Highlights include “Circus of Illusions: A Pagliacci Gala” and an expanded Festival Under the Stars
with multiple concerts plus eight opera titles across five productions,
including Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Ching’s Speed Dating Tonight!,
Handel’s The Messiah, Three One-Act Comedies by Menotti and Barber,
Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci featuring winners of the
Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition
Images can be found here
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NAPLES, FL (September 4, 2026) – To further its mission of presenting quality opera, musical performances, education and community engagement programs, Opera Naples announces exciting plans for its 2026/27 season. The season, conducted by Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director and City of Naples Cultural Ambassador Ramón Tebar, includes the seventh annual Festival Under the Stars with performances and events at the Wang Opera Center, Baker Park, First Presbyterian Church of Naples and Moorings Presbyterian Church. The expanded season celebrates a variety of styles and time periods and includes multiple concerts plus eight opera titles across five productions, featuring winners from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition in principal roles. Opera Naples also remains committed to providing extensive in-school and community music education programs, impacting over 4,000 students and seniors each year, supported by events such as the annual gala fundraiser “Circus of Illusions: A Pagliacci Gala,” on December 10, 2026.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Opera Naples Executive Director Melanie Kalnins said: “Our 2026/27 season reflects everything that makes Opera Naples unique—world-class artistry, meaningful community engagement and a commitment to developing the next generation of opera talent. From beloved masterpieces and innovative productions to educational programs that reach thousands of students, we are proud to offer experiences that inspire, entertain and connect audiences throughout Southwest Florida.”
Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar added: “I am incredibly excited for the upcoming season which represents our biggest artistic scope in terms of variety and diversity of genres to date. We are featuring works from the Baroque era with composers Purcell and Handel, 19 century Italian bel canto and verismo with composers Rossini and Leoncavallo, 20 century masterpieces with composers Bernstein, Menotti and Barber and even the 21 century with composer Ching. From opera to concerts, from oratorio to operetta and contemporary works, from comic opera to serious opera and from recitals to sacred music, this season has it all! I am especially excited to showcase the remarkable artists emerging through our partnership with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, while continuing to elevate the artistic excellence that audiences have come to expect from Opera Naples.”
President of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Nicoletta Mantovani also commented: “Luciano believed deeply in supporting young artists and providing opportunities for exceptional voices to be heard. Our partnership with Opera Naples continues to honor that vision by creating a pathway for talented singers from around the world to develop their careers and perform before new audiences. We are delighted to see competition winners featured prominently in this thrilling season.”
2026/27 Season
January 30 – March 25
Performances at Wang Opera Center, Baker Park,
First Presbyterian Church of Naples and Moorings Presbyterian Church
Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
First Presbyterian Church of Naples, January 30 at 7pm and January 31 at 3pm
Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is a timeless masterpiece of love, duty and heartbreak, telling the tragic story of Queen Dido’s passionate romance with the Trojan hero Aeneas. Filled with hauntingly beautiful music—including the unforgettable “Dido’s Lament”—this powerful opera is an emotionally captivating experience that has moved audiences for centuries. Sung in English with English surtitles. Tickets: $39-$119
Love Notes: A Valentine’s Concert
Wang Opera Center, February 14, 3pm
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an enchanting afternoon of romance, featuring Opera Naples’ Resident Artists in a collection of beloved love songs, passionate arias and captivating duets. From tender serenades to soaring declarations of devotion, this heartfelt concert is the perfect soundtrack for the season of love. Tickets: $39-$119
HOPES & HEARTBREAKS
Trouble in Tahiti by Leonard Bernstein
Speed Dating Tonight! by Michael Ching
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
Wang Opera Center, February 19 at 7pm and February 21 at 3pm
Experience an unforgettable evening of contemporary opera with a double bill of Trouble in Tahiti and Speed Dating Tonight! From the hidden cracks beneath the façade of the American dream to the hilariou highs and awkward lows of modern romance, these witty, fast-paced one-act operas blend sharp humor, heartfelt emotion and irresistible music into a performance of entertaining theatrical storytelling. Sung in English with English surtitles. Tickets: $39-$119
BALLET: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Gulfshore Ballet
Wang Opera Center, March 6, 6:30pm
Step into an enchanted forest where fairies, lovers and mischievous magic come to life in Gulfshore Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn. Filled with breathtaking choreography, whimsical storytelling and timeless romance, this captivating ballet offers a magical experience for audiences of all ages. Tickets: $39-$119
The Messiah by George Frideric Handel
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
Moorings Presbyterian Church, March 12 at 7pm and March 13 at 3pm
Celebrate the Easter season with the Opera Naples Chorus in a stirring performance of Handel’s The Messiah, one of the most beloved choral masterpieces ever composed. Featuring soaring choruses, exquisite soloists and the triumphant “Hallelujah” Chorus, this timeless work offers an inspiring musical journey that continues to uplift audiences around the world. Sung in English. Tickets: $39-$119
****2027 OPERA NAPLES FESTIV AL UNDER THE STARS IN BAKER PARK****
Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar leads the festival’s musical activities, conducting the Naples Festival Orchestra in Baker Park. The festival is notable for being the only outdoor winter opera festival in the United States. Patrons will enjoy three opera productions featuring internationally renowned artists, winners of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition and Opera Naples Resident Artists. Tickets: Reserved Seating $39-$157. VIP Tables start at $390, including access to a VIP reception from 6:30-7:30pm.
