Sarasota Opera Celebrates National Opera Week, Now thru Nov 4

Sarasota Opera joins opera organizations nationwide to celebrate NATIONAL OPERA WEEK (October 26 – November 4), coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today, and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and opera training programs across the United States will be shared through free, dynamic activities designed to engage novices, opera lovers and everyone in between.

OPERA America and participating organizations are thrilled to announce legendary artist and opera lover Aretha Franklin as the program's Honorary Chairwoman. "I may be known as the Queen of Soul, but I love opera, which is why I'm delighted to be the Honorary Chairwoman of National Opera Week," declared Franklin. "It would be wonderful to see more people involved in classical music. It truly is enriching."

A brief welcome statement from Ms. Franklin is available HERE.

"From behind-the-scenes tours to enlightening performance talks to Twitter contests and more, there is something for everyone during National Opera Week," states Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America. "National Opera Week draws attention to the creativity and dynamism that propels our field today. We are proud to highlight this depth of opera activity across the United States."

Sarasota Opera is thrilled that the first day of National Opera Week coincides with the opening of their fall opera, Verdi's tragic masterpiece Rigoletto, running from Friday, October 26 through Monday, November 12. In addition, there will be several events around the Sarasota Youth Opera's world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland as well as community outreach and education concerts.

For more information about National Opera Week events around the country, visit www.operaamerica.org/operaweek. Join the National Opera Week conversation on Twitter with #OperaWeek.

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