Prelude to 2025 winter season
The 2025 Sarasota opera season begins with a welcome reception. General director Richard Russell makes runs with the patrons, and introduced the three entertainers, and gives us a little history of the opera house afterward.
It’s a well choreographed event, last a little over an hour. About 30 people attended.
Starting 2025, they’ll put on two products in the fall. The four productions (5 operas’ cast) for their winter season are:
The house began as a theater, named after its first mayor, Edwards in 1926. Elvis Presley performed here 3 times in 1953, ticket price was 50¢.
In 1984, this building opened for opera. They had no debt, which’s smart. They bring in the pros for the season. Their size is the same as Philadelphia: population Sarasota 54,842 and Philly 1,603,797 in 2020.
Richard Russell came here as an apprentice artist in 1989, with Sarasota for four seasons. He also worked for Citigroup’s Emerging Markets Sales and Trading group. Rejoined Sarasota Opera in 2005 as the director of marketing for a five years run; then rejoined again in 2012 as the Executive Director. Under him, individual giving has increased over 50%, more than doubled its endowment. He also managed the construction and fundraising for the new Steinwachs Artist Residences for Sarasota Opera, which encompasses 30 fully furnished units housing up to 70 artists.
Since they’ve no colleges in the area, apprentice are from elsewhere, around 12-20. They own 20 apartments to house the out of town performers and apprentice. The 50 os so musicians are free lance. The company has about 300 staff. Union; many are fm circus world, such as fire reader (so they don’t have to hire a fire Marshall). This year or next, they’ll add fall productions, which is a music to my ears.
The two singers are great, especially the soprano, not only beautiful but her slim figure, which reminds me of Denyce Graves (1964-). Great voice isn’t rare but shapely figure is, imho.
Their stage is very shallow. So most of stage sets are designed and tailor made for them, at $200k per, and might put into storage at the airport if they’ll reuse that set. Each costume costs from $1k to $2k. They use natural voice never amplified.
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The annual meet & greet at a small market opera house
Operatic figure 有各种解释 理解. 但很多时是指肥肥. 大都会的当家花旦Denyce Graves (1964-) 红极一时. 其一就是她的体型非常漂亮出众. 60分种
采访她时也就此大做文章. 她的Carmen 卡门有些后无来者: 就是那么帅 润耳. 我看完她的一年后去三藩市的卡 … 没法比 
每年季节开始前的见面会. 福利 笼络 推广 推销 无论如何 主办方很周到 捐赠解囊 愉愉快快 
小市场的歌剧院没有当家不当家 因虽然但是职业但没有长期合同… 今年的这个女娃身材不输 Graves, 人也蛮漂亮的. 希望今年的几个剧目也精彩.
继续守夜
a short video
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