Welcome to Opera Guild of Rochester
Formerly known as The Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester, Inc., the newly-titled Opera Guild of Rochester, Inc. will continue to present the programs that the Guild has been sponsoring in recent years: free opera lectures at local libraries; tours to productions of leading local opera companies and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City; and our popular Beat-the-Blahs — The Haskell Rosenberg Memorial Series atTemple B'rith Kodesh in January 2015. We also have our Reading Room that contains Handouts and Playlists for all of our free lectures, which any opera lover would appreciate.
In July 2014, we will take a bus trip to the Glimmerglass Festival to see a production of Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos. Our Spring Tour to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City has just been announced! Book your tickets now!
On May 18th, 2014, we entertained our donors with our annual opera recital at the Rochester Academy of Medicine. The May recital featured mezzo-soprano Jessica Best accompanied by Kevin Nitsch.
You will find links to regional opera companies and local music organizations with their exciting programs, as well as the Metropolitan Opera's schedule of HD telecasts in local movie theatres. Click here to view the MET in HD's exciting 2014-15 schedule!
Perhaps the most exciting feature of our website is the ability to view production photos, cast photos and bios, programs, and reviews of Mercury Opera Rochester's six seasons. Click here to view the history of Mercury Opera Rochester and re-live your favorite moments at the opera.
Visit our website often to stay in touch with opera events in Rochester and Western New York State.
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| Mozart's The Magic Flute in English July 24, 26 & 27, 2014 Smith Opera House Click here for complete details! |
An Afternoon of Classical Music and Dance Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 3:30 PM with Rochester native, soprano, Claron McFadden Click here for complete details! |
Bizet's Carmen will be the Inaugural Producton for Finger Lakes Opera
Bizet’s beloved classic “Carmen” will be the first full production of the Finger Lakes Opera at SUNY Geneseo on August 8th and 10th, featuring J’nai Bridges from the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Carmen and renowned tenor Gregory Kunde as Don José. Baritone, Luis Ledesma sings Escamillo, a role he sang this season at Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Soprano, Danielle Pastin sings the role of Micaela. She has sung Frasquita at the Metropolitan Opera and Micaela at the Fresno Grand Opera.
The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. for the August 8th production and 2 p.m. for the August 10th matinee. Both are in Wadsworth Auditorium at SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle.
The Opera Guild of Rochester will be offering a special opera and dinner package which incudes prime seats combined with dinner at the Big Tree Inn, Geneseo prior to the Friday evening performance, or after the Sunday matinee. The cost is $ 98.00 per person with a $10.00 tax deductible contribution to the Guild included. This package is limited to 20 participants for either performance. Click here to download the flyer for complete details. We hope you can join us.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on this venture,” said Gerard Floriano, the company’s artistic director and conductor, who also is a professor of music at SUNY Geneseo and a 1984 alumnus. “This is an immensely popular opera that appeals to people of all ages, and I look forward to presenting it as our inaugural production.”
The company hopes to draw patrons to the performance from a wide area of Western New York and surrounding states, capitalizing on the area becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Tickets for the production are available at www.FingerLakesOpera.com. You may also purchase tickets and inquire about special package discounts by calling 585-245-5650. Click here to watch a video about Finger Lakes Opera. Click on the poster to view full size.
J'nai Bridges as Carmen |
Gregory Kunde as Don José |
Gerard Floriano |
Gregory Kunde, Rochester's Star Tenor
Western New York is very lucky to have one of the world’s greatest tenors, Gregory Kunde, living here with his family in Penfield, NY, a suburb of Rochester. He is currently engaged at world famous opera houses in Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Brazil and the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera.
Gregory Kunde is also featured in the inaugural production of Finger Lakes Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen in the role of Don Jose.
Known as a bel canto specialist and well known at the Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Italy, he has grown into the dramatic tenor roles in Berlioz’s operas like Benvenuto Cellini, La Damnation de Faust, Les Troyens, as well as Meyerbeer’s L’Africaine. He has also undertaken roles in the Verdi repertoire including La Forza del Destino, Il Trovatore, Luisa Miller, Un Ballo in Maschera, I Vespri Siciliani and now Otello.
Next season Mr. Kunde will undertake both the Verdi and Rossini Otellos. It is very rare that a tenor, who sings Rossini's Otello is also able to sing Verdi's Otello, one of the most dramatic roles in the tenor repertoire.
Click here for Mr. Kunde's 2014 - 2015 opera schedule.
