The Central Florida Lyric Opera Company has changed its name and moved to The Villages.
Maestro Bill Doherty formed the opera company in Orlando in 1988. The company recently moved here and is now known as The Villages Lyric Opera Company. It expects to hold its premier performance in January, Doherty said.
“We have a huge following in The Villages and decided to make the move,” he added. “The Villages is becoming a cultural center. We have a wonderful fan base here; people know and love this music.”
The opera company has about 40 vocalists and about 45 members in the orchestra, Doherty said. The group is expected to rehearse at St. Timothy Catholic Church, where Doherty serves as music director. Performances will be held at Savannah Center. That may change in the future with the opening of the new Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center being constructed in Spanish Springs Town Square.
“We would love to be able to perform there when it opens,” Doherty said. “I think it’s a tremendous asset for any community to have its own opera company. Moving here is a big step for us and I think it’s a big step for The Villages.”
Opera already has strong local support.
The Villages Opera club has more than 200 members was founded in 1994. The club has raised close to $200,000 in scholarship money. Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarships are awarded on annual basis to local students.
Devin Eatmon won a Schwartz scholarship and graduated from The Villages Charter High School in 2013.
“It means so much to me because I want to be an opera singer,” Eatmon, 19, said. “I think it’s great that The Villages is going to have its own opera company, because it gives us an opportunity to perform.
“There is a real need for it. People in The Villages want to hear this music. I think it will help expose opera and classical music to people my age who are in The Villages.”
Oscar Feliu has long been a supporter of classical music here and was instrumental in forming the local opera club. He believes this community having its own opera company crosses a cultural threshold.
“It’s been a long time coming and it’s a huge step for The Villages,” Feliu said. “It opens the door for so many performers.”
Although The Villages has thousands of classical music fans among its residents, Feliu believes the local opera company will draw more young people to the music.
“The opera club has been giving out scholarships but this takes it to another level for students. We want to invite young performers to join this company. They can work in choir, act in parts or do whatever is needed.
“This not only gives them a chance to get on stage but it also gives young people the opportunity to work with professionals. It will help them mature as singers and artists.”
Let’s not forget the older folks.
“There’s no age limit for opera,” Feliu said. “Placido Domingo is 73 and he still sounds great. We have so many talented singers and musicians who live in The Villages. Now, they will have another way to express their talent.”
The Villages has come a long way in the music and the arts in the past decade.
“We keep growing and changing and this opera company is another sign of that growth and change,” Feliu said. “Things are only going to get better. I’m delighted.”
