Opera Tampa announces 2023 season

SEASON INCLUDES MASTERPIECES BY

BELLINI, LEONCAVALLO and SONDHEIM

    

Tampa, Fla. ─ Opera Tampa is thrilled to announce the 2023 season at the Straz Center featuring the work of Bellini, Leoncavallo and Sondheim.

A woman scorned to the brink of insanity. A jilted, homicidal clown. A barber who butchers as well. 

Opera Tampa’s upcoming season doesn’t lack for mayhem. The Straz’s opera company will navigate the twisted relations and double-crosses of Bellini’s Norma, the raging jealousies of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and the gruesome business model of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

“Opera brings the most basic human emotions to the stage, where they will echo in a much grander, bigger, fuller way,” says Straz Center President and Opera Tampa General Director Judy Lisi. “Opera Tampa’s 2023 season will resonate with those emotions as our productions amplify romance, betrayal, despair and revenge. Our lineup should appeal to seasoned opera fans and curious newcomers alike.”

Under the guidance of Artistic and Managing Director Robin Stamper, the 2023 Opera Tampa season includes:

Vincenzo Bellini’s

NORMA

Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Ferguson Hall

Norma’s fit to be tied. The Druid high priestess broke her vows for the love of a Roman, who then rejects her for another woman. The fallout in Bellini’s tragedy involves rage, war and human sacrifice.  

Ruggero Leoncavallo’s

PAGLIACCI

Friday, March 10, 2023, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Ferguson Hall

Opera Tampa presents Leoncavallo’s classic tale of star-crossed love and murderous passion. When an actor goes out of character during a performance, the fourth wall isn’t the only thing that gets broken.    

Stephen Sondheim’s                                 

SWEENEY TODD

Friday, April 21, 2023, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Ferguson Hall

A murderous barber has corpses piling up. A shop owner lacks meat for her pastries. Solution? Easy as (meat) pie. It’s a win-win. Unless you happen to be one of the barber’s victims. Opera Tampa presents Sondheim’s harrowingly funny look at a slice of London life during the Industrial Revolution. 

Casts, conductors and other creative team members for the 2023 Opera Tampa season will be announced at a later date.

    

In addition to the three mainstage performances and with health and safety conditions permitting, the Opera Tampa season also incorporates a variety of special events including performances by the Opera Tampa Singers, pre- and post-performance receptions, the popular open rehearsals and the informative Discover Opera programs and the elegant Opera Tampa Grand Gala, Opera which is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2023. Information on these programs, including dates, times, prices, etc. will be announced later.

Current Opera Tampa season ticket holders will receive renewal invoices the week of April 25 and must renew by June 10 to guarantee their seats. Patrons also can sign up now to become new season ticket holders. Prices for the three-show season package range from $90 to $349.59. For more information, call the Straz Center Ticket Sales Office at 813.229.STAR (7827) or outside the Tampa Bay area at 800.955.1045 or visit www.strazcenter.org.  Individual opera tickets will go on sale at a later date.

For more information about Opera Tampa and its upcoming events, please visit www.operatampa.org.