Tickets available for An Operatic Feast Oct. 8-9 and Verdi’s La Traviata Dec. 31 & Jan. 2
St. Augustine, FL — The enjoyment of food and entertainment has long been an important social ritual. The tradition of the Roman banquet is often described as a feast for the senses, and was an opportunity for a host to impress his guests not just with the bounty of his larder, but with extravagant entertainment.
First Coast Opera opens the 2021-2022 season in October with An Operatic Feast, a celebration of fine dining and operatic excerpts that includes local performing artists Lisa Lockhart, Brittany Fouche, Regina Torres, and John Daughtery.
The first event will take place on Friday, October 8 at Jax Beach Brunch Haus, 610 3rd St S, Jacksonville Beach. Doors open at 6 p.m. and includes dinner, performance and general seating. Cost is $75 per guests. Tickets are available at firstcoastopera.com
The second night of the event will take place on Saturday, October 9 at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 5205 A1A S, St. Augustine. Doors open at 6 p.m. with catered dinner by La Cucina, the performance and general seating. Tickets are $75 per guest. A VIP option includes a pre-show reception at 5:30 p.m., with an artist Meet and Greet, preferred seating, dinner and performance. Tickets are $125 for this special offering. All tickets are available at firstcoastopera.com
Composers in the 16th century developed works specifically for their wealthy patron’s feasts. In European cities, restaurants and cafes began to provide music in their establishments for their diners. In his “A Tribute To Vienna With The Philharmonics,” Joseph Joachim cheekily wrote, “a more unintellectual, eating and drinking, dancing and music-loving people do not exist than the good people of Vienna. As long as they can eat gebackene Hendel at the Sperl, or dance in the Augarten, and listen to the immortal Strauss as he stamps and fiddles before the best waltz band in Europe.”
VERDI’S LA TRAVIATA
Plan now to raise a glass to toast La Traviata on New Year’s Eve in Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College. What better way to ring in the new year than with this classic Verdi masterpiece, fully staged with orchestra? Treat yourself, and consider giving the gift of an experience to someone you know. This opera will be offered again on Sunday, January 2. Details and tickets are available at firstcoastopera.com
ABOUT FIRST COAST OPERA
Founded in January 2000, First Coast Opera serves Northeast Florida’s First Coast region through a series of concerts and staged productions of operas and operettas. Based in Saint Augustine, performances feature guest artists from throughout the United States performing alongside local and regional talent. Visit firstcoastopera.com or call 904-417-5555, and follow on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
