Palm Beach Opera To Present Tenor Matthew Polenzani At Annual Gala

Palm Beach Opera is honored to announce that internationally-renowned tenor Matthew Polenzani will headline the company's 2019 Gala on March 2, 2019, at Manalapan's luxurious Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa.

Praised by The New York Times for his "ardor, richness and power," Polenzani is among the most gifted tenors of his time. This season, the Chicago native returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago to sing in Rigoletto and Les Pêcheurs de Perles before heading to The Metropolitan Opera to perform Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore, which can be seen on PBS when the network's latest season of Great Performances at the Met that premiered nationwide on April 29.

Regarded as "perhaps the finest tenor voice of his generation" by The Phoenix, Polenzani has starred in more than 300 performances at the Met, including La traviata, Roméo et Juliette, Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Die Zauberflöte, with a repertoire of diverse performances at leading operatic and concert venues worldwide.

After the recent announcement of Palm Beach Opera's 2018-2019 season, the company completes its blockbuster lineup with a critically-acclaimed singer at an award-winning waterfront resort. Eau Palm Beach recently earned a Five-Star designation from Forbes Travel Guide for the third consecutive year, recognized for its "Mediterranean glamour," and ranked in U.S. News & World Report's newly released 2018 list of the top 50 hotels in the country.

"We're proud to be able to consistently present leading opera stars at our annual gala, and Matthew is an extraordinary and consummate artist who we know will thrill our attendees," said Managing Director David Walker. "We are excited to host our evening in such an impressive and sought-after location, an ideal venue for our celebration of opera and elegance. Coupled with Jeffrey and Lee Ann Alderton bringing their experience and passion as our gala chairs, the evening of supporting this vital and beloved art form is sure to be a huge success."

Jeffrey Alderton, one of the newly-appointed vice presidents of Palm Beach Opera's board of directors, will chair the gala along with his wife Lee Ann. Recently, Jeffrey and Lee Ann Alderton served as chairs for American Heart Association's 2018 Heart Ball with great success.

Palm Beach Opera's largest annual fundraising event, the gala showcases the foremost stars in opera in an intimate and exclusive recital in the area's most opulent venues. A highlight of the Palm Beach social calendar each year, the gala brings together opera lovers and community leaders to enjoy an evening of glamour, artistry, and a delectable dinner, while supporting the company's continued mission of bringing world-class opera to South Florida.

Inquiries regarding the 2019 Gala should be made to Managing Director David Walker at dwalker@pbopera.org or 561-835-7558. For more information on Palm Beach Opera's 2018-2019 season, which features a new concert, Rising Stars of Opera, Verdi's La traviata, Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Straus II's Die Fledermaus, visit pbopera.org.

Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence and to enriching the life of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents mainstage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.