opera house Credit: Wikimedia Commons

 In case there’s anyone out there yet who hasn’t gotten the memo, opera doesn’t have to be large women in viking hats screeching in a way that only hyenas can understand. When done properly, it’s a dynamic, funny and heartbreaking experience. Want to see for yourself? Sunshine City Opera will present works from living composers as part of SPF (St. Pete Arts Festival). The program includes Huelskamp’s premier, a woman composer based out of St. Pete, Cuban-born Guerra, Stölzel, Tann and the winner of the USF Call for Scores, Phó. Performers include USF Assistant Professor of Piano, Eunmi Ko; Grammy-nominated mezzo soloist, Thea Lobo; and FSU graduate and soprano soloist, Katherine Stenzel.

Opera Sampler

Studio @620, 620 1st Ave. S., St. Pete.

Sept. 16, 7 p.m. $25.

727-895-6620. studio620.org. 

This article appears in Sep 1-8, 2016.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...