Opera Naples

America 250. It’s a nonpartisan initiative to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. The Florida Legislature is joining in. It plans to award $1 million in grants this month to arts organizations doing America250 programming. Grant or no grant, Opera Naples will perform two America250 shows, says Executive Director Melanie Kalnins.

In the current arts and culture grant drought, one Southwest Florida arts organization is enjoying success. Opera Naples has seen a 71 percent increase in ticket sales over the past two years, and a 310 percent jump in corporate sponsorships. Executive Director Melanie Kalnins says one reason is Opera Naples’ board.

This week, Gulfcoast Studio Company of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet will present four performances of 'La Primavera,' celebrating Spring, while Opera Naples screens the last of four documentary films on the Strauss Family.

Sarasota Opera House ends season, but ballet performances are scheduled in April and May while Opera Naples screens third Spring Film Festival movie on Strauss musical family.

This week, Sarasota Ballet performs “Romeo & Juliet;” Sarasota Opera House closes its 2024-2025 season with seven opera performances plus its Salute to the Stars; Gulfshore Opera performs Rusalka with the Florida Philharmonic; and Opera Naples screens the second of four Spring Film Series movies.

Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars closes on Saturday, March 15, with two performances of Tchaikovsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" performed by Gulfshore Ballet in the Wang Opera Center. Gulfshore Opera offers a “Taste of Opera” on Thursday at the Naples Sailing & Yacht Club. And the Sarasota Opera House will perform five different operas over the course of the week.

People in Naples are feeling a lot of civic pride about Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars. This major cultural event in the heart of Naples during the peak of tourist season is also a boon to local restaurants and shops.

This week, Luciano Pavarotti Foundation President Nicoletta Pavarotti will share details of her life with the famed tenor in the Wang Opera Center in Naples, Puccini’s “La boheme” and Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” will each be performed twice in Cambier Park as part of the 5th Annual Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars, and The Sarasota Opera House will perform four different operas, while Sarasota Ballet will present the final performance by the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group.

Famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died in 2007 at the age of 71. Six months later, his widow, Nicoletta Pavarotti, established a foundation in his name to keep his memory alive and bring opera to more people, as he always tried to do. She’s in Naples this week and next for the Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars. On March 3, she’ll appear at the Wang Opera Center to share details of her life with the famed tenor.

This week in Southwest Florida, Opera Naples and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation will produce the 5th Annual Festival Under the Stars in Cambier Park, the Sarasota Opera House will perform three different operas, and Sarasota Ballet will present six performances by the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group.