SARASOTA OPERA CONTINUED ITS JOURNEY TOWARD A PRE-COVID OPERATING SCHEDULE. IN THE FALL OF 2023, THE OPERA PRESENTED TWO PERFORMANCES OF PUCCINI'S MUSIC TO SOLD OUT HOUSES. THE WINTER FESTIVAL CONSISTED OF THIRTY-ONE PERFORMANCES, TWO MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND ONLY FIVE FEWER THAN THE PRE-COVID SEASON. FOUR DIFFERENT OPERAS WERE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF NEARLY 27,000 PATRONS. IN ADDITION TO THESE THIRTY-ONE MAIN STAGE PERFORMANCES, THE OPERA'S YOUTH OPERA PROGRAM PRESENTED TWO PERFORMANCES IN THE FALL OF 2023. IT EXPANDED ITS COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND TEACHER WORKSHOPS. THE OPERA'S TWO GUILD ORGANIZATIONS ALSO ADDED FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
