The Opera Festival on Trinidad and Tobago promises to be a celebration of great music and authentic Trinbagonian talent and will comprise several classical music events from opera, to master classes, the launch of a new cycle of songs from T&T composer Dominique LeGendre of “Jab Molassie” fame and much more.

This is an event where you can include the entire family. The newly-rebranded Picoplat Music Development Foundation (formerly the Classical Musical Development Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago) is pleased to present its second annual, Trinidad and Tobago Opera Festival 2016 just in time for your summer vacation. The festival runs from the July 1-10, 2016 at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain.

This year, the Trinidad and Tobago Opera Festival kicks off with a cocktail reception and a gala opening performance of the Tales of Hoffman, one of the most ravishing productions by German-born French composer, Jacques Offenbach.

The prowess of Trinidad and Tobago’s talent reign supreme through these performances. Hoffmann, played by Raguel Gabriel recounts the stories of the fascinating women who captured his heart – Olympia (Natalia Dopwell), Giulietta (Stephanie Nahous) and Antonia (Cara Adams). Hoffmann’s hopeless pursuit of romance, obstructed by menacing figures of darkness, ultimately leads him to understand the true meaning of being an artist.

Extraordinary work that is equal parts fantasy, realism, and genuine passion, the Tales of Hoffman includes other talented Trinidad and Tobago performers, including Shannon Navarro, Krisson Joseph, Rory Wallace and Nigel Floyd.

The Trinidad and Tobago Opera Music Festival is even more accessible to the public through several free admission events that caters to persons who never had the opportunity to experience an opera or who have never been exposed to classical music. The festival continues throughout this week with a free one-hour performance for school children on July 5 and a premiere of Domique LeGendre’s newly-commissioned “Songs of the Islands” on July 8. The closing matinee of the Tales of Hoffman shows at the Queen’s Hall on July 10.

For additional information on the schedule of events, please click here or follow the Trinidad and Tobago Opera Festival on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Home to the largest Carnival celebration in the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago is the southernmost Caribbean nation located seven miles east off the Venezuelan coast. Ranked the happiest nation in the Caribbean by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, in 2013 and 2015, the destination’s distinct and harmonious blend of cultures, eclectic cuisine and environmental treasures continue to attract travelers of all ages to its shores. Birthplace of the limbo and the world famous steelpan, the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, as well as a diverse mix of monthly festivals and events, it’s little wonder that Trinidad is known as the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean.’ Sister island Tobago offers a quintessential Caribbean vibe with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco attractions. Tobago is home to the largest brain coral in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest protected reserve in the Western hemisphere, The Main Ridge Rainforest. Come and explore Trinidad and Tobago – the true Caribbean!

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago, visit gotrinidadandtobago.com or visittobago.gov.tt

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