Opera Naples announces new season filled with concerts, beloved operas

Charles Runnells | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Opera Naples has lined up some certified crowd-pleasers for its 2026-27 season, including two of the world’s most popular operas.

The opera company announced its expanded, upcoming season Sept. 4 with several concerts and its seventh-annual Festival Under The Stars in Baker Park. Highlights include Handel’s beloved “The Messiah,” the iconic “I Pagliacci” and the comedy masterpiece “The Barber of Seville.”

“I am incredibly excited for the upcoming season, which represents our biggest artistic scope in terms of variety and diversity of genres to date…” Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar said in a news release announcing Opera Naples’ 21st season. “From opera to concerts, from oratorio to operetta and contemporary works, from comic opera to serious opera and from recitals to sacred music, this season has it all!”

Performances and events are scheduled at Opera Naples’ Wang Opera Center, Baker Park, First Presbyterian Church of Naples and Moorings Presbyterian Church. Tickets are on sale now.

Opera Naples Executive Director Melanie Kalnins said the new season “reflects everything that makes Opera Naples unique — world-class artistry, meaningful community engagement and a commitment to developing the next generation of opera talent.”

Pavarotti competition winners featured in Opera Naples festival
The announcement follows a busy previous season for Opera Naples, including six sold-out performances at the annual Festival Under the Stars and a $1 million donation from an anonymous supporter at the opera company’s December 2025 gala.

The annual Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition won’t return until fall 2027 (date to be announced), Kalnins says. But winners from the 2025 and 2026 competitions will perform this coming March at the Festival Under the Stars.

Read more on naplesnews.com.