Opera Naples

Only 17 Southwest Florida arts organizations to share in $65.9 million in arts funding approved by Legislature for 2026-2027. Again this year, some major arts organizations in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties have been left on the outside looking in.

Late February, actor Timothee Chalamet suggested that no one cares about ballet and opera anymore. That’s definitely not the case in Southwest Florida, where opera enjoyed a huge month.

Opera Naples’ Festival Under the Stars reaches its crescendo this week with five consecutive sunset performances in Baker Park including the finals of the international voice competition started by tenor Luciano Pavarotti in the 1990s in Philadelphia.

Gulfshore Ballet performs “Don Quixote” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Wang Opera Center. It’s the ballet company’s third consecutive appearance at Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars.

Opera Naples is observing America250 with two patriotically themed concerts, 'Scalia/Ginsburg' and 'Stars and Standards, An American Songbook Celebration.'

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.

Opera Naples has added a concert to its current season. Rising opera star Samantha Hankey will do a recital on April 7th at Moorings Presbyterian Church. Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar will accompany Hankey on the piano.

On January 24, Opera Naples’ resident artists will take to the stage for a captivating night of vocal artistry. “An Evening of Opera’s Greatest Hits” will provide a fresh take on beloved arias, other timeless classics and scenes from operatic canon.

Opera Naples has announced the contestants and jury members who have been selected for the 2026 Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. Out of 430 singers from 19 different countries who applied to compete, 20 contestants were selected.

America 250. It’s a nonpartisan initiative to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. The Florida Legislature is joining in. It plans to award $1 million in grants this month to arts organizations doing America250 programming. Grant or no grant, Opera Naples will perform two America250 shows, says Executive Director Melanie Kalnins.