Opera Orlando’s hot soprano summer comes to a thrilling conclusion on August 28 at the University Club of Winter Park. Soprano Susan Hellman Spatafora, bass Andrew W. Potter, and pianist Robin Stamper present LATE NIGHT ENCOUNTERS. The program will explore characters who reveal their true selves only in the cloak of darkness, including late night scenes from Verdi’s La Forza del destino and Carlisle Floyd’s opera Susannah, evening art songs by Alfred Bachelet, Herbert Hughes, and Richard Strauss, and musical theater favorites from Les Misérables and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

“We are thrilled to feature three Opera Orlando favorites in one concert,” shares artistic director Grant Preisser. “With such an exciting variety of repertoire, from solo to duet, art song to opera, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”

Celebrated by Opera News for her “perfect, yearningly optimistic coloring—golden and radiant,” soprano Susan Hellman Spatafora has performed with Palm Beach, Tampa, Sarasota, Central City, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Green Mountain, and Gulfshore Operas; the Glimmerglass Festival; New World Symphony; Florida Orchestra; Tampa Oratorio Singers; Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation; and Tampa Bay Symphony. In December 2020, Ms. Spatafora “sparkled” as she “let (Rosalinde’s) intelligence shine through” (Orlando Sentinel) in Opera Orlando’s Die Fledermaus. She returns for the role of First Lady in the Company’s production of The Magic Flute in October. Other signature roles for Ms. Spatafora include Antonia/Giulietta (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), the title role in Suor Angelica, Micaëla (Carmen), Mimì (La Bohème), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Leïla (Les pêcheurs de perles), Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), and Anna (Le Villi). She also played the title role in St. Petersburg Opera’s world premiere recording of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah in 2014.

Bass Andrew W. Potter is in demand across the country for his larger-than-life stage presence and voice to match. Of his recent performance in L’elisir d’amore, Opera Today hailed, “with his huge, all‐encompassing bass voice and precise comic timing, he nearly stole the show.” This past season, Mr. Potter joined Opera Santa Barbara in the title role in Don Pasquale, Pacific Opera Project as Sam in Trouble in Tahiti, and Southern Illinois Festival for Covid fan tutte. Additionally, Mr. Potter has performed as Simone in Gianni Schicchi and as Pastor Avery in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline with Tulsa Opera; Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni with Indianapolis Opera; René, King of Provence in Iolanta with Pacific Opera Project; and Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Opera Orlando. This season he will reprise his role in L’elisir d’amore for Livermore Valley Opera, and star in productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Tosca.

Robin Stamper is currently the artistic/managing director and chorus master for Opera Tampa, continuing a versatile career as a coach-accompanist, chorus master, and opera conductor. Credits include director of music for the Kentucky Opera, where he made his conducting debut with The Mikado. Subsequently, he became Artistic Director for the Nevada Opera where he conducted the mainstage productions of The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, Suor Angelica, and Pagliacci. Following his tenure at Nevada Opera, Stamper became the music director for Orlando Opera, substantially growing the caliber of the company’s chorus. Additionally, Stamper has conducted La Traviata and Camelot for the Augusta Opera, as well as Così fan tutte and The Barber of Seville while serving as artistic director for Florida Opera Theatre.

Enjoy our hot soprano lineup for $108 for the entire series or $45 for each individual concert. Only a few seats left for each concert. Admission includes artist receptions following each concert, with light hors d’oeuvres and wine graciously donated by Winter Park Wine. All Summer Concert Series performances take place at the University Club of Winter Park, located at 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789.

Stay up to date with Opera Orlando’s upcoming season online at www.OperaOrlando.org, and follow and like the Opera’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts to share in all the Company has planned for 2022-23. Celebrate Opera Everlasting, and see YOU at the Opera!

About Opera Orlando: The Company aims to celebrate, expand, and share the world’s greatest art form through emotionally compelling and unique stories, with the 2022-23 season marking Opera Orlando’s seventh season producing high-quality operatic entertainment and educational programs that engage Central Florida audiences.