meet our cast
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Mezzo-soprano Sarah Klopfenstien has appeared with a number of opera companies around the United
States, including Nashville Opera, Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and St. Petersburg Opera. Notable
roles include Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte, Cherubino in Les nozze di Figaro,
Mercedes in Carmen, and Delores in the world premiere of Royal Flush by Frank Pesci. Dr. Klopfenstein
has also performed numerous oratorio solos such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Alexander Nevsky,
Messiah, and Mozart’s Requiem. Most recently, she appeared with the Lexington Philharmonic
Orchestra as Sally in Samuel Barber’s A Hand of Bridge. Dr. Klopfenstein maintains a private voice studio
at University of South Florida in Tampa. Having a passion for new music, Sarah has performed in four
world premiere operas, most recently in Southern Crossings by Zaid Jabri in New York in conjunction
with Columbia University. She holds Doctorate and Master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky
and a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University.
Guillermo Lopez, Jose
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Guillermo Lopez has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the
US. He participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado. Mr. Lopez got third place in the NATS competition of the Great Lakes, and he was a semifinalist in the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition. In 2014 he performed in
the world-premiere of the opera Illegal Alien by the Mexican composer Alfonso Molina. He has performed with Tampa Opera, Opera for Earth, Saint Pete Opera and SFLO. Among his opera roles are Ernesto from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Alfredo from Puccini’s La Traviata, Parpignol in La Bohème, and Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth. In Zarzuela, he’s performed with theSpanish Lyric Theater as Leandro in La Tabernera del Puerto and Julián in La Verbena de la Paloma. Future engagements include the role of King Kaspar from Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mr. Lopez is a sought-after tenor in the Tampa bay area, and he performs regularly with Tampa Opera Singers in private events and concerts. In addition to his performance schedule, Mr. Lopez is a dedicated voice teacher and
coach.
Tom Hall, Escamillo
Sarah Klopfenstein, Carmen
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Dramatic baritone Thomas Hall has becomeinternationally known for his rich, powerful voice,particularly in the heldenbaritone roles of Wagner and Strauss.Last season,Mr Hallsang the role of TelramundLohengrinfor the Metropolitan Opera under thebaton ofYannick Nézet-Séguin.Mr Hall’s recentEuropeanengagements haveincludedthe role of Wotan in the critically acclaimedproduction ofDie Walkürefor Sofia Opera Wagner Festival,andthe titleroleinDer fliegendeHolländerand JochanaanSalomefor the the Badisches Staatstheater. A noted interpreter of theworks of Richard Strauss, he has previously sung Jochanaan for Opera Australia, the NorwegianOpera and Ballet, the Royal Danish Opera, Tiroler Landestheater and Pfalztheater Kaiserlautern. HisotherStrauss roles include KunradFeurersnotforTeatro Massimo Palermo, OrestElektrafor TeatroComunale di Bologna, and BarakDie Frau ohne SchattenforTheater Kiel.
Beginning his music career as a horn player,Mr. Hall changed to singing at the age of 27.He made hisEuropean debut in 2011 at the Savonlinna Opera Festival as Telramund inLohengrin, a role that helater reprised at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Polish National Opera, and Korea National Opera. Hereturned to Savonlinna in the title role ofDer fliegende Holländerandwent on to head otherproductions with Opera Hong Kong, Teatro Regiodi Torino, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, CircuitoLirico Lombardo, and Opera po Skaret. He added the three Wotan/Wanderer roles in Wagner’sDerRing des Nibelungento his repertoire with three complete cycles for Theater Kiel,Die WalküreforGrange Park Opera,Das RheingoldandSiegfriedforthe Staatstheater Wiesbaden, and SiegfriedforOldenburgisches Staatstheater.
His other roles include ScarpiaTosca, the Villains inLes Contesd’Hoffmann, and Amonasro inAida.Concert repertoire includes Brahms’Ein Deutsches Requiem, Handel’sMessiah, Mendelssohn’sElijah, Beethoven’sNinth Symphony, and Puccini’sMessa di Gloria
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Praised for her vocal clarity, crystalline coloratura, and abundant musicality, Lebanese-American soprano Christine Honein has been featured on stages in the United States and the Middle East performing concert work as well as opera. Most recently, Christine performed the roles of the Second Woman and the First Witch in the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado’s production of Dido and Aeneas.
