South Florida Soprano Nadine Sierra to Star in Rigoletto

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is proud to announce West-Palm-based soprano Nadine Sierra's debut with the company in Rigoletto's leading female role as Gilda next season.

"It has always been an important part of FGO's mission to foster and further young talent in South Florida. We have a long and proud history of showcasing promising artists at the dawn of their careers and it is our honor to do so once again with such a fresh, yet refined voice as Nadine Sierra," said Bob Heuer, FGO's General Director and CEO.

The rising 23-year-old soprano debuted with Boston Lyric Opera last season in what the Boston Globe called "a beguiling Tytania" in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She later returned to Palm Beach Opera as Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice with "a bright, weighted instrument [bringing] effortless personality to the stage..." according to South Florida Classical Review.

Closing the Sunday Afternoons of Music Series this past June, Sierra performed a recital at the University of Miami's Gusman Hall, which yielded repeated standing ovations.

South Florida Classical Review described her performance as a "creamy soprano voice... gleamed and weighted, rich and full through its range, used with an agility and theatrical sensibility that brought arias to life." It was at this recital that she announced her upcoming debut at La Scala in Milan, Italy, as Nanetta in Verdi's Falstaff, realizing a life-long dream that began at the age of 10 with a VHS recording of the Metropolitan Opera's Madame Butterfly.

"I wanted to create that kind of magic on stage. There is so much beauty and pain that goes into performing ... you touch people's hearts with this glorious music, [but] you also leave a part of yourself behind," said Sierra in an interview with Uptempo Magazine.

Sierra began her operatic training at 14 years of age, when she joined Palm Beach Opera's young artist program, making her debut as the Sandman in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She continued her education at the Mannes College of Music in New York and Music Academy of the West, becoming the youngest person to receive the Marilyn Home Foundation Award.

She has been gaining international acclaim since she came out on top of the 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and won first prize in the junior division of the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition. We proudly welcome Ms. Sierra to the FGO family and look forward to riveting performances of Rigoletto next year.

RIGOLETTO

Verdi's Rigoletto, last seen at FGO in 2006, is one of the most dramatic and compelling works ever created for the operatic stage. It is the story of a court jester who enables the Duke's philandering and mocks the husbands and fathers of the victims. When he finds his own daughter, whom he has kept a well hidden secret, to be the Duke's newest victim, he tries to repay evil with evil, and it goes horribly wrong.

Joining Sierra in this production will be baritone Mark Walters in the title role and American tenor Michael Fabiano as the Duke of Mantua. FGO Resident Conductor Andrew Bisantz, who's recent Tosca for Boston Lyric Opera was highly praised, will conduct the production, directed by former FGO Young Artist Jeff Buchman. It is sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected translations.

MIAMI ? Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County / Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
January 28, 2012, at 7 p.m. - Opening Night;
January 31, February 3, 8 & 11, 2012 at 8 p.m.;
February 5, 2012, matinee at 2 p.m.

FORT LAUDERDALE ? Broward Center for the Performing Arts / Au-Rene Theater
February 16, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.;
February 18, 2012, at 8 p.m.

About Florida Grand Opera

Florida Grand Opera was formed in June 1994 by the merger of Greater Miami Opera, founded in 1941, and The Opera Guild Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1945. Celebrating its 71st season of continuous performances during the 2011-2012 season, Florida Grand Opera stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. In addition to producing standard repertoire, Florida Grand Opera also presents lesser known operas, as well as commissions and produces new operas. Annually, main stage performances are attended by nearly 70,000 people, and education and outreach programs serve over 50,000 students. FGO offers several highly successful outreach and educational programs, including its internationally-recognized Young Artist Studio. Founded in 1984, the program attracts young singers who train and enhance their professional skills during a 35-week Miami residency.

Florida Grand Opera, recognized for funding by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding is also provided, in part, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. Program support is provided by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council. Florida Grand Opera is a Resident Company of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and a member company of OPERA America. American Airlines is the Official Airline, Intercontinental Miami is the Official Hotel and Steinway & Sons is the Official Piano of Florida Grand Opera.