"Kátya Kabanova"

Ten Yamaha pianos will be used at the Florida Grand Opera's facilities in Miami and Fort Lauderdale: Yamaha C7, C6, C3 and C2 conservatory grand pianos; two Yamaha Disklavier® MX1ZPE pianos; two Yamaha P22 acoustic uprights; and two Yamaha U1 acoustic uprights. Three instruments will remain in Fort Lauderdale, the remainder are earmarked for the Opera's three Miami sites: a rehearsal hall, the administration building, and the 2,400 seat Miami-Dade County Auditorium where performances are held. According to Hesser, the pianos will be used for many purposes, including Opera performances, rehearsals, auditions, master classes and other educational offerings, coaching of young artists, and a wide variety of public and private parties and events.

"We're especially excited about the Disklavier pianos," Hesser admits. "Aside from performances, our chorus master will use them to lay down tracks of accompaniment for rehearsals. And, our coaches working with young artists will be able to prepare accompaniments and record them on disk."

The Florida Grand Opera's 60th season, under the leadership of General Director and CEO Robert M. Heuer, features Verdi's Otello, Massenet's Manon, the company premiere of a new production of Leo Janácek's Kátya Kabanová, Rossini's Il Barbiere Di Siviglia, and Puccini's Tosca. Highlights include the returns of megastar soprano Deborah Voigt, Mexican tenor Fernando de la Mora, and legendary soprano Renata Scotto in a directorial role, and the company debut of Russian tenor Vladimir Bogachov.

Manny Perez, vice president and general manager for Hale Piano of Dade County, sealed the agreement with Hesser. An active member of the arts community and a voice teacher for opera singers, Perez has a special affinity for the Florida Grand Opera: while attending the University of Miami, he was a member of the Florida Grand Opera's chorus, under chorus master Willie Anthony Waters. "This proud distinction gives me great pleasure", he says, "because the Florida Grand Opera is such a large part of our musical community and Yamaha will be getting the type of exposure it really deserves."

"Manon" at the Florida Grand Opera