Opera Tampa facts for kids

Opera Tampa is an opera company located in Tampa, Florida. It is the main opera group at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. An opera company is a group that performs operas, which are plays where the story is mostly told through singing.

History of Opera Tampa

Opera Tampa performed its first show in 1996. That first opera was called Madama Butterfly. Since then, the company has put on one or more big opera shows every year. These shows feature singers from all over the world. They also include the Opera Tampa Orchestra and a large chorus of 50 to 60 singers.

A very important person in starting the company was Anton Coppola. He was a composer and a conductor. Mr. Coppola was Opera Tampa's first artistic director from 1996 until he retired in 2012. A special moment for the company under his leadership was the first-ever performance of his opera Sacco and Vanzetti. This happened on March 17, 2001.

Opera Tampa Today

After Anton Coppola retired, Daniel Lipton became the new artistic director. Mr. Lipton was born in Paris in 1941. He used to lead another opera company called Opera Hamilton in Canada.

For Daniel Lipton's first season, Opera Tampa started the "Florida Opera Festival." This was a month-long event in 2013. It included many opera shows and concerts. Famous singers like Katherine Jenkins performed there. The festival began with A Masked Ball and ended with La Bohème. These were the company's main opera shows for that year.

Judith Lisi manages Opera Tampa as its general director. She is also the president of the Straz Center. The main place for Opera Tampa's big shows is the Carol Morsani Hall. This hall is inside the Straz Center and can seat 2,600 people. Robin Stamper is the current musical director for Opera Tampa. He studied music at the famous Juilliard School.

Anton Coppola Award

In 2008, Opera Tampa decided to create a special award. It is called the Anton Coppola Excellence in the Arts Award. This award honors their founding director, Anton Coppola.

The award is given every year. It recognizes an artist who has made important contributions to Opera Tampa. It also honors those who have helped the world of music in general. The award specifically celebrates amazing work in growing and caring for the art of opera. Anton Coppola himself received this award in 2012, the year he retired.

Award Winners