Sheboygan native plays leading role in the next Florentine Opera season
Florentine Opera’s 2024-’25 season includes a major role for a Wisconsin native who is a former finalist in the national Metropolitan Opera auditions competition.
Soprano Kathryn Henry, a Sheboygan South High School graduate, will sing Micaëla in Florentine’s production of Bizet’s “Carmen” May 16 and 18, 2025.
In 2015, while she was still a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, Henry advanced through several rounds of competition to the Met Opera finals, one of the final nine out of more than 1,500 singers who competed at local district levels.
Since then, Henry’s built a promising career that included being promoted on a week’s notice from understudy to a principal role in the world-premiere production of “The Lord of Cries” at Santa Fe Opera in 2021. The recording of that production was nominated for a Grammy in the best opera recording category.
Henry is performing through April 7 in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Verdi’s “Aida.”
Her former Florentine appearances include the title role in Viardot’s “Cinderella” in 2022.
Here’s a capsule summary of Florentine Opera’s planned 2024-’25 season, which the company has titled “Acts of Rebellion.”
● “Madama Butterfly,” Oct. 18 and
20. Soprano Karen Chia-ling Ho sings the title role in Puccini’s tragedy about the doomed relationship between a young Japanese woman and an American naval officer. This is a co-production with Virginia Opera and Kentucky Opera. Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St.
● “Acis and Galatea,” Feb. 14 and 16, 2025. Tenor Patrick Bessenbacher, a former Florentine Studio Artist, returns as Acis in Handel’s Baroque opera. MPAC’s Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.
● “Viva La Mamma!,” March 21 and 23, 2025. The ever-inventive Jill Anna Ponasik directs Donizetti’s comedy about a struggling opera company, at a new location for the Florentine: Alverno College’s Pitman Theater, 3431 S. 39th St.
● “Carmen,” May 16 and 18, 2025. MPAC’s Uihlein Hall.
For subscription and other info on the Florentine season, visit florentineopera. or call (414) 291-5700 ext. 224. Single-ticket sales start Aug. 1.