{ HISTORY }
Finger Lakes Opera (FLO) was founded in 2012, gave its first performance in 2013, and secured non-profit status in November 2016. FLO is committed to the professional creation and production of opera in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region with a roster of mainstage and emerging young artists drawn from diverse regions and backgrounds. Through engagement and accessibility, FLO adds value to the cultural and economic landscape of the community.
Initially an organization that provided two-three performances in the summer only, FLO has grown to serve the community year-round with a festival of programs offered every summer and engagement programming delivered from February – November.
The 2023 season marks the culmination of FLO’s 10th year of performing. The company has over 30 engagement events planned (in-school visits, performances at elder care homes, collaborative events with community groups, etc.) and a summer festival that features Verdi's grandest opera: Aida.
A vital part of FLO’s mission is to train the next generation of singers. Founded in 2018, FLO’s young artist program initially operated as pay-to-sing (participants had to pay tuition). In late 2019, FLO received a large gift to help transform the program. The impact of the initial gift was realized immediately when applications to FLO’s young artist program jumped from 80 to 250 in one year and the company received Professional Company Member status with OPERA America in November 2019. As the program continues to gain recognition and legitimacy throughout the industry, nearly 500 applications were received for the 2023 program.
The following is a listing of productions and principal artists, designers, and directors since FLO’s inception.
2023 SEASON
AIDA
BY GIUSEUPPE VERDI
The quintessential love story set against a backdrop of war among the Egyptians and Ethiopians makes for one of the most wildly loved operas of all time. Marking the official return to indoor, mainstage opera, FLO's production of Aida was awe-inspiring!
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorStephanie Havey, stage directorDerek Van Heel, lighting design
TWO CORNERS WORKSHOP
BY B.E. BOYKIN & JARROD LEE
Finger Lakes Opera presented a workshop performance of Two Corners, giving audiences their very first glimpse of a brand new opera! Commissioned from composer B.E. Boykin and librettist Jarrod Lee, the opera's story of fighting against racial inequity is endlessly important.
B.E. Boykin, composerJarrod Lee, librettistCori Ellison, dramaturgKimille Howard, stage directorGerard Floriano, conductorBrock Tjosvold, piano
SUMMER SCENES: A NIGHT IN ITALY
The 2023 Young Artists dazzled audiences with some of the most beloved scenes and arias from Italian opera, including La bohème, Aida, and more!
Stephanie Havey, stage directorJason Alexander Holmes, music directorCris Frisco, piano
2022 SEASON
10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Officially kicking off FLO's 10th Anniversary Season (ending with 2023's production of Aida), this spectacular multi-media event highlighted lots of incredible performers and repertoire from FLO's past, present, and future!
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorMona Seghatoleslami, emcee
COSÌ FAN TUTTE
BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
A fun one-act rendition of a Mozartian classic, Così fan tutte excited audiences at the Memorial Art Gallery. Two couples sign up for a game show, and two entirely different couples emerge!
Jenny Choo Kirby, pianoGerard Floriano, music directorStephanie Havey, stage directorMary Farmer, costume designerRebecca Sealander, lighting coordinator
AN EVENING WITH CREE
Last seen on FLO’s mainstage as Adele in the 2018 production of Die Fledermaus, sassy soprano Cree Carrico was joined by Music Director Aaron McAllister for an unforgettable evening of song and story featuring the legends of musical theater including Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bernstein, Sondheim, and more.
SUMMER SCENES: SUMMER OUT LOUD
A delightful evening of food, drinks, and the 2022 Tomita Young Artists performing some of opera's most beloved scenes.
Jenny Choo Kirby, pianoGerard Floriano, music directorStephanie Havey, stage directorMary Farmer, costume designer
SUNDAYS OUT LOUD RECITAL SERIES
The 2022 Tomita Young Artists were featured in a series of intimate recitals at the Eastman School of Music's Hatch Recital Hall.
PINOCCHIO
BY JOHN DAVIES
Presented publicly at the Strong Museum of Play and then brought on the road for a dozen performances in local elementary schools, Pinocchio is a children's opera with familiar tale and a musical twist.
Jenny Choo Kirby, pianoEmily Cuk, stage directorKasi Krenzer Marshall, costumer designer
2021 SEASON
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
BY GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Acting as a sort of prequel to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, is a hilarious, fast-paced comedy. FLO's production was set in an urban playground, drawing inspiration from the outdoor pavilion venue.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorStephanie Havey, stage directorCharles Murdock Lucas, scenic designDerek Van Heel, lighting design
OPERA HITS!
Featuring the amazing 2021 Tomita Young Artists, Opera HITS! was the perfect opportunity to hear all the best opera arias and musical theatre songs in one night.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductor
SUMMER SCENES: MAKE OUR GARDEN GROW
This evening featured an evening of good food, better wine, and the best opera scenes performed by the 2021 Tomita Young Artists.
Natasha Talukdar Elam, pianoEdward Forstman, pianoStephanie Havey, stage director
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
BY JOHN DAVIES
Featuring music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Three Little Pigs tells the story of siblings Despina, Cherubino, and Don Giovanni as they try to build wolf-proof houses.
Natasha Talukdar Elam, pianoEmily Cuk, stage director
DAZZLING DEBUT RECITAL
The highlight of this recital featuring Kearstin Piper Brown and Jorell Williams was the world premiere of B.E. Boykin's new song cycle, Moments In Sonder.
