Annapolis Opera Starts Their New Season

Opera is alive and well, here in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Annapolis Opera kicked off their 2010-2011 season with an impressively well attended gathering, entitled “Celebrate Opera”. Held at Wine Cellars of Annapolis on Forest Drive in Clocktower Place, I could describe the scene as “standing room only” but then again, this was a standing kind of event, which is my only criticism of what was a lovely evening. Designed to raise money for this worthy organization, at $125 a head, guests tasted a variety of wines provided by Wine Cellars and dined on gourmet cheeses, pate, and subsequent courses of poached salmon served with a corn and blueberry relish and tenderloin with whipped sweet potatoes. For dessert there was of course, Opera cake. Everything was delicious, although it was definitely a challenge to balance a plate of food, glass of wine, eat, drink, and chat. The highlight of the evening was the entertainment–arias and a duet song by baritone Jason Stearns and soprano Colleen Daly. Of Metropolitan Opera fame, Jason Stearns makes his home in Annapolis with his lovely wife and soprano Suzanne. On October 23, he will be the featured performer headlining what is billed as “Concert of Stars” at St. John’s College Key Auditorium. Also scheduled this season is a performance “Gifts from Grand Opera” at the First Presbyterian Church in Anapolis on December 5th and in 2011 four more events that include the two day run of one of my favorite operas, “Marriage of FIgaro,” performed at Maryland Hall in March. Visit their website at www,annapolisopera.org and