Gulfshore Opera

Gulfshore Opera takes a “Taste of Opera” to Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda on February 10. On Friday the 13th, Opera Naples celebrates the opera chorus at the Wang Opera Center with “Voices of Triumph.” And Puccini's most beloved and frequently performed opera, “La bohème,” opens Valentine’s Day at the Sarasota Opera House.

Gulfshore Opera’s concert series opens Jan. 20 with “As You Like It," but “In the Voice of Shakespeare” at Artis-Naples is Gulfshore Opera’s capstone event.

In the George Bizet opera, Carmen is a femme fatale, alluring, quick-tempered, able to captivate and torment men. The role requires a singer with special skills, which is why Gulfshore Opera chose mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali.

Gulfshore Opera is opening its season with a full-scale production of "Carmen" at the Barbara B. Mann on Dec. 2, the Charlotte Performing Art Center on Dec. 4 and Artist-Naples on Dec. 7.

Gulfshore Opera is mourning the death of a longtime patron. John Wernette was an avid supporter of Gulfshore Opera’s youth programs. He died September 8. But GO's ongoing youth-oriented community engagement initiatives reflect his support

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts and culture grants that had been approved by the Florida Legislature. This year, the state’s $115.5 billion budget includes $18.3 million in arts and culture grants, but only a handful of Southwest Florida arts organizations qualified for a share of that money. For the second year in a row, 14 Lee county arts organizations were denied state funding, including the Alliance for the Arts and Florida Repertory Theatre. Each of Lee’s arts organizations is employing a medley of measures to make up for the loss of state grants.

The $115.5 billion budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes more than $18 million for 184 arts organizations. Most Southwest Florida arts and culture organizations remain on the outside looking in.

Naples Ballet performs the 'Sleeping Beauty' ballet in Hayes Hall at Artis Naples on Thursday, May 15 and Gulfshore Opera’s 'Journey Through the Americas'” tours three outdoor bandshells and a theater in Punta Gorda May 14-18.

Gulfshore Opera’s season-ending extravaganza takes place this week. But attendees won’t be hearing opera.

This week Gulfshore Opera performs Donizetti's grand opera 'Lucia di Lammermoor,' Gulfshore Ballet performs 'Coppelia," Sarasota Cuban Ballet holds their end of year show and The Sarasota Ballet presents 'Images of Dance.'