Sarasota Opera announces cast and creative team for last year of the Verdi Cycle

The opera brings in familiar favorites and acclaimed newcomers to conclude its historic performance cycle of the complete works of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

  • By Nick Reichert
  • | 10:47 a.m. July 29, 2015
  • Arts + Culture
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First started in 1989 with a production of "Rigoletto," the Sarasota Opera's ambitious Verdi Cycle is reaching its historic conclusion this upcoming winter season. Spanning over 28 years, the cycle is the marathon performance of every major, minor and alternate work created by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. This season concludes with two of his major works: "Aida" and "The Battle of Legnano." And when the curtain falls on the last performance of "Aida" on March 19, 2016 and the "The Verdi Cycle Grand Finale Concert" on March 20, the Sarasota Opera will be the only company in the world to have performed every note by Verdi. 

Though the artistic and administrative staff at the Sarasota Opera are near the summit of this musical journey, they still need a great cast and crew of singers, conductors, designers and directors to get them across the finish line. 

"This is a landmark season for the company and I think we have a wonderful line-up of artists for this important event,” says Victor DeRenzi, artistic director and principal conductor of the Sarasota Opera. “We are happy to bring back many of the talented singers well-known to our audience as well as welcome new artists to our stage." 

Below are the listings of the cast and crew for the Sarasota Opera's final season of the Verdi Cycle. 

La bohème by Giacomo Puccini

October 30 and November 1, 4, 10, 12, 15, 17

Mimì: Jessica Rose Cambio

Musetta: Angela Mortellaro

Rodolfo: Martín Nusspaumer

Marcello: Craig Irvin

Conductor: Victor DeRenzi

Stage Director: Stephanie Sundine

Scenic Designer: David P. Gordon

Costume Coordinator: Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

 

Brundibár by Hans Krása

November 14, 2015 at 1:30pm and 7:30pm

A Sarasota Youth Opera production

Artists:                                

Sarasota Youth Opera members

Conductor: Jesse Martins

Stage Director: Martha Collins

Scenic Designer: Jeffrey W. Dean

Costume Designer: B. G. Fitzgerald

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

 

Aida  by Giuseppe Verdi

January 30; February 4, 7, 10, 20, 23, 28 and March 2, 5, 13, 15, 19

The King of Egypt: Jeffrey Beruan

Amneris: Leann Sandel-Pantaleo

Aida: Michelle Johnson

Radames: Jonathan Burton

Ramfis: Young Bok Kim

Amonasro: Marco Nisticò

Conductor: Victor DeRenzi

Stage Director: Stephanie Sundine

Scenic Designer: David P. Gordon

Costume Coordinator: Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

               

Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

February 6, 9, 11, 14, 17, 21, 26 and March 4, 12

Fiordiligi: Jennifer Townshend

Dorabella: Shirin Eskandani

Guglielmo: Corey Crider

Ferrando: Heath Huberg

Despina: Angela Mortellaro

Don Alfonso: Stefano de Peppo

Conductor: Marcello Cormio

Stage Director: Kathleen Smith Belcher*

Scenic Designer: David P. Gordon

Costume Designer: Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

 

Fidelio by Ludwig von Beethoven

February 13, 18, 24, 28; March 1, 5, 11

Don Fernando: Jeffrey Beruan

Don Pizarro: Sean Anderson

Florestan: Michael Robert Hendrick

Leonore: Kara Shay Thomson

Rocco: Harold Wilson

Marzelline: Vanessa Isiguen

Jaquino: TBD

Conductor: Eckhart Wycik

Stage Director: Tom Diamond

Scenic Designer: Michael Schweikardt

Costume Designer: Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

 

The Battle of Legnano by Giuseppe Verdi

February 27; March 3, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18

Sarasota Opera Premiere/Verdi Cycle Opera

Federico Barbarossa: Young Bok Kim

Rolando: Todd Thomas

Lida: Jennifer Black

Arrigo: Martìn Nusspaumer

Marcovaldo: Harold Wilson

Conductor: Victor DeRenzi

Stage Director: Matha Collins

Scenic Designer: Jeffrey W. Dean

Costume Coordinator: Howard Tsvi Kaplan

Lighting Designer: Ken Yunker

 

