Sarasota Opera presents a thrilling Tosca
Many Current, Former Brooklynites Grace Opera’s Staff
The Sarasota Opera has been a sparkling jewel in Florida’s crown since its premiere 56 years ago at the Asolo Venetian mini-theater on the Ringling estate. Performances now take place, and have been for several decades, in the recently renovated charming William E. Schmidt Opera Theatre with 1,100 seats.
Under the stewardship of Maestro and Music Director Victor DeRenzi, the audiences have been large and enthusiastic, and the repertoire beguiling and appealing. In 2016, DeRenzi will complete his 30-year quest to perform all of Giuseppe Verdi’s works
DeRenzi, a native New Yorker can count many Brooklynites and former Brooklynites, among his staff. Before the performance, we exchanged Brooklyn memories with Executive Director Richard Russell; Sam Lowry, director of audience development, who resided in Park Slope for six years; and Greg Trupiano, director of artistic administration who lives in Cobble Hill. Trupiano is also artistic director of the Walt Whitman Project in Brooklyn.
Publicist Laura Grant, who once lived on Prospect Avenue, fondly recalled the people, places and things she still misses about Brooklyn. All of that Brooklyn “grit” is a valuable tool for this great energetic opera company. It was also nice to greet Stephanie Sundine, who directs many of the operas at Sarasota and is the wife of DeRenzi.