Installation view of Love Stories from the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Courtesy Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum. Photo: RoseBudz Productions
Bridging the gap between spring and summer, the month of May is a time of great excitement at Artis—Naples each season. And though it may be the final full month of Naples Philharmonic performances in Hayes Hall before the organization shifts its focus to youth and community events, it is also filled with anticipation as the organization lays plans for a thrilling new season bursting with visual and performing arts offerings.
L to R: Andris Poga photo ©Jānis Deinats , Simon Trpčeski photo © L. Saveski/KulturOp, Cinderalla
There is still much to see and experience at The Baker Museum this month, perhaps most notably the final opportunity for museumgoers to view the groundbreaking exhibition Love Stories from the National Portrait Gallery, London, which tells countless tales of love and romance over the course of centuries through the lens of portraiture, closing on May 7. And though it is always bittersweet to conclude such a monumental exhibition, its closure is made a little easier by the vibrant exhibitions still hanging in the galleries, including Florida Contemporary 2022-23, the recently opened Three Degrees of Separation: Artistic Connections in the Permanent Collection and the wildly popular Naples Collects: 2022-23, which brings some of the greatest works from private collectors of Southwest Florida into the public view. The museum ends the month with Art After Hours on May 31, offering live music, concessions at Heidi’s Place, and free admission to The Baker Museum.
Naples Collects 2022-23
The Naples Philharmonic has delivered yet another marvelous season of breathtaking classical performances and pulse-pounding Pops concerts, and this month the orchestra concludes the Masterworks series with a love story of its own. May 5-6, the Naples Philharmonic presents a program featuring two musical interpretations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, plus Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with piano virtuoso Simon Trpčeski and guest conductor Andris Poga. May also brings a different kind of excitement for the orchestra with EarShot Reading, a new music reading and composer development program featuring an open rehearsal and performance of works by three of today’s most promising emerging women composers, in partnership with the American Composers Orchestra on May 16. Other orchestral highlights this month include Summer Spectacular on May 21, presenting the Naples Philharmonic and Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra performing side-by-side, and the orchestra’s annual star-spangled salute to our troops with Patriotic Pops taking place May 25-26.
And still, there are more performing arts highlights at Artis—Naples this month as one of the organization’s favorite community partners returns to Hayes Hall. On May 12, Naples Ballet once again takes the big stage with a special production of Cinderella— complete with Cinderella’s doting Fairy Godmother, a dazzling ball, and, of course, a dance with her Prince Charming. The magical presentation is made even more special as the Naples Philharmonic plays Sergei Prokofiev’s melodic score. Finally, rounding out the season in Daniels Pavilion, the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra performs one last sizzling set in their All That Jazz series with a pair of concerts featuring the music of great American composer Henry Mancini on May 17.
Tickets and additional details can be found at artisnaples.org.