Finger Lakes Opera (FLO) is offering live performances in July and August throughout the region. On Thursday, July 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the company will be featured in Brockport’s annual Summer Serenades concert series, singing a variety of familiar arias and popular show tunes.
Elizabeth Long, Finger Lakes Opera’s Executive Director, explains, “The company is committed to expanding its educational and engagement programming. One of FLO’s newest collaborations will be with Summer Serenades, offering a free canal-side evening performance for the community.” Located at Brockport’s Welcome Center, 11 Water Street, just off Main, most patrons bring folding chairs or blankets for seating. The inclement weather location is St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Main and State streets.
The July 29 program will feature 2019 Tomita Young Artist Anders Namestnik, 2020 Tomita Young Artist Victoria Thomasch, and 2021 Tomita Young Artists Danielle Beckvermit, Veena Akama-Makia, and Natasha Talukdar Elam.
Elam will serve as the collaborative pianist while soprano Beckvermit, tenor Namestnik, and mezzos Akama-Makia and Thomasch will sing a wide variety of popular arias from operas including Carmen, La bohème, and Don Giovanni. The concert will also feature songs from hit shows like My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, The Most Happy Fella, and many more.
Supported by a generous anonymous donation, FLO’s 2021 Tomita Young Artist program allows performers the opportunity to participate in summer and fall residencies, work alongside and learn from the seasoned FLO professionals, and perform in FLO’s mainstage productions. After receiving almost 400 applications, the nine singers and two collaborative pianists selected are a truly exceptional group of performers. In addition to Beckvermit, Akama-Makia, and Elam, this year’s class includes mezzo-soprano Imara Miles, soprano Robin Steitz, tenors Nathaniel Catasca and David Soto Zambrana, baritones John Allen Nelson and Robert H. Riordan, bass Jongwon Choi, and collaborative pianist Edward Forstman. Akama-Makia, Catasca, Steitz, and Forstman are graduates of the Eastman School of Music, and Beckvermit is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia.
FLO’s own summer season line-up includes the July 25 presentation of Three Little Pigs, the July 31 Opera HITS!, and the mainstage production of The Barber of Seville.
Information is available at www.brockportny.org and www.fingerlakesopera.org.
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