South Florida Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera has announced four operas for next season, sticking with the shortened schedule imposed on it by the difficult economy.

The schedule includes two warhorses, Puccini’s Turandot and Mozart’s Don Giovanni, yet is more venturesome than the current season.  It includes an opera rarely heard in South Florida, Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman. And a contemporary work, David DiChiera’s Cyrano, premiered in 2007 at Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit. Appearing in this production in the role of Roxanne will by the soprano Leah Partridge, a regular of FGO productions.

The season runs from Nov. 13, 2010 through May 7, 2011. Performances will be at both the Arsht Center in Miami and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, except for Cyrano because the company said performance dates were unavailable at the Broward Center.

For more information go to www.fgo.org.

Posted in News

4 Responses to “FGO to stay with four-opera season in 2010-2011”

1. Posted Feb 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm by William

   I wish they would post casting info, although there is probably no well known singer in any of them, so they probably don’t need to bother. There was a time when FGO did some interesting things (Boris Godunov, Kata Kabanova, L’incoronazione di Poppea), and that wasn’t that long ago. I travelled down to Miami for those. You could also see David Daniels, Denyce Graves, James Morris, etc. from time to time. I know “stars” are not a guarantee for a good show, and many young singers are very good, but “stars” have often paid their dues and are performing with lots of experience and that experience often shows in the performance. I do think there is a difference. I totally understand that FGO probably can’t afford any stars at the moment, but I hope they keep this in mind when the economy picks back up. People get more excited (as if they are going to an “event”) when there is at least one star in the cast. Even though I personally think Guleghina is unsuited for Norma, the Concert Association’s concert Norma (organized by Judy Drucker) she did with Licitra in Miami became an “event,” because there were stars. It generated excitement. I guess in this economy if you want to see stars you have to fly to NY or watch HD transmissions.

2. Posted Feb 26, 2010 at 1:49 pm by Justin Moss

   Florida Grand Opera did announce more casting than was reported,including Lise Lindstrom as Turandot, following her debut at the Metropolitan Opera this season in the same role, Elizabeth Futral returning in all four soprano roles in The Tales of Hoffmann, spelled with two “ns,” and David Pittsinger in the title role of Don Giovanni. One could argue that to be pretty strong casting even in a strong economic climate. I might,even outside my role as Director for Public Relations and Community Affairs for Florida Grand Opera.

3. Posted Apr 09, 2010 at 12:57 pm by John

   Now that the season brochure has arrived – without a personalized renewal form – one might wish for more casting information.

   My Friday night tickets found too much conflict with PBOpera and Miami City Ballet, so I thought switching tothe second Saturday night might improve that situation. However, the brochure gives no hints about who’s in the second cast (no PR flak about equally strong casting, please) or which nights the second cast is scheduled.

4. Posted Apr 25, 2010 at 3:58 pm by operagirl

   Memo to “John” – there are no double casts in 2010-11.
   Apparently you are a Friday night subscriber, and by now
   you should have received a more comprehensive brochure
   and a personalized renewal form.

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