2020 SEASON
PINNOCHIO
BY JOHN DAVIES
Pinocchio, a children's opera, tells the classic fairy-tale story with an operatic twist, featuring music by Wolfgang Amadeus. Mozart, Gaetano Donizetti, Jacques Offenbach, and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
Brock Tjosvold, pianoTodd Rhoades, stage directorIn collaboration with The Puppet Co.
ONLINE RECITAL SERIES
Without a main-stage production to rally around, Finger Lakes Opera instead chose to highlight amazing singers through an Online Recital Series that extended into the beginning of 2021.
Jorell Williams, baritoneRachael Kerr, piano
Kearstin Piper Brown, sopranoChiao-Wen Cheng, pianoB.E. Boykin, composer and piano
Taylor Raven, mezzo-sopranoLouis Lohraseb, piano
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenorChristopher James Ray, piano
Jonathan Michie, tenorPaulo Almeida, piano
OPERA GOES DIGITAL
Though the 2020 Season was postposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Tomita Young Artists were busy all summer recording from their homes to produce three incredible online events as part of the Opera Goes Digital Series: Aria Nights, Summer Scenes, and Online HITS!
Brock Tjosvold, piano
2019 SEASON
LA BOHÈME
BY GIACOMO PUCCINI
A tale as old as time, this beloved story translates beautifully to the grand opera stage: so Finger Lakes Opera pulled out all the stops with this production of La Bohème.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorMichael Ehrman, stage directorMichael Lasswell, scenic sesignBrian Barnett, lighting design
OPERA HITS!
Nailing the balance between "a night at the opera" and a singing highlight reel, Opera HITS! was a main-stage concert celebrating all the fan-favorite opera arias and Broadway tunes sung by the 2019 Young Artists.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductor
SUMMER SCENES: SEASONS OF LOVE
Opera doesn't always need to be in an opera house! This scenes program featured the 2019 Young Artists singing bite-size chunks of famous (and romantic!) operas.
JACK & THE BEANSTALK
BY JOHN DAVIES
With giants and golden hens, this children's opera tells the fairytale story of Jack and the magical beanstalk growing in his backyard. Featuring music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Jack & The Beanstalk is a whole bunch of fun for the whole family.
Lindsay Warren Baker, stage directorMarika Yasudo, music directorJulie Covach, piano
JORELL WILLIAMS RECITAL
Finger Lakes Opera and Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture Alliance collaborate to present a recital featuring renowned baritone Jorell Williams.
In collaboration with Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture Alliance
2018 SEASON
DIE FLEDERMAUS
BY JOHANN STRAUSS II
Bringing the world's best party onto the operatic stage isn't an easy task, but Finger Lakes Opera delivered with this thrilling - and hilarious - production of Die Fledermaus.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorGary John LaRosa, stage directorJeff Ridenour, scenic designNic Minetor, lighting design
OPERA POPS
The first of many highlight concerts, 2018's Opera Pops featured the 2018 Young Artists singing beloved opera arias and Broadway hits, including selections from Madama Butterfly, West Side Story, and Le nozze di Figaro.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductor
LITTLE RED’S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
BY JOHN DAVIES
Featuring music by Jacques Offenbach and Gioachino Rossini, children's opera Little Red's Most Unusual Day builds on the story of Little Red Riding Hood and her forest neighbors.
Jason Alexander Holmes, music directorJohn Davies, stage director
2017 SEASON
TOSCA
BY GIACOMO PUCCINI
A tragic story of passion and jealously, Puccini's dramatic opera Tosca tells the story of the title character and her fight to save her lover. Finger Lakes Opera's production of Tosca was impactful and enticing, and marked FLO's first production as an independent nonprofit company.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorFenlon Lamb, stage directorJeff Ridenour, scenic designNic Minetor, lighting design
2016 SEASON
LA TRAVIATA
BY GIUSEPPE VERDI
Commonly ranked as the most popular opera in the world, La Traviata tells the tragic tale of Violetta, her love story, and her inevitable death.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorFenlon Lamb, stage directorJeff Ridenour, scenic design
I LOVE A PIANO
BY IRVING BERLIN
Finger Lakes Opera's second musical theatre revue, I Love A Piano celebrates the work of Irving Berlin, one of the great American songwriters.
Gary John LaRosa, stage directorAaron McAllister, musical director
2015 SEASON
L'ELISIR D'AMORE
BY GAETANO DONIZETTI
L'Elisir d'Amore, or The Elixir of Love, is a vivacious romantic comedy. Finger Lakes Opera's imaginative setting pulls the opera from its original setting in the 18th century Spanish countryside to a sparkling, updated production in the American Roarin' 20's.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorE. Loren Meeker, stage directorLaura Fine Hawkes, scenic designNic Minetor, lighting design
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING
BY RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN
A musical revue showcasing music from famous duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, A Grand Night for Singing represented Finger Lakes Opera's first venture into a more intimate setting.
Gary John LaRosa, stage directorAaron McAllister, musical director
2014 SEASON
CARMEN
BY GEORGES BIZET
One of the world's most iconic operas, Carmen comes to life with its lighthearted beginning and inevitably tragic climax. With J'Nai Bridges singing the title role, FLO's first operatic production was truly show-stopping.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductorE. Loren Meeker, stage directorLaura Fine Hawkes, scenic designNic Minetor, lighting design
2013 SEASON
GRAND OPENING GALA PERFORMANCE
Celebrating the official beginning of Finger Lakes Opera, founder Gerard Floriano led four amazing singers and the Finger Lakes Opera Orchestra in this stunning gala performance.
Finger Lakes Opera OrchestraGerard Floriano, conductor