There is still time to make reservations for our two November Special Events—the On Stage Concert featuring Giuseppina Ciarla on November 4 at 5 p.m., and the Saints’ Luncheon honoring Chuck Elzer on November 9 at 11:30 a.m. Both these events promise a great time with great food and drink and great entertainment. That’s a lot of “greats,” so how can you resist? For tickets to the On Stage Concert, contact the Sarasota Opera Box Office at 941-366-8450, Ext 1 or by clicking here. For tickets to the Saints’ Luncheon, call Maryanne Hazen at 776-5546 or email mhazen@tampabay.rr.com.

Our October meeting featured some exciting news from Richard Russell, Executive Director of Sarasota Opera, who talked about Sarasota Opera’s acquisition of thirty thousand beautiful opera costumes from a costume manufacturer in Toronto who is retiring from that business at the age of 88. Along with the costumes, the Opera will be expanding their rental business, and building a new warehouse in Manatee County to house this new collection. But that was not all. Richard Russell also announced a new capital campaign for $40,000,000 of which $35,000,000 has already been raised in its silent phase. That funded the new artists’ housing and doubled the endowment. The final phase of the campaign “Investing in the Extraordinary” will include raising funds for the Costume Studio. Longtime supporters Paul and Sharon Steinwachs, through the Steinwachs Family Foundation, have offered a generous Challenge Grant of $500,000, contingent upon Sarasota Opera raising an equal amount in cash by December 31, 2019.

As a Guild, we have committed to raising $25,000 each year to the Annual Fund of the Opera, and this leaves us, as a Guild, with no resources to help with the capital campaign. As individuals, however, we can make a difference and ensure that the Steinwachs’ Challenge is met by December 31. If you care to make a contribution please call (941) 366-8450 ext. 246 or click here. Even a small donation will entitle you to a tour of the new Costume Studio when it opens.

It would be lovely to see more people at our November meeting. Now that the snowbirds are flying back south for the winter, we hope that you will put Manatee Opera Guild events high on your priority list, and that you will invite your friends and neighbors to join us for a musical morning. The program for our November meeting will feature singers from the cast of Rigoletto, sure to be wonderful as always.

See you soon!

LUNCHEON RESERVATION FORM NOVEMBER 20, 2019 Name _________________________________________________________________________

Number attending Phone Number ________ ___________________________________________

Please send your reservation and check made out to MOG to:

Jean Roberts, 222 12th St W, Apt 302 Bradenton, FL 34205

Email: jeanshawne@tampabay.rr.com or phone 730-0135

Deadline for reservations: Friday, November 15

Menu: Mixed green Salad: Pine nut, dried cranberry, goat cheese with raspberry vinaigrette dressing,                   Ham, Au gratin potatoes, Broccoli, Fresh Baked Bread, and for dessert Apple Cobbler A Chefs’ Choice vegetarian entree is also available. Please indicate your choice when making reservation.

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Newsletter of the November 2019

Luncheon Pricing: $20.00 per person

TRIBUTES To Chuck Elzer, thank you for your many years of support for our Guild — from Syble DiGirolamo

To Joey Frye & Jeanne Auten, we miss you at the Guild and send our best wishes — from Syble DiGirolamo

To Ben Jewell-Plocher,  wishing our Mr. Ben continued success.  Thank you for your years with the Youth Opera and your support of the Manatee Guild — from Syble DiGirolamo

In honor of my Grandson Tyler and Lauren Anderson on celebrating their First Wedding Anniverary — from Mary Zabin

Thank you Ben Jewell-Plocher for all you have done for the Manatee Opera Guild — Jeanne Yeagle and Dave Luce

On the occasion of my Granddaughter Karina Anderson's 24th birthday —  Happy Birthday! — from Mary Zabin

Good Luck and very best wishes to Ben Jewell-Plocher as he leaves SOA for a new position.  We will all miss you "Mr. Ben”!! — from the Manatee Opera Guild

PRELUDES

Many thanks to Dr. Rosanne Martorella for her superb presentation on Rigoletto for our October Prelude.  Our enjoyment of the SOA presentation will be enhanced as a result of her program. And thanks to her

husband Dr. Louis Martorella, for his able technical assistance.