FREE Family & Community Day!
Baker Park, Date TBD
This event features activities and special performances for the whole family. A children’s-themed opera performance presented by the Opera Naples Resident Artists, plus fun activities and games, bounce house, face painting and balloon artistry. Admission is free; no tickets required. Just mark your calendar and come to the park!
The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
Baker Park, March 18 and 20 at 7:30pm
Bursting with wit, romance and unforgettable melodies, The Barber of Seville is one of opera’s most beloved comedies. Join the clever Figaro as he helps true love triumph in a whirlwind of disguises, mischief and laugh-out-loud fun set to Rossini’s sparkling score. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
LOVE, LIES & LIBATIONS
A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber
The Telephone by Gian Carlo Menotti
The Old Maid and the Thief by Gian Carlo Menotti
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
Baker Park, March 19 and 21 at 7:30pm
An evening of wit, romance and irresistible comedy awaits in this delightful triple bill of one-act operas. A Hand of Bridge, The Telephone and The Old Maid and the Thief bring together clever humor, memorable melodies and unforgettable characters navigating love, miscommunication and temptation. Perfectly paired, these charming comic gems offer an entertaining journey through the lighter side of opera in one captivating performance. Sung in English with English surtitles.
I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Naples Festival Orchestra
Ramón Tebar, conductor
Baker Park, March 24 and 25 at 7:30pm
Passion, jealousy and betrayal collide in I Pagliacci, one of opera’s most gripping dramas. Featuring the iconic aria “Vesti la giubba,” this powerful masterpiece blurs the line between performance and reality in a story that builds to a shocking and unforgettable climax. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Other Engagement Events
Circus of Illusions: A Pagliacci Gala
Private Club in Naples, December 10, 2026, 6pm
Join chairs Connie Leon and David Houghton, Opera Naples Board members and fellow opera enthusiasts as we celebrate and support Opera Naples’ impact in the community, with an evening which includes the principal singers from the upcoming Opera Naples production of I Pagliacci, plus cocktails, dinner, live and silent auctions and dancing.
Friends of Opera Naples TOASTS TO OPERA
Wang Opera Center, January 21, February 4, February 11 and February 25 at 4pm
Learn about the composer, historical context, story, characters and musical themes of upcoming productions including Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Menotti’s A Hand of Bridge/The Telephone/The Old Maid and the Thief and Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Bower School of Music & the Arts, will present an entertaining, informative and educational lecture with Q&A. Afterwards, wine and light bites will be served as together we TOAST the upcoming Opera Naples production.
Ticket availability varies by event. For tickets, please visit OperaNaples.org. Millennium Club and members may purchase tickets with Concierge Ticketing by calling Rita Albaugh at 239-844-SING or emailing ralbaugh@operanaples.org.
Opera Naples is grateful for sponsorship support from Larry and Louise Ost, Jan Burrus, Sally Gleason, Edward Ludwig, John and Nicoletta Pepe, Melody Sawyer Richardson, Cindy Stegemann, Susan Gibbons, Elizabeth Harrington, Kathleen Field Orr and Roy Beck, Steve and Kathy Nichols, Bruce and Lois Selfon, Ronald C. Smith, Ciccarelli Advisory Services, Ice Miller, PNC Private Bank, Moran Wealth Management, REnew-YU, Bentley Naples, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Florida Trust Wealth Management, Peacock + Lewis Architects and Planners, Stock Development, Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, Gulfshore Life, The Naples Press, Naples Daily News, Gulfshore Ballet, Dragonfly Nonprofit Consulting, Winfield Coffee, The House of Turk & Turk, Driftwood Garden Center, City of Naples, National Endowment for the Arts, Florida Theatrical Association and the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, Florida’s Paradise Coast.
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Opera Naples is an artistic powerhouse, dedicated to presenting high-quality opera productions and concerts featuring prominent international, national and regional performers and directors. Opera Naples has presented well-known grand operas such as La bohème, Carmen, Faust, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, Tosca and more. An advocate of community service and education outreach, Opera Naples introduces opera to thousands of children each year through various programs, including in-school programs and performances in Collier and Lee counties, the Resident Artists Program and Summer Youth Program. The company is also committed to nurturing promising young talent through the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples Academy led by a faculty of prominent opera luminaries who offer an immersive program of vocal instruction, lectures and masterclasses. In collaboration with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, Opera Naples also hosts an International Voice Competition, in partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University. The company has earned local, regional and state government support. For more information, visit OperaNaples.org.
Media contact:
Melanie Kalnins, mkalnins@operanaples.org, (239) 359 4956
Website: operanaples.org
Facebook: facebook.com/operanaples
Instagram: @opera_naples