Sarasota Opera opened its 2022 Winter Opera Festival to a sold-out audience with Puccini’s Tosca on Saturday, February 12. The performance signified Maestro Victor DeRenzi’s 57th time at the podium conducting the beloved work. “Opening night always comes with a sense of excitement for everyone—the performers as well as the audience. The opening of Tosca on Saturday night was especially meaningful, because we had the largest company involved in putting on a performance and the largest audience in our theater since the pandemic began in 2020. It speaks to the commitment by everyone and the care they took to keep themselves and each other safe. We all have a lot to be proud of,” said Maestro DeRenzi. Meticulous planning and procedures have enabled the company—with more than 250 artists currently in residence—to keep the COVID-19 virus at bay. Last year, Sarasota Opera was the first company in the United States to hold a season of fully staged opera indoors since the performing arts were forced to shut down in March 2020. General Director Richard Russell has vigilantly overseen operations that center around lengthy protocols designed for the health and safety of the artists, crew, staff, and audience. “It’s thrilling to bring full scale opera—complete with orchestra and chorus—back to the historic Sarasota Opera House. However, our work has just begun. Our festival runs through March 22, so we are not letting our guard down.”

Sarasota Opera’s 2022 Winter Opera Festival continues with Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment opening February 19, Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers opening March 5, and Verdi’s Attila, opening March 12. For more information, visit SarasotaOpera.org, or call the Box Office at 941-328-1300. Sarasota Opera is located at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.