2025-2026 Season
First Coast Opera’s 26th Season
Fanfare or Fantasy?
First Coast Opera’s upcoming season will transport our fanbase to international destinations through two classic 19th Century masterpieces, Bizet’s Carmen and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado.
The season starts with Fanfare! – a newly-designed festive season launch event and fundraiser on Friday, October 10. Held in Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, this one-night-only event will be hosted by General Director Curtis Tucker, highlight the season’s upcoming operas, and feature a multi-course catered dinner by Chef Norberto Jaramillo of La Cocina at the Cellar Upstairs. Musical excerpts will be performed by members of the University of Florida Opera Department from Gainesville.
A favorite of opera fans worldwide, Carmen features some of opera’s most well-known music and characters. FCO’s most ambitious production to date, this fully-staged with orchestra company premiere will be led by conductor Curtis Tucker and stage director Mark Freiman (The Barber of Seville). Journey with us to a land of Spanish gypsies, soldiers, smugglers, and bullfighters as they fan the flames of passion in this dramatic and tragic love story full of gorgeous melodies and fiery choruses.
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The production will feature company favorites Sarah Nordin as the gypsy Carmen, Matt Morgan as the soldier Don José, and in his FCO debut, Luis Alejandro Orozco as the bullfighter Escamillo. Rounding out the cast are McKenna Slack as Micaëla, Tyler Putnam as Zuniga, Elena Galván as Frasquita, Katherine Kincaid as Mercédès, Daniel Bates as Remendado, John Daugherty as Dancairo, and Jacob Pence as Moralèsas well as adult and children’s choruses.
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Sung in French with projected English supertitles, Carmen will be performed three times at Lewis Auditorium in downtown Saint Augustine. The annual New Year’s Eve performance at 7:30pm on December 31 will be followed by 2:00pm matinee performances on January 2 and 4.
“The flowers that bloom in the spring” in March will bring the beloved British operetta, The Mikado. Performed as originally produced, complete with Japanese fans and kimonos, this timeless comedy features Sir William Gilbert’s not-so-subtle lyrics and dialogue poking fun at England’s politics, while Sir Arthur Sullivan provides one hummable tune after another.
Nelson Sheeley returns to direct with longtime company baritone Sean Stork leading the FCO Orchestra in his conducting debut. Mainstage newcomers Rachel Querreveld as Yum-Yum, Angela Christine Smith as Katisha, John Tibbetts as Pish-Tush, and Victoria Isernia as Pitti-Sing, will perform with returning artists Jason Whitfield as The Mikado, Fran Daniel Laucerica as Nanki-Poo, Curtis Tucker as Ko-Ko, Anthony Offerle as Pooh-Bah, and Katherine Kincaid as Peep-Bo. The FCO Chorus will also be featured in this topsy turvy favorite.
Performed in English, The Mikado will be performed twice in March 2026
“These works are loved by both experienced opera fanatics and first-time infantile operagoers. Come as you are or get a little fancy. Ok, pardon the fandemonium, but I can’t help it,” says FCO General Director Curtis Tucker, continuing “This season will be FANtastic!”