Palm Beach Opera and nearly 150 supporters celebrated opening night of “Die Fledermaus” at Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion for Opening Night Dinner on March 22.
Guests were welcomed by Palm Beach Opera’s Chairman of the Board Dennis Williams and General Director Daniel Biaggi, who introduced the production, welcomed all in attendance, and celebrated the company’s growing Co-Producer Society. Attendees enjoyed an elegant evening catered by The Breakers, featuring cocktails and a three-course seated dinner.
Palm Beach Opera’s “Die Fledermaus” garnered positive reviews from critics. South Florida Classical Review praised the production as “delightful” and “full of energy and personality,” and recognized the Palm Beach Opera orchestra – now in its 25th anniversary season – for its “creamy string playing and lively winds and brass.”
Palm Beach Daily News also highlighted the “remarkable” performance by Stephanie Blythe, who sang “an astonishing rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ that had some attendees wondering whether the megastar mezzo-soprano was mouthing the words with a real tenor singing somewhere in the wings.”
“Thanks to the extraordinary support of our Co-Producer Society, the artistic leadership of Maestro David Stern, the creative vision of Dona D. Vaugh, and a first-rate cast, we were able to present Johan Strauss’ high-spirited operetta with great success,” said General Director Daniel Biaggi.
Palm Beach Opera also presented “Children’s Performance: The Revenge of the Bat” on March 23 at the Kravis Center, providing children and families with a 60-minute abridged version of the opera and interactive activities in the lobby.
“Die Fledermaus” was generously underwritten by the following members of Palm Beach Opera’s Co-Producer Society: Executive Producers Solange and William Brown; Producers Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ari Rifkin; Triple Co-Producers Isanne and Sanford Fisher; Double Co-Producers Nathan Leventhal, Karen Tell; Co-Producers Sigrid and Hans Baumann, Florence Kaufman, Israel Schubert, Managing Director, Meridian Capital Group; Associate Co-Producers Annette Friedland, Sandra and Paul Goldner, Lynn and John Pohanka; Assistant Co-Producers Meg and Robert Biscup, Michael McCafferty and Joseph Horton, and Marc Wise and Mariano Morales.
Carol and Sander Abend, Lee Ann and Jeffrey H. Alderton, Arlene Kaufman and Sanford Baklor, Sigrid and Hans Baumann, Anne Bazik, Gladys Benenson, Meg and Robert Biscup, Rebecca and Randell Doane, Isanne and Sanford Fisher, Annette Friedland, Sandra and Paul Goldner, Judy and Jerry Kaufman, Ingrid Kosowsky, Henry Laufer, Monica and Scott Laurans, Ari Rifkin, Toni and Martin Sosnoff, Lynn and Ed Streim, Jennifer and James Takats, and Roseanne and Dennis Williams were all in attendance among others, as well as Palm Beach Opera’s Chief Conductor David Stern, General Director Daniel Biaggi and Managing Director David Walker.
For the 19-20 season, Palm Beach Opera will present mainstage productions of “Turandot,” “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” and “Eugene Onegin” at the Kravis Center in 2020, as well as “Hansel and Gretel,” featuring the company’s artists in residence, at Delray Beach’s Crest Theatre in December this year. Subscriptions for the 19-20 season, which include the mainstage performances at the Kravis Center, start at $60 and are available for purchase at pbopera.org. Single tickets will be available for purchase in September.
Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence and to enriching the life of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents main stage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.