Location: Pensacola Saenger Theatre View Map
Tickets: Ticket Required, Varied Options
In celebration of its 40th Anniversary Season, Pensacola Opera proudly presents Forty Forward: Celebrating Four Decades of Opera in Pensacola. On November 12, sixteen thrilling vocalists will take center stage at the historic Saenger Theatre—alongside the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra—to present an unparalleled one-night-only gala concert, honoring the history of musical storytelling in Pensacola and looking forward to the bright future of Pensacola Opera!
Featuring some of the greatest arias, ensembles, and choruses from the operatic repertoire, Forty Forward will also showcase Pensacola’s proud reputation as a true arts community, including collaborations with the Choral Society of Pensacola, the Pensacola Children’s Chorus, and Ballet Pensacola. Video and photo presentations will also look back on some of Pensacola Opera’s most beloved productions and memories.
In addition to highlighting some of Pensacola Opera’s most beloved productions over the past forty years, the concert program will also introduce works never performed by the company. Conductor and Pensacola Opera Music Director Cody Martin says, “The most exciting part of this concert for me is being able to perform challenging and exciting pieces of operatic repertoire that we wouldn’t normally get to produce in our mainstage season.” Examples include the sumptuous final trio from Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier – one of the grandest Romantic operas ever performed, and Serenade to Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams – a symphonic tribute to the power of music written for 16 soloists and full orchestra. Ballet Pensacola will also offer a special interpretation of the Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana.
“This is going to be more than just a concert, it’s truly a showcase of the caliber of artistic talent we have here in Pensacola. You’ll see familiar faces from our Opera Chorus, Children’s Chorus, Ballet, and Symphony, and then also experience world-class opera singers who are traveling in from all over the country. If you’ve ever been interested in attending an opera, a night at the symphony, or even a ballet performance – join us for Forty Forward where they will all combine on one stage, for one night, for one price. We think you’ll be hooked,” says Pensacola Opera Marketing Director, Alex Hilkey.
Featured soloists include Kara Shay Thomson, Elise Quagliata, Adam Diegel, Luis Alejandro Orozco, Bizhou Chang, Emily Triebold, Alexander Scheuermann, Justin Hopkins, Sheila Dunn, Corey McKern, Hayley Ambramowitz, Kayla Nanto, Randy Ho, and Scott Lee. Cody Martin and Jerome Shannon will conduct.
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