The Diamond Anniversary Celebration Concert and Dinner was hosted April 5 at Sarasota Opera House and Art Ovation Hotel.
By
Kayleigh Omang
| 5:24 p.m. April 5, 2019
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The Sarasota Opera celebrated its 60th season this year with a Diamond Anniversary Celebration Concert and Dinner.
The evening started at the Sarasota Opera House with a concert. The concert stage was decorated in objects representing different performances the Opera has done in the past few years. They also gave tribute to the past by performing pieces from every decade the Sarasota Opera has been around, going back to the 60s while the Opera was still using the Historic Asolo Theatre. In all, they sang 19 pieces, including pieces from "Don Carlos," "Susannah," "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" and from last season's "Carmen."
After the concert concluded, guests who also purchased a dinner ticket went to the Art Ovation Hotel for dinner, dessert and more performances by Sarasota Opera's Principal Artists.
Co-Chairwomen Carolyn Ann Holder and Ann Magee
Executive Director Richard Russell and Walley Kraemer
Guests first enjoyed a performance at the Opera House.
Costumes from the past years were set up around the stage.
Memoirs from past performances decorated the stage.
Eleanor Faber with Paul and Marilyn Frederick
Doug and Carolyn Ann Holder, James and Ann Magee and Jana and John Bekavac
Bonnie Chapman and Janet Huelster
Melinda and Hank Foster
Roseann Martorella, Ralph and Jinny Scheffert and Margarete and Russell Wiltshire
Jacqueline and David Morton
Sandra Lindqvist, Nora Stephan and Erik Lindqvist
Betty Shapiro, Bonny Heet, Martin Martel and Bud Heet
Claudia McCorkle and Beau
Louanne and Dennis Roy
Peter and Syble DiGirolamo
The first piece was sang by Jonathan Burton accompanied by John F. Spencer IV on the piano.
Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and Executive Director Richard Russell welcome guests to the stage.
The centerpieces stood tall above the tables.
The concert and dinner celebrates the Sarasota Opera's 60th anniversary.
Each guest received a custom pen.
More costumes were bought to the Art Ovation Hotel.
Flowers decorated the cocktail tables.
Guests enjoyed a concert and dinner for the Opera's anniversary.
