Southwest FL – Our Sarasota MOAA chapter could not have asked for a better way to start the New Year. The Sarasota Opera sent four amazing performers to sing pieces from the upcoming season. Richard Russell, executive director of the Sarasota Opera, thanked the membership for their continued support of the Opera and got everyone excited for the upcoming season.
The singers, who participate in the Sarasota Opera’s Studio Artists Program, were accompanied on the piano by the program’s director, Kevin Miller. Tenor Xavier Prado Caceres sang No Puede Ser from the zarzuela La Tabernera del Puerto (Sorozabal), followed by baritone Alexander Charles Boyd performing Avant de quitter ces lieux from Faust (Gounod). Soprano Jessica E. Jones and Xavier Prado Caceres sang O soave fancuilla from La Boheme (Puccini), and then she joined mezzosoprano Stephanie Sanchez to sing the Flower Duet from Lakme (Delibes). Closing the performance, Xavier Prado Caceres and Alexander Charles Boyd sang Au fond du temple saint from The Pearl Fishers (Bizet).
MOAS President Brian McCarthy presented George Tracy with a plaque from the Board for his outstanding performance as chapter President during the past two years; a Certificate of Appreciation to Bettye & Jack Sarjeant for their support of the chapter’s monthly luncheons; and the MOAA President’s Award to Tom Piazze for his US Flag Protocol initiative, which has been implemented by the Sarasota County School system and has been replicated in other areas around Florida and the US.
The Sarasota Opera’s 2017 schedule runs from February 11th to March 26th, starting with Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, one of most performed and best loved operas of all times, and followed by Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers, Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Montemezzi’s The Love of Three Kings. The season closes on March 26th with the Spring Opera Spectacular under the direction of Maestro DeRenzi.
More information and tickets for all events may be obtained from the Opera Box Office @ (941-328-1300) or online at www.sarasotaopera.org
MOAS is the Sarasota Chapter of Military Officers Association of America. MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers with 370,000 members. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. For more information visit, www.sarasotamoaa.com Are you a former military officer? Please come and join us at our monthly luncheon.
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