1962

MAKING OPERA SINCE

50 YEARS OF OPERA

SEASON HIGHLIGHTSIn addition to the Golden Jubilee Celebration (see below), highlights of the 50th Anniversary Season included a stunning production of Madama Butterfly, a fresh approach to Romeo & Juliet, and a dramatic Lucia di Lammermoor. Favorite among the One Opera in One Hour line-up was the abridged version of Florencia en el Amazonas at the Harriet Himmel Theater. A new record was set with the Family Performance (see reverse side), and new collaborations included concerts at the Society of the Four Arts and Jupiter Maltz Theater.

A GALA CELEBRATIONWith our centerpiece of the 50th Anniversary Season, we looked back on 50 years of grand opera in Palm Beach while keeping an eye toward the future. Singing excerpts from favorite operas were international opera stars Ruth Ann Swenson, Denyce Graves, and Brandon Jovanovich alongside the emerging talent of Lauren McNeese and Atalla Ayan. Palm Beach Opera’s Young Artists were also featured prominently to great acclaim, conducted by Mo. Bruno Aprea, and co-hosted by opera legend Sherrill Milnes and

General Director Daniel Biaggi.

The Gala festivities included a red carpet arrival, cocktail reception, and a lavish post-performance dinner with the artists and dancing. Longtime Palm Beach Opera board members and supporters dined alongside celebrities such as Jon Secada and Celia Weston. Private receptions in prominent Palm Beach homes rounded out the Gala weekend.

EDUCATION MATTERSPalm Beach Opera is committed to arts education and offers a variety of educational programs for all ages and levels: In the 2011-2012 season, our Young Artists traveled to numerous area schools to present Concerts in the Classroom, more than 900 middle and high school students attended opera free of charge through our Opera Rehearsal 101 program, and over 300 adults took advantage of our Lunch & Learn Series.

2011-2012 Season in Review

Each year, Palm Beach Opera presents one Family Opera performance specifically designed for children and families. This year, the audience enjoyed Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with full orchestra, lavish scenery, chorus, and Palm Beach Opera’s talented Young Artists in an abridged 90 minute version. This child-friendly version featured musical highlights of the opera as well as narration to complete the story. Set changes took place with an open curtain, giving kids a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the magic happens on the opera stage.

Before the performance, kids took part in “interactive education stations” in the lobby featuring fun and educational projects, and after the performance, the artists gave autographs to throngs of enthusiastic young fans.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, more than 600 children from underprivileged backgrounds were able to attend the Family Opera performance free of charge. Palm Beach Opera worked with over 20 nonprofit organizations and Title I schools in the community that provide programming for area youth to help distribute the tickets including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach County, Little Smiles, James E. Sampson Memorial School, Lighthouse Center for the Blind, South Grade Elementary School, Opportunity Inc., Boy Scouts, North Palm Beach Elementary School, Gulfstream Goodwill, and the Boys and Girls Club.

415 S. Olive Avenue / West Palm Beach, FL 33401 / 561.833.7888 / pbopera.org

FOSTERING THE NEXT GENERATION

ON THE CUTTING EDGEPalm Beach Opera initiated a new Tweet Seats program that invited members of the community who are active on Twitter to come and “tweet from their seat” at the final dress rehearsal of each mainstage opera. The resulting tweets helped spread the word about what we do and left first-time attendees astonished by the quality of our productions. This innovative program brought Palm Beach Opera substantial local and national media attention further bringing our organization into the spotlight.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING OPERA

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY

WITH TICKET PRICES STARTING AT JUST $20