Michelle Johnson, soprano, will perform the title role of Aida (Jan. 30 to March 19). She previously performed last season as Élisabeth in
Michelle Johnson, soprano, will perform the title role of Aida (Jan. 30 to March 19). She previously performed last season as Élisabeth in "Don Carlos."
Victor DeRenzi, maestro and artistic director of the Sarasota Opera, will conduct
Victor DeRenzi, maestro and artistic director of the Sarasota Opera, will conduct "La bohème," "Aida" and "The Battle of Legnano."
Marco Nisticò, baritone, will play Amonasro in
Marco Nisticò, baritone, will play Amonasro in "Aida." (Jan. 30 to March 19). Previously appeared in "Don Carlos" and "Rigoletto" for the Sarasota Opera.
Young Bok Kim, bass, will play the roles of Ramfis in
Young Bok Kim, bass, will play the roles of Ramfis in "Aida" and Federico Barbarossa in "The Battle of Legnano." He previously performed in "Don Carlos" and "Jérusalem."
Jonathan Burton, tenor, will play the role of Radames in
Jonathan Burton, tenor, will play the role of Radames in "Aida" (Jan. 30 to March 19). He previously performed in "Don Carlos" and "Turandot" for the Sarasota Opera.
Leann Sandel-Pantaleo, mezzo soprano, will make her Sarasota Opera debut as Amneris in
Leann Sandel-Pantaleo, mezzo soprano, will make her Sarasota Opera debut as Amneris in "Aida" (Jan. 30 to March 19).
Jeffrey Beruan, bass, will play the King of Egypt in
Jeffrey Beruan, bass, will play the King of Egypt in "Aida" and Don Fernando in "Fidelio." He previously performed in "Jérusalem" and "Il trovatore" at the Sarasota Opera.
Jennifer Black, soprano, will play Lida in
Jennifer Black, soprano, will play Lida in "The Battle of Legnano" (Feb. 27 to March 18). Sarasota Opera premiere.
Todd Thomas, baritone, will play Rolando in
Todd Thomas, baritone, will play Rolando in "The Battle of Legnano" (Feb. 27 to March 18). Thomas performed in "Tosca" and "Attila" at the Sarasota Opera.
Harold Wilson, bass, will play both Rocco in
Harold Wilson, bass, will play both Rocco in "Fidelio" and Marcovaldo in "The Battle of Legnano." Previously performed in "The Flying Dutchman" at the Sarasota Opera.
Martín Nusspaumer, tenor, will make his Sarasota Opera debut with the roles Rodolfo in
Martín Nusspaumer, tenor, will make his Sarasota Opera debut with the roles Rodolfo in "La bohème" and as Arrigo in "The Battle of Legnano."
Kara Shay Thomson, soprano, will play Leonore in
Kara Shay Thomson, soprano, will play Leonore in "Fidelio" (Feb. 13 to March 11). Thomson previously performed in "Tosca" and "Vanessa" at the Sarasota Opera.
Michael Robert Hendrick, tenor, plays Florestan in
Michael Robert Hendrick, tenor, plays Florestan in "Fidelio" (Feb. 13. to March 11). Previously appeared in "Pagliacci" and "Of Mice and Men" at the Sarasota Opera.
Sean Anderson, baritone, will play Don Pizarro in
Sean Anderson, baritone, will play Don Pizarro in "Fidelio" (Feb. 13 to March 11). Perviously performed in "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Of Mice and Men."
Vanessa Isiguen, soprano, will play Marzelline in
Vanessa Isiguen, soprano, will play Marzelline in "Fidelio" (Feb. 13 to March 11). Sarasota Opera premiere.
Jennifer Townshend, soprano, will play Fiordiligi in
Jennifer Townshend, soprano, will play Fiordiligi in "Così fan tutte." Previously appeared in "Don Carlos" at the Sarasota Opera.
Heath Huberg, tenor, will play Ferrando in
Heath Huberg, tenor, will play Ferrando in "Così fan tutte." He previously appeared in "Jérusalem" and "The Pearl Fishers" at the Sarasota Opera.
Corey Crider, baritone, will play Guglielmo in
Corey Crider, baritone, will play Guglielmo in "Così fan tutte." He previously appeared in "A King for a Day" at the Sarasota Opera.
Shirin Eskandani, mezzo soprano, will play Dorabella in
Shirin Eskandani, mezzo soprano, will play Dorabella in "Così fan tutte." This is her Sarasota Opera debut.
Jessica Rose Cambio, soprano, will make her Sarasota Opera debut as Mimì in
Jessica Rose Cambio, soprano, will make her Sarasota Opera debut as Mimì in "La bohème" (Oct. 30 to Nov. 17).
Angela Mortellaro, soprano, will play the roles of Musetta in
Angela Mortellaro, soprano, will play the roles of Musetta in "La bohème" and Despina in "Così fan tutte." She previously performed at the Sarasota Opera in "Die Fledermaus" and "Hansel and Gretel."
Craig Irvin, baritone, will make his Sarasota Opera debut as Marcello in
Craig Irvin, baritone, will make his Sarasota Opera debut as Marcello in "La bohème" by Giacomo Puccini (Oct. 30 to Nov. 17).
Marcello Cormio will conduct
Marcello Cormio will conduct "Così fan tutte" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Feb. 6 to March 12).
Eckhart Wycik will conduct
Eckhart Wycik will conduct "Fidelio" by Ludwig von Beethoven (Feb. 13 to March 11).

 

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