Le Marche Marketplace in downtown Sarasota draws shoppers and songs

When you're shopping at a Parisian-style outdoor market on a perfectly sunny and cool Saturday morning, the only thing that might be missing is some beautiful music to go with it.

Well, at Le Marche Marketplace in downtown Sarasota at Selby Five Points Park, those in attendance stopped their shop to enjoy an operatic performance from the balcony of the Sarasota Opera House across the street.

Five apprentice artists of the opera house's Winter Festival treated onlookers on the street to a show of powerful vocal force. No microphones and the singers still cleared the annoying rumble of a garbage truck on Pineapple Ave. 

According to Marco Nistico, Artistic Administrator of the Sarasota Opera House, the impromptu performances began every Saturday morning in the fall.

"People really like it," Nistico said. "They comment all the time and I like the fact they enjoy it."

With only the accompaniment of Arthur Bosange on the piano, the artists performed with grace and elegance to the delight of about 100 on the street, who quickly pulled out their phones to record the show.

"Wasn't that the best?" said Darci Jacob, owner of Darci clothing store on Main St. and organizer of the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association event. "We're Sarasota and we are all about the arts."

Le Marche Marketplace is a twice-a-year event with the next one coming Nov. 8. According to Jacob, the market, which features various artists, jewelers and other items, is in its 16th year.