By Kurt Loft. A woman risks her own life to rescue her wrongfully imprisoned husband. “It’s about democracy over tyranny and the things in life that aren’t fair,’’ says Mark Sforzini, conductor and artistic director of the St. Petersburg Opera, which stages a new production of Fidelio March 24-28… Read More
By Pamela J. Trow. Thank you for the gifts the NEA/Pinellas Recovers Grant bestowed on me. It was a gift to be a footbridge for an issue of great importance to so many of us. The children who attended the workshops provided a special gift – the gift of hope for our future…. Read More
By Sara Ries Dziekonski. These elementary-age scholars are discovering the safe space and possibility of the blank page and the power of the pen as they build something beautiful and important out of words. They show up week after week to tackle big emotions and take risks, and to nudge us to laugh a little more… Read More
By Kurt Loft. “New music has to be performed – otherwise, classical music is going to die.” CAMPground23 hosts four concerts this week in St. Pete and Tampa, a pair of world premieres and 28 composers from the United States, Europe and Asia…. Read More
By Robin O’Dell. Dance photography is a difficult and dynamic practice requiring precise timing, knowledge of the medium – and the ability and willingness to collaborate with performers. One of the greats, who also just happened to live in St. Petersburg, was the late Thomas Kramer (1934-2022). … Read More
SAGES Theater in Tarpon Springs presents three Plays with Purpose this year, all with free admission. Each event entertains, educates and empowers seniors to meet the challenges of aging with humor and wisdom…. Read More
By Jennifer Ring. Feeling uninspired? Consider visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. That’s what I did when the MFA hosted Maira Kalman in Conversation with Bob Morris – launching an exciting slate of programming designed to make you think, feel and discuss. And if Kalman and Morris’s conversation is any indication of what’s to come, it’s going to be awesome…. Read More
By Kurt Loft. If you had a front-row seat for Joyce Yang’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Florida Orchestra last Sunday at the Straz Center, you witnessed a bit of magic. Or, more accurately, you were swept up by an artist’s ability to concentrate on a magical level…. Read More
By Harriet Monzon-Aguirre. Visiting the Leepa-Rattner’s ARTS ALIVE! exhibit and seeing Thomas dancing with the photos, Madeline’s movements and William’s topsy-turvy viewing made me realize exactly what the entire exhibition was showcasing – how the human body and its movement through space is an important form of creative expression. … Read More
By Laura Kepner. Tommy Bell is a musician, teacher, stand-up-comedian – and he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t a visual artist. “It’s been all kinds of art on and off since I was born, really.” Bell teaches at the Morean Arts Center and believes foundation must be the initial focus in any creative endeavor…. Read More