Opera marks 15 years with greatest hits

Compared with the world's more celebrated companies, Opera Tampa is "still in diapers."

"Opera companies tend to be in the hundreds of years old," says Maria Zouves, Opera Tampa's vice president and associate general director. "We're barely an embryo."

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Opera Tampa is indeed a youngster. But 15 years for any arts organization is worth celebrating.

And celebrate Opera Tampa will, with "Arias and Encores," a retrospective performance.

"We'll be performing the greatest hits from the past 15 years," Zouves says, including arias from Opera Tampa performances of "La Traviata" and "Madame Butterfly."

The show also will feature a performance from "Sacco and Vanzetti," composed by Opera Tampa's artistic director Anton Coppola, and a jewel in the company's crown.

"It's rare that a company our age performs its own opera," Zouves says. "We have done something unique."

One of Opera Tampa's missions is education, and bringing presentations to area schools.

A major part of that education is dispelling preconceptions about opera

"Opera is a lot of things," Zouves says. You might love it when it's just singing, or you might prefer the costumes and sets.

"You might love modern works. You might love Puccini or think Mozart's the cat's meow," Zouves says.

"Arias and Encores" not only celebrates Opera Tampa, it also provides a sampler for the novice. "It's a really good way to be introduced to how gorgeous it is," Zouves says.

Zouves is looking ahead to Opera Tampa's next big birthday.

"By the 20th anniversary, I want us to have grown and done more diverse pieces, to be able to say we have broken out of the standard repertoire and done stuff off the beaten path," Zouves says.

"I want the citizens of our area, even if they don't attend, to know that we have a great opera company."

IF YOU GO

"Arias & Encores"

WITH: Opera Tampa Rising Stars and special guests

WHEN: 4 p.m., Sunday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; (813) 229-7827

COST: $42.50