Gulfshore Opera presents The Barber of Seville Feb. 19 – 26

Now In its ninth season, Gulfshore Opera has engaged a resident quartet to perform community concerts in February and will bring in nationally recognized singing actors for lead roles in the two fully staged productions.
Recognized as the only touring opera company in Florida, GO plans a total of 40 performances at 20 different venues to serve residents and visitors in Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples and Marco Island. The season finale production, Don Giovanni, will open at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on April 21 and conclude at Artis-Naples on April 30 with the Naples Philharmonic orchestra at both locations conducted by newly appointed music director, Maestro Jorge Parodi.
In February, the company will present the first of two full scale productions – The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini which will tour three counties Feb. 19 – 26.
This classic comedy with a playful energy that springs from Rossini’s exuberant music will be presented in a whimsical new production inspired by the art of Antoni Gaudi. Returning stage director Josh Shaw (La Boheme and Bat’s Revenge) is sure to make you laugh with a hilarious original production that includes colorful costumes, sets, and chamber orchestra conducted by Maestro Jorge Parodi. English surtitles are provided. It will tour Charlotte, Lee and Collier County ending at the Silverspot Cinema in Naples February 26th with a Flamenco party following the performance.
Principal artists include Stephanie Doche who makes her role debut as Rosina in Barber of Seville with GO. She is among today’s rising star mezzo sopranos. Praised for her “distinctive lower voice” (Opera News) “richly colored mezzo” (South Florida Classical Review) and “explosively elegant” stage presence (Memphis Flyer), she is known as a singing actress of outstanding technical and interpretive skill, Ms. Doche has starred in leading roles nationwide, distinguishing herself in diverse styles and repertoire.
International tenor Minghoa Liu will be featured in the role of Count Amaviva in the Barber of Seville. He is a specialist in Rossini repertoire, hailed for his easy and powerful high notes and well-polished bel canto vocal lines. Born in China, he trained in the Ukraine prior to the 2014 Russian invasion when he fled to Italy where he apprenticed at the Rossini Festival in Pesaro. He has since performed extensively in Italy and is just beginning to perform in the United States.
In the title role is Jake Stamatis, baritone, who makes his role debut as Figaro in The Barber of Seville with GO. Known for his quick, kind, and lovable demeanor, Jake has charmed audiences across the country in such roles as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro and Leporello in Don Giovanni.
The Barber of Seville will be presented Feb. 19 at Vineyard at Lamb of God Church in Estero, Feb. 23 at Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda and Feb. 26 at Silverspot Cinema Theater #12 in Naples.
The season 9 finale grand opera production is Don Giovanni. Mozart’s dark comedy, set in 18th century Spain, is known as one of the greatest operas of all time. Based on the Spanish legend of Don Juan, this philandering hero blazes a path to his own destruction in a single day! Giovanni’s conquests include the mayor’s daughter, a former lover who is on the warpath to bring him to justice, and a peasant girl on the eve of her wedding. Eventually, they all band together and Don Giovanni cannot escape the consequences of his unrepentant sins. The company plans a full scale traditional production with original sets and elegant costumes, large chorus and Naples Philharmonic Orchestra.
Baritone Luis Orozco is featured in the title role. A rising star with a budding international career, this exciting artist made his Metropolitan Opera debut last year as the Prime Minister in Cinderella and returns to the Metropolitan Opera as a Flemish Deputy in Don Carlos this season. Luis also made his French debut with Opera National de Lyon singing Payador in Maria de Buenos Aires. Other renowned soloists include Internationally acclaimed Mexican-born César Delgado who has been praised for his “generous, lustrous tenor” and “committed, energetic acting” by Opera News. Delgado has been steadily building an active career that finds him regularly on the US, German and Mexican musical scenes. Experience this classic opera at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on April 21 and Artis—Naples on April 30.
For more information and tickets, visit www.gulfshoreopera.org or call GO Headquarters at 239-529-3925.