Melanie Kalnins grew up immersed in musical theater, singing, dancing, and playing the piano. Kalnins knew she was an artist from the beginning, and after years of nurturing her love for the arts, she now serves as the executive director of Opera Naples, where she sees an opportunity for the current Southwest Florida arts community to strengthen its foundation.
On Feb. 10, Kalnins and board director Livio Ferrari emphasized to the Press Club of Southwest Florida at a luncheon that Collier County is one of the most underserved counties in Florida for theaters and the arts. As an artist with natural talent, Kalnins stated that this situation is not sustainable. However, Kalnins and Ferrari have plans to change that.
With an exponential rise in population throughout Southwest Florida, with some newcomers yearning to experience immersive arts and culture on a regular basis, the speakers told the Press Club audience that the Wang Theater, the third largest theater in Collier County, is not going to be suitable much longer.
That’s when the idea of building a new opera house in Naples first came up. But what would its design look like, and how would the acoustics perform—two important features for any performing arts venue? These questions prompted Ferrari to look into it after being invited by renowned tenor Joseph Calleja to travel to London. There, he studied and analyzed every aspect of the iconic Grange Park Opera house with architect Tim Ronalds Architects.
“I realized, wow, this is perfect,” Ferrari said. The classic Italian Baroque horseshoe-shaped design, as copied by the Grange Park Opera House, is one of the main features Ferrari said will make every audience member’s experience go beyond what the Wang Theater could offer.
It will not only increase the capacity of any Opera Naples show to about 750—according to current plans—but it will also “ensure an unparalleled acoustical experience,” a promotional video presented to the Press Club luncheon said.
However, the main difference for this theater, which both Ferrari and Kalnins emphasized is paramount, was the addition of an outdoor venue, which adds an additional 600 seats, allowing their current project dedicated to the legacy of Luciano Pavarotti, Festival Under the Stars, to perform in a permanent setting.
“This is actually our sixth annual Festival Under the Stars this year, and it’s notable that it is actually the only outdoor winter opera festival in the country,” Kalnins said.
Festival Under the Stars currently operates out of Baker Park in Naples on the park’s performance stage.
But now that there is talk about a permanent outdoor venue where Festival Under the Stars could function, a new endeavor is on the horizon for Opera Naples—Theater in the Garden.
In Florida, a vision is blossoming—one that unites the passion for arts with the serenity of nature, the promotional video presented to the Press Club luncheon said. “Theater in the Garden is a space that welcomes, accommodates, and celebrates the ever-growing cultural life of Collier County. Its enchanting garden, carefully designed to harmonize with nature, will offer a peaceful escape for visitors, encouraging a deeper connection with art and nature.”
The proposed new theater, called the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Center for the Arts, will also function as the American headquarters for the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation International Voice Competition and museum.
Ferrari said they are still in the planning stages, and the current timeline for construction is expected to be around 18 months with a price of $40 million, which is likely to increase as plans continue evolving.
The site, Ferrari added, will be a 17-acre plot of land purchased by the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency, at the intersection of Bayshore Drive and Jeepers Drive, connecting the arts hall to Sugden Regional Park by boardwalk.
Moreover, Ferrari and Kalnins said this partnership between Opera Naples and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, headquartered in Modena, Italy, will not only help create more immersive shows but also expand the capacity for existing residents, new residents, and tourists in Southwest Florida who want to experience the growing demand for a population craving artistic and cultural experiences.
Currently, Ferrari and Kalnins said that Opera Naples needs more support from the artistic community of greater Southwest Florida to bring this plan to fruition.
“We can’t neglect …if you can help, help on this project, we need all the help we can [get],” Ferrari said.
For more information about the project, watch this promotional video, or visit the Theater in the Garden’s website, or the Opera Naples website.