St. Pete Opera Preview 2024-25 Season
Season 2, Episode 110, Sep 16, 04:28 PM
St. Pete Opera's 19th Season opens with Samson & Delila 9/27-10/1 at the Palladium, followed by 2025's A Little Night Music and Carmen. The annual St. Petersburg Opera Guild's annual gala will be 12/5/2024. With Maestro Mark Sforzini, General Director in rehearsal, RadioStPete.com news director and host Nanette Wiser caught up with Business Manager Cecilia Messina (who has been part of the SPO family since 2017) about what's percolating from this world-class artistic organization, from Broadway Cabarets to Family Favorites - Pinocchio 11/16-17; 11/23-24, Holiday Sparkle 12/17-18- plus Mornings with Maestros. Opera Central is the home base at 2145 First Ave. South in downtown St. Pete.
Broadway Cabaret: Kander & Ebb 11/2; Classic Show Tunes 2/22/2025; Cole Porter 4/26-2025.
For tickets and to learn more: stpeteopera.org (727) 823-2040
Maestro Mark Sforzini is not merely a visionary leader who established an innovative and successful nonprofit business (although he is, and he did). He is a composer whose orchestral and chamber works have been commissioned and performed by the Florida Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Eastern Music Festival, Toledo Symphony Orchestra and numerous others. He has written and produced several one-act opera and music programs based on operatic repertoire. Sforzini’s acclaimed Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon debuted in 2018.
The Alabama native served as principal bassoon of the Florida Orchestra from 1992 to 2007. He was the artistic director of the prestigious Encore Series of chamber music at the Palladium Theater for several years. He co-founded FloriMezzo in 2003, serving as its artistic director for five years. In addition, he was Music Director of the Pinellas Youth Symphony and a composer-mentor for Hillsborough County Schools.
In 2005, he was invited to guest-conduct a one-time production of Madama Butterfly at the Palladium Theater. And so, St. Petersburg Opera Company was born.
Far from resting on his considerable laurels, Sforzini continues to stretch, to test the boundaries of what an opera company can and should be. Each season brings several lavishly staged and fully orchestrated productions of classic operas, pops and cabaret shows, a children’s introduction to opera, seasonal showcases, and other vastly entertaining offerings.
In addition to his duties as St. Pete Opera’s general manager, chief visionary, arranger, and conductor, Maestro Sforzini is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and chamber music coach. Since 2012, he has been music director and conductor of the Tampa Bay Symphony and established a Call for Scores Competition to promote 21st-century works by composers worldwide. Mark Sforzini was chosen by Musical America as one of 30 international industry professionals as a “Profile in Courage.” These top industry leaders have “taken a risk, spoken out where others were silent – all to the measurable benefit of their arts organizations and the field.”
#stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #nanettewiser #culture #arts #music #stpeteopera #opera #samsonanddelilah #carmen #alittlenightmusic #sondheim #pinocchio #holidaymusic #operacentral #palladium #MarkSforzini
Broadway Cabaret: Kander & Ebb 11/2; Classic Show Tunes 2/22/2025; Cole Porter 4/26-2025.
For tickets and to learn more: stpeteopera.org (727) 823-2040
Maestro Mark Sforzini is not merely a visionary leader who established an innovative and successful nonprofit business (although he is, and he did). He is a composer whose orchestral and chamber works have been commissioned and performed by the Florida Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Eastern Music Festival, Toledo Symphony Orchestra and numerous others. He has written and produced several one-act opera and music programs based on operatic repertoire. Sforzini’s acclaimed Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon debuted in 2018.
The Alabama native served as principal bassoon of the Florida Orchestra from 1992 to 2007. He was the artistic director of the prestigious Encore Series of chamber music at the Palladium Theater for several years. He co-founded FloriMezzo in 2003, serving as its artistic director for five years. In addition, he was Music Director of the Pinellas Youth Symphony and a composer-mentor for Hillsborough County Schools.
In 2005, he was invited to guest-conduct a one-time production of Madama Butterfly at the Palladium Theater. And so, St. Petersburg Opera Company was born.
Far from resting on his considerable laurels, Sforzini continues to stretch, to test the boundaries of what an opera company can and should be. Each season brings several lavishly staged and fully orchestrated productions of classic operas, pops and cabaret shows, a children’s introduction to opera, seasonal showcases, and other vastly entertaining offerings.
In addition to his duties as St. Pete Opera’s general manager, chief visionary, arranger, and conductor, Maestro Sforzini is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and chamber music coach. Since 2012, he has been music director and conductor of the Tampa Bay Symphony and established a Call for Scores Competition to promote 21st-century works by composers worldwide. Mark Sforzini was chosen by Musical America as one of 30 international industry professionals as a “Profile in Courage.” These top industry leaders have “taken a risk, spoken out where others were silent – all to the measurable benefit of their arts organizations and the field.”
#stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #nanettewiser #culture #arts #music #stpeteopera #opera #samsonanddelilah #carmen #alittlenightmusic #sondheim #pinocchio #holidaymusic #operacentral #palladium #MarkSforzini