TOLEDO – The Toledo Opera will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a gala performance "Ladies in
Red" Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Valentine Theatr.
The performances will featured five divas who
Toledo Opera will continue its 2013-2014 season with a gala have performed major roles on Toledo Opera’s
stage in recent years. The performers are: Audrey Babcock, who portrayed Carmen, Amy Yekel who recently
starred as Turandot, Jennifer Rowley who sang the role of Musetta in La Boh?®me, and Sarah Jane McMahon
who last appeared as Violetta in La Traviata. They will be joined by soprano Elizabeth Baldwin, a
Sylvania native and former member of the Toledo Opera Chorus who is quickly establishing herself at
opera houses in the United States and Europe.
James Meena and Robert Mirakian will conduct the ladies and the
Toledo Symphony Orchestra in a program of favorite arias from celebrated roles including: "O mio
babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi, "Vissi d’arte" from Tosca, "Summertime"
from Porgy and Bess, the "Seguidilla" from Carmen, Isolde’s Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde,
the moving "Flower Duet" from Delibe’s Lakme, and more.
Kevin Bylsma, of the Bowling Green State University faculty, will serve as master of ceremonies and
pianist for the singers.
Before Friday’s performance there will be a benefit dinner, supporting Toledo Opera, featuring live music
from the Toledo Symphony Quartet and catering by Prestige. After the performance, the audience to dance
to Hepcat Revival in the theater’s lobby.
Sunday, following the performance, there will be a second benefit dinner supporting Toledo Opera at the
Real Seafood, Co.
In preparation for the performances Dr. Denise Ritter-Bernardini, soprano and assistant professor of
Voice at the University of Toledo, will present a free lecture "Deadly Divas: The Baddest Women In
Opera" as part of Toledo Opera’s Opera Extras series at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 in
the Secor Gallery, 425 Jefferson Ave., First Floor). A wine reception ($15 at the door) will follow with
catering by Registry Bistro.
Tickets for "Ladies in Red" are $30 to $80. Available from the Toledo Opera’s website
www.toledoopera.org and through the Opera Box Office at 419-255-7464. Tickets for the Friday benefit are
$200 and for the Sunday benefit are $100.