The Palm Beach Opera hosted its 2026 Opera Gala with a performance featuring world-renowned soprano Lisette Oropesa on March 2 in Palm Beach.
The evening at The Breakers offered something more intimate than an operatic spectacle. Rather, it became a shared expression of gratitude for operatic journeys that are still unfolding.
As Oropesa took the stage for her Palm Beach Opera debut, the event not only showcased a talented artist at a luminous point in her career, but also the patrons, educators and dreamers who support and sustain the art form itself. The concert highlighted themes of dreams being pursued, inspiring listeners with the shared mission of the opera company and hope for what lies ahead.
Oropesa approached the evening’s programming as a reflection of her artistic journey, intending to honor her past artistic experiences and cultural heritage as well as the exciting new roles and performances she will encounter in the future.
The program consisted of selections from several operas in which she previously performed — or will have upcoming roles in — with major companies domestic and abroad. When asked if there was a particular theme for the evening’s performance, Oropesa turned to the tragic nature of the arias she performed.
“It’s interesting,” she said. “All of the arias I’ve selected, except one, are sung by leading ladies who eventually die at the end of the opera. But in all of these pieces, they are at the height of their dreams, or at a turning point in their lives.”
As she noted, the selections were united less by composer or style than by narrative. In this way, the evening became a meditation on choice.
At the heart of the evening was Oropesa’s own reflection on what it means to grow within the art form of opera. She said singing is inherently organic, “something that ebbs and flows, has its ups and downs, and as you grow, your voice and artistry grow with you.”
Jim Barbato, the company’s director of artistic administration, introduced Oropesa as “one of the most decorated singers of our time.”
Oropesa made clear that her Cuban American heritage plays an important role in her identity as an artist. She is very proud of her cultural identify, which she said “gives me a kind of tropical pride.”
In a demonstration of her artistry and appreciation, Oropesa sang two selections by Cuban composers — “Tú,” by Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes and “María la O,” by Ernesto Lecuona. Fascinating is the history of Lecuona’s zarzuela, also entitled, “María la O.” The zarzuela was originally set to text from a novel by Cirilo Villaverde, but after writing the music, the heirs refused to grant the rights to use of the text. Lecuona had to work with a talented librettist, Galarraga, to create new text and adapt the music to save the score. “Tú” is an habanera and is Sánchez de Fuentes’ most popular composition, written when the composer was 16.
Pianist Michael Borowitz accompanied Oropesa throughout the evening. During a brief break in the vocal performance, Borowitz performed a beautiful rendition of “Méditation,” an intermezzo theme from Massenet’s “Thaïs,” providing an enchanting addition to the program.
The gala was chaired by Gwendolyn and Austin Fragomen. Proceeds will support the opera company’s mainstage productions, educational outreach efforts and young artist training programs.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Oropesa reflects on artistic journey in Palm Beach Opera debut
Reporting by Sarah Hutchings, Special to Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