In the Fall of 2019, Christine was the featured soloist in Imant Raminsh’s Missa Brevis with the ASTER choir and CU Women’s choir, and premiered the role of Miriam in a workshop of the chamber opera Friday After Friday, by Leanna Kirchoff, which addresses Syrian women’s unique experiences of living through the war crisis. In November, Christine appeared in Boulder Opera’s Carmen Highlights as Frasquita.
In 2018, Christine performed the role of Maria in Eklund Opera’s production of West Side Story. Christine made her debut with the company the previous Spring, playing the role of Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante. Following that, Christine premiered selections from “Art Songs in Arabic” on poems by Said Akl, set to music by Lebanese composer Iyad Kanaan.
Born in Lebanon to a Lebanese mother and father, Christine spent her formative years in Beirut and Florida. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music, and from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Master of Music. Christine hopes to continue using music to express, expose, and bridge the beautiful and rich cultures of the world.
Jenna Armstrong, Mercedes
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Jenna Armstrong, Mercedes
Jenna Armstrong is an emerging mezzo-soprano, currently pursuing her bachelor's in Music Education and Theater at the University of South Florida, where she studies under Dr. Kyoung Cho. In addition to her local engagements, Jenna’s experience extends internationally, having performed with the Assisi International Music Festival in Assisi Italy. Most recently, she appeared in the chorus of Samson et Dalila with St. Pete Opera, and as Sister Geraldine in Opera for Earth's Dialogues of the Carmelites.
Marina Nuñez, Michaela
Christine Honein, Frasquita
Jenna Armstrong, Mercedes
American soprano, Marina Renée Nuñez, is an emerging artist who has been praised for her expressiveness, “rich and warm color,” and sparkling high notes. This season, Ms. Nuñez joins St.Petersburg Opera in her second year as a Resident Artist covering Charlotte in A Little Night Music along with various concerts. Additionally, she will be performing the role of Elle in Poulenc’s, La Voix Humaine, in a film adaptation of the opera with Tirgan Records and Killer Queen Opera at Brooklyn Art Haus and at the Ferman Center for the Arts in Tampa, FL. Marina was recently a fellow with Opernfest Prague where she performed excerpts from Thäis as at the historic Divadlo Vinohradech. During Covid, she made her cinematic debut as the title role in the film, Poppea, an adaptation of Monteverdi’s opera. Mrs.Nuñez premiered role of Older Sister in the New York premiere of the opera, Who Married Star Husbands, with Four Corner’s Ensemble at the Polish Consulate General. Additional operatic roles in Ms.Nuñez’s repertoire include Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Musetta (La Boheme), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Violetta (La Traviata), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), and Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflote). Equally at home on the concert stage, Ms.Nuñez has performed as the Soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches. Marina is a member of the Grammy nominated Taylor Festival Choir where she has been a featured soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the Mother in Craig Hella Johnson’s work, Considering Matthew Shepard. Marina has performed recitals in Náměšť, Czech Republic and throughout Austria, Italy, and the United States. She has been a featured soloist with Palm Beach Signature Chamber Series, as well as Opera Doral’s Concert Series. Ms. Nuñez is an alumna of the Castleton Festival Young Artist program, International Vocal Arts Institute, Bel Canto Institute, and Miami Summer Music Festival. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan and Master of Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Marina is a recipient of the Francis B. Furlong scholarship and
Fernando Lopez, Pianist
Fernando Lopez, Pianist
Fernando Lopez, Pianist
Mexican-born pianist Fernando Lopez has participated in various music festivals such as the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, the Piano Academy & Festival International in St. Andrews, Canada, and the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Piobbico, Italy.
Mr. Lopez is one of the founders and faculty of the Winold Music Festival, a chamber music festival for young artists in the Tampa Bay Area. Mr. Lopez enjoys a large private studio in Tampa, Florida. He is an active collaborative pianist in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys organizing small concerts of chamber music, opera, and art songs.
Mr. Lopez holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Music from the University of South Florida. He currently teaches at the State College of Florida in Bradenton and his studio in Temple Terrace.
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