ILR Friday Afternoons at the Opera
February 14 @ 1:00 pm
Amore, L’Amore --- Stories of Love
Facilitator: Diane Haines
*A Guide to Opera and synopses for the Operas will be provided via email to registered participants.
January 10 and January 17 “Romeo et Juliette” (Charles Gounod)
Speaker: Diane Haines Diane’s introduction to opera began by listening to the Saturday Texaco
Opera radio broadcasts. She studied opera at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY, and at
the Opera Extravaganza in Santa Fe, NM. She enjoys attending operas around the world.
The Opera: In this French version of the timelessness of the lead couple, Gounod emphasizes their
passion over the word games of Shakespeare or Bernstein’s violent NY City West Side Puerto Rican
ghetto. To do so, Gounod built his version of the story around four extended duets for the young
couple as well as a few solos offering many opportunities for the leads to shine. Tenor Benjamin
Bernheim and soprano Nadine Sierra provide a stirring performance from the 2023-24 Met season.
January 24 and January 31 “Aida” (Giuseppe Verdi)
Speaker: Lynette Pfund Lynette joined the UF School of Music Opera Workshop in the fall of
2022. She previously taught voice and Opera Workshop at the University of Idaho. She holds both
Master of Music and Professional Studies degrees from the Manhattan School of Music as well as a
Bachelor of Music degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. We are delighted to have
Lynette join our ILR Opera Presenters team.
The Opera: The Met 2018 revival of this very involved opera has it all: love, war, a cast of hun-
dreds, a thrilling score conducted masterfully by Nicola Luisotti. This masterpiece showcases an all
-star cast lead by soprano Anna Netrebko and powerhouse mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili as
her rival for the love of Radames sung by tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko. Quinn Kelsey lends his ro-
bust baritone to Aida’s father, the fallen king, Amonasro.
February 7 and February 14 “La Traviata” (Giuseppe Verdi)
Speaker: Terry Lee Terry has been a fan of opera for decades, and an enthusiastic participant in
the ILR classes. She has enjoyed live performances at Sarasota Opera, The Met, and Teatro alla
Scala. Terry sings alto in Voices Rising Community Chorus in Gainesville. We are delighted to
have Terry join our ILR Opera Presenters team.
The Opera: Soprano Sonya Yoncheva gives a fearless, sympathetic performance of doomed love.
As Violetta, the ailing courtesan desperate to escape her past, she captures you and takes you along
on her perilous journey. Michael Fabiano sings with ardent longing as her devoted lover, Alfredo.
Thomas Hampton is Alfredo’s protective father whose demands spell disaster for the couple. Con-
ductor Nicola Luisotti leads the unforgettable score of this 2017 Met performance.
COME AND ENJOY OPERA WITH US!