A Baroque Love Story for Valentine’s Weekend

January 7, 2025   (Milwaukee)— The Florentine Opera brings Handel’s Acis and Galatea center stage this Valentine’s weekend, February 14 and 16, 2025, offering a stunning blend of Baroque artistry and mythical storytelling. With a set custom-designed for this production—complete with supervillain-inspired cyclops and sheep—this pastoral opera promises a unique and visually stunning experience.

Highlights:

• Florentine Opera and Opera San Antonio Music Director  Francesco Milioto conducts from the harpsichord, partnering with San Antonio General Director and stage director E. Loren Meeker. As frequent collaborators, Francesco has to build a show with both of his “closest collaborators” on one show!
• Starring current Baumgartner Studio Artist Sara LeMesh as Galatea and Studio Artist alum Patrick Bessenbacher as Acis.
• A celebrated pairing: LeMesh and Bessenbacher were lauded for their performances as desperate lovers in 2024’s La Fille du Régiment, with critics praising their “virtuoso coloratura” and “romantic lyricism.”
• A rare return to Baroque opera, Florentine’s first since 2019’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.

[inarticleadGeneral Director and CEO Maggey Oplinger shares: “Welcome to a performance of mythological scale! This pastoral opera—translation: nymphs, shepherds, and frolicking—is one of Handel’s greatest triumphs. It’s short, direct, in English,  and weaves beautiful storytelling through a romantic battle for Galatea’s heart. What a glorious way to celebrate timeless love for Valentine’s Day.”

About the Performers:

• Sara LeMesh (Galatea): Romanian-American soprano praised for her “lush tone” and “fearless command” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Recent highlights include her Lincoln Center debut and performances with the Metropolitan Opera House and American Ballet Theatre.
• Patrick Bessenbacher (Acis): Tenor with “purity of tone and ardent stage presence” (Opera News). Notable roles include Tonio in La Fille du Régiment and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Florentine Opera and Opera San Jose.

Performance Details:

Dates: Friday, February 14th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 16th at 2:30 PM
Location: Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, Marcus Performing Arts Center
Tickets: Tickets for Acis and Galatea  are now available and can be purchased through www.florentineopera.org, emailing  tickets@florentineopera.org, or calling 414.291.5700 ext. 224

Free Event: Get “Versed” on Acis and Galatea

Ahead of the performance, Florentine Opera will host a free event titled Versed on Tuesday, January 28th at the Wayne & Kristine Lueders Opera Center. The event will feature a panel discussion with Music Director Francesco Milioto, Director E. Loren Meeker, tenor Patrick Bessenbacher, and Florentine Opera’s General Director and CEO Maggey Oplinger. The panel will explore the creative vision behind this production of Acis and Galatea, what audiences should listen for, and offer a sneak peek at the staging. This event aims to provide deeper insight into the production’s artistic direction and the unique perspectives being brought to the work.

Tuesday, January 28th at 5:30pm. This event is free and open to the public at the Wayne & Kristine Lueders Opera Center (926 E Burleigh St).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.