Our November program will be on Friday, November 22. The Puccini favorite La Boheme will be presented by Carlos Vicente, SOA's director of Marketing, and a devoted fan of this romantic tragedy. The morning begins with light refreshments and conversation at 9:30. The presentation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end around 11:30 a.m.

The program is held in the second floor classroom in the Westminster Towers, 1533 4th Ave West in downtown Bradenton. This is at 15th St. West and 4th Ave West, one block north of  Manatee Ave. West. 

Admission is $5.00.  No reservations required! All Preludes are open to the public, so come with a friend for a fun and enjoyable operatic morning!

Questions: Contact Marge Melun at mmelun@gmail.com or (941) 779-8408

.OPERA-TUNITIES AT SARASOTA OPERA

Rigoletto The Fall Season Begins with Verdi’s Rigoletto. Travel to Mantua Italy to witness the tragedy of the libertine Duke, the naive Gilda and the vengeful court jester Rigoletto.

Presented on November 1, 6, 12, and 14 at 7:30 p.m. Also on November 3 and 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Purchase your tickets by calling the box office at 366-8450, Ext 1 or by clicking here.

Brundibár Love overcomes hate in this opera written for young voices in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp during WWII. November 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. Call 941-328-1300 or click here.

Understand opera like never before with Executive Director Richard Russell and Director of Artistic Administration Greg Trupiano as they present “At the Opera with Richard and Greg” Tickets: $25 per person November 7, 2019 at 5 p.m., Kamlet Library For tickets: Call the box office or click Understanding Opera

Concerts at Noon, November 8, in the Peterson Great Room. Apprentice and Studio Artists sing arias and ensembles. Call the box office or click here

SAINT’S LUNCHEON You have just days to make your reservation!

BOARD MEETINGOur next Board meeting will be held at the Manatee Community Foundation at 2820 Manatee Avenue W, Bradenton 34205 at 10 AM on November 13. All members are invited to join the Board at their meetings.

Join us as we honor generous MOG donor and friend Chuck Elzer at our annual Saints’ Luncheon on November 9 at 11:30 a.m. at the Palm Aire Country Club.

Call Maryanne Hazen at 776-5546 or email her at mhazen@tampabay.rr.com

Some of the magnificent costumes recently acquired by Sarasota Opera “modeled” by Art Gaisser, Ky Thompson, Dave Luce, Mary Zabin, Angela Korsmo, Rich DeGennaro, Catherine Knobel, and Juanita Connell.

Our October meeting featured a quartet of singers from the Sarasota Opera Studio Artist program. Pictured are Joshua DeVane, baritone, Michelle Blauman, mezzo-soprano, Ganson Salmon, tenor (and last year’s winner of MOG’s prestigious Helen Jepson Dellera Award), Kathryn Domyan, soprano, and accompanist, Maestro Jesse Martins. We were enchanted and moved by the varied program which included “The Flower Duet” from Delibes’ Lakmé sung by Ms. Blauman and Ms. Domyan, “Questo amor vergogna mia” (This shameful love of mine) from Puccini’s Edgar sung by Mr. DeVane, “Amour! viens aider ma faiblesse" (Love, come help my weakness) from Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila sung by Ms. Blauman, “O Mimì, tu più non torni” (Oh Mimi, you are never coming back) from Puccini’s La bohème sung by Mr. Salmon, “O mio bambino caro” (Oh, dear father) from Pucchini’s Gianni Schicchi sung by Ms. Domyan, and “Dein ist mein ganzes herz” (You are my heart’s only love) from Lehár’s Land of Smiles sung by Mr. Salmon.

Maryanne Hazen, Manatee Opera Guild Treasurer is thrilled to give checks for $5,000 each to the Sarasota Opera Association and to the Youth Opera. Executive Director Richard Russell and Youth Opera Maestro Jesse Martins are equally thrilled to receive them. Supporting Sarasota Opera and the Youth Opera is a primary mission of the Manatee Opera Guild.

ManateeOperaGuildoftheSarasotaOperaAssociationP.O.Box9271Bradenton,FL34206-9271