Balcony opera performances share the music form with the public

Opera doesn't just reverberate through halls in Sarasota. 

Sometimes, it's also heard in the streets, as it is each Saturday at the Sarasota Opera House, when opera singers take to the balcony of the historic building.

"As singers, it's kind of an honor to get chosen, so it's just an exciting moment," said Alexandra Kzeski.

As a singer in the Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists Program, Kzeski is participating this year in the balcony performances, which in the past had usually featured artists from the Sarasota Opera Studio Artists, the more advanced of the Sarasota Opera's two training programs.

"This year, we decided to recruit the apprentices as well, because we've had so many talented singers in our group, that we decided we want to show them off as well," said Chorus Master Arthur Bosarge, who is also program and music director of the apprentice artists.

Photo by Ian Swaby

The aim of the program is to help trained singers transition from student to professional life, and it focuses on the Sarasota Opera's standard repertoire, including composers such as Mozart and Puccini. 

Bosarge said for the balcony performances, which take place on Saturday in downtown, usually between 10 and 11 a.m., they traditionally feature a certain type of selection. 

"We like to feature a repertoire that's very exciting, that's very loud, that's going to get people grab people's attention, and get them to say, 'Oh, hey, what's what's going on over there? There's opera happening, and to really bring them in to see what we're doing here in Sarasota," he said. 

Bosarge said the house part of the fabric of downtown and the arts scene, noting the Sarasota Opera has a presence in the opera world as well.

Photo by Ian Swaby

However, as singers take to the open air, they leave behind the echo of an auditorium, which is useful for helping them to assess and adjust their own performance. 

Kzeski said the building's roof, which juts out somewhat from the side, slightly compensates for this issue.

"It does provide a little bit of echo, similar to the stage, but it's much, much less feedback, for sure," she said. "You just kind of have to trust what you're doing and just hope it goes along as planned."

However, they do have one form of feedback, in the public's response.

"They are so excited, and it's so new to a lot of people that are just maybe out here for the Farmer's Market, and it's really wonderful to maybe introduce someone to their first brush with opera, in general," said Lindsey Polcyn, who is also part of the apprentice program.

Photo by Ian Swaby

Polcyn also said she's been involved in opera for a long time, and has never seen a community turn out the way it does for productions in Sarasota. 

"This is my first season here, but the community is super receptive and really excited about opera, which is really exciting," she said. "It's nice to be in an artistic community already, so great reception and response."

Kzeski said if people aren't ready to get tickets to an opera, the Saturday performances are still a chance for them to get introduced to the music form. 

"This is such a such a great way to kind of get started in opera, just dipping your toe in the water because it's a couple of arias, and that gives you a look into what an overall opera would be like," she said.