21 3/22 Single Tickets: please note: All performances (except Tosca) are open seating within sections. Nathan Gunn in Concert: q 2/8 Premium # x $100 = Preferred# x $65 = General # x $30 = A Midsummer Night s Dream: q 2/23 q 2/24 Premium # x $110 = Preferred# x $80 = General # x $50 = Elijah: q 3/21 q 3/22 Premium # x $100 = Preferred# x $65 = General # x $30 = STUDENTS & TEACHERS save 50% off regularly priced Preferred & General seating, based on availability. To order, call 239.963.9050. The Great Gatsby Gala: Single Tickets: $300 or $500 Table of 10: $3,000 or $5,000 Single # x $300 = Single # x $500 = Table # x $3,000 = Table # x $5,000 = ticket TOTAL: $ OPTIONAL donation: $ Handling: $1 per ticket + $3 Postage: $ Total: $ Name or Company Name Address: City: State: Zip: Premium Telephone: ( ) Email: Preferred q Visa q MasterCard q American Express q Discover Card # Exp. Date Security Code: Elevator Elevator Credit Card Billing Address & Zip Code: General 10 Check No. Please make checks payable to Opera Naples, Inc. 11
2408 linwood avenue naples, fl 34112 239.963.9050 www.operanaples.org Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Opera Naples, Inc. Opera Naples stoked Charles Gounod s opera [Faust] with everything it had Friday to produce engaging drama, gorgeous music and light-fueled settings that put the audience in every scene Harriet Heithaus, Naples Daily News Like us on Facebook! OPERA NAPLES, Inc. is a 501c(3) charitable organization (EIN #42-1671038) registered in the State of Florida, registration no. CH19598. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7342) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Our registration number is: CH19598