Gulfshore Opera invites you to Meet the Cast for Don Giovanni

Meet the cast for Don Giovanni

Gulfshore Opera partners with The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra at Barbara B. Mann and Artis—Naples in April

Gulfshore Opera is Southwest Florida’s regional opera company serving communities from Punta Gorda to Marco Island. The season finale production, Don Giovanni, will open at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on April 21 and conclude at Artis- Naples on April 30 with the Naples Philharmonic orchestra at both locations conducted by Maestro Jorge Parodi.

Mozart’s dark comedy, set in 18^th century Spain, is known as one of the greatest operas of all time. Based on the Spanish legend of Don Juan, this philandering hero blazes a path to his own destruction in a single day! The company plans a full-scale production in partnership with Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and features renowned soloists with lush sets and costumes and the GO chorus. Experience this classic opera at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on April 21 and Artis—Naples on April 30. English surtitles are provided.

Meet the Cast

Mexican-American Baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco has been praised for his “voluminous baritone and beautiful legato.” He plays the master of seduction and title role, Don Giovanni. Mr. Orozco’s 2022-2023 season began with Nashville Opera, singing Marcello in La bohème. Additionally, he returns to the Metropolitan Opera as a Flemish Deputy in Don Carlos. He returns to Nashville Opera for a premiere of the work Stuck Elevator in the role of Marco, and concludes his season with the title role of Don Giovanni with Gulfshore Opera. Last season included his Metropolitan Opera debut, singing the Prime Minister in their English version of Cendrillon. Last season he also curated and sang in a Hispanic Heritage Concert with Fort Worth Opera, followed by his debut with Virginia Opera as Marcello in La bohème. He then returned to Opéra de Lyon to remount Maria de Buenos Aires on their mainstage, singing El Payador, joined Intermountain Opera as the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, and appeared with Minnesota Opera in a gala concert.

Bass Erik Kroncke has been described as “engaging…a bass of astounding depth and warm timbre…an important voice and artist….” He plays the role of the Commendatore, a decorated military officer and father of Donna Anna. With his commanding presence, Erik is in demand as Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Philip II in Don Carlo, Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Ramphis in Aida, and Gremin in Eugene Onegin at opera companies around the world such as Sarasota Opera, Opera San José, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Colorado, New Jersey Verismo Opera, Green Mountain Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera.

Nigerian-American Soprano Victoria Lawal, a passionate Mozart interpreter, debuts the role Donna Anna, who is promised to marry Don Ottavio. In the 22/23 season she makes a role debut of the High Priestess in Aida with Tulsa Opera led by Maestra Daniela Candillari. She then looks forward to joining the Opera Theatre of St. Louis for the summer season. In addition to the annual Center Stage concert, Victoria will cover the roles of Despina (Così fan tutte), Mrs. Hayes(Susannah), and the title role in Treemonisha.

Mexican-born César Delgado has been praised for his “generous, lustrous tenor” and “committed, energetic acting” by Opera News. He plays the role of Don Ottavio, a young, nobleman and fiancé of Donna Anna. This 2022/2023 season he’s scheduled to create the title role in the World Premiere of ‘ZORRO’ with Fort Worth Opera and Opera Southwest in both house debut. He also appeared as Narraboth in Salome in his house debut with Tulsa Opera. He will appear as ‘Mr. Rodriguez’ in the East Coast premiere of Tobias Picker’s Awakenings in Boston, as ‘Nemorino’ with Monterrey Opera in Mexico, as ‘Pinkerton’ with Santander Theater in Mexico. International honors and top awards include: The Gerda Lissner Foundation (NYC) 2018 & 2016, The Giulio Gari Foundation (NYC) 2018 and more.

Soprano Avery Boettcher makes her role debut as Donna Elvira, who was married to and abandoned by philanderer, Don Giovanni. Avery spent the summer season with Santa Fe Opera where she had the privilege of performing the title role in an excerpt from Rossini’s Armida. She recently completed the 2021/22 season as a Benenson Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera where she performed the roles of Belinda in Dido and Aeneas. Prior to her time with PBO, Ms. Boettcher was a 2021 Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. The 2023 season will see some exciting debuts, including performing the role of Adina in L’elisird’ amore with Vero Beach Opera and Violetta Valéry in a concert presentation of La Traviata with Panama City Symphony Orchestra.

Bass-baritone Tyler Putnampossesses a voice described as “robust and resonant” by Theatre Mania and was deemed a “standout” by Opera Magazine. He returns to GO to sing the role of Leporello, Don Giovanni’s steward. Tyler has performed Colline in La bohème with Gulfshore Opera, Lakeland Opera, and the Missouri Symphony; Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with St. PetersburgOpera, Florida; Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte with Salt Marsh Opera; Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Geneva Light Opera; Crespel in The Tales of Hoffmann with Opera Tampa; Ceprano in Rigoletto at the Berkshire Opera Festival; Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor at New Hampshire’s Opera North; and le Moine in Don Carlos with Sarasota Opera.

Baritone John Tibbetts, cited for his “unexpectedly rich voice” and “reverberating tones” by Palm Beach Post. John performs Masetto, a peasant in love with Zerlina. The artist “worthy of mention” (OPERA Magazine) made his international operatic and film debut in the 2021-22 season playing the role of Adam in Edwin Huizinga’s Angel with Toronto’s Opera Atelier. Tibbetts is a graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Georgia State
University.

Praised by Opera News for the “clear beauty” of her voice and her “spot-on comic timing,” mezzo-soprano Sarah Nordin returns to GO to sing the role of Zerlina, a peasant who is not immune to the seduction of Don Giovanni. Sarah has been featured in recent seasons as Elvira in Don Giovanni with Long Island Opera as well as the title role in La Cenerentola with Geneva Light Opera. Likewise, her Cherubino and Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri, and Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte have charmed audiences at Opera Tampa, Opera Orlando, St. Petersburg Opera, Long Island Opera, Taconic Opera and Winter Opera of St. Louis. She has appeared in six productions with The Metropolitan Opera including three Met Live in HD Broadcasts and a tour with The Met to Japan.

Please contact Steffanie Pearce (steffanie@gulfshoreopera.org if you would like to interview the artists or production team. Full event details below. For more information, visit www.gulfshoreopera.org or call GO Headquarters at 239-529-3925.

Featured Photo: Steffanie Pearce 

Don Giovanni
April 21st, 2023
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Ft. Myers
Tickets starting at $35

Don Giovanni
April 30th, 2023
Hayes Hall at Artis – Naples
Tickets starting at $45

About Gulfshore Opera

Your regional opera company serving three counties, Gulfshore Opera presents the highest quality of opera theater and vocal music performances while maximizing accessibility for diverse audiences of all ages. Gulfshore Opera was founded with core values of a community based creative collaboration. The company also promotes community well-being through musical education programs. Its mission is to make opera accessible to the general public by maintaining affordable ticket prices, and a wide range of performance experiences suitable for diverse audiences.