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PATRA - Opera Comique in Two Acts

The last days of Cleopatra are filled with daring, intrigue, and love possibilities. When the villainous Octavian lands in Egypt to assert his victory over Antony and Cleopatra, Patra will do most anything to save her children and herself. She disguises herself as a hag; foretells Octavian’s future; takes a drug to commune with the dead; seduces Centurion Marcellus whom her drugged mind thinks is Antony; meets with Octavian; and initiates an encounter with a cobra. When Octavian tries to take advantage of her, she sings of love. Octavian exits without a word. He has fallen in love but tragically does nothing. The love-struck Marcellus offers her a way to escape. Yes, she dies but not how you think.  Her death changes Octavian from lead to gold as he vows to become the man she would have loved the most.

Original Opera Octavian and Cleopatra

Octavian & Cleopatra is a romantic opera about of love and rebirth loosely based on the last few days of Cleopatra’s life.  Roman General Octavian has conquered Egypt. He hates Cleopatra and has sworn to bring her back to Rome as his slave.  Cleopatra is desperate to live and secure a future for herself and her children.  What happens between them in these few days changes the course of his life.

Elizabeth Of Russia – A New Operetta

Elizabeth of Russia is a grand musical about the rebellious daughter of Czar Peter the Great. Leeza, as she is known by her close friends, has been happily leading a quiet life with her peasant lover Alexei. But she gets caught up in a web of intrigue that forces her to make a decision she has been avoiding. Will she take back the throne that is rightfully hers or will she be put in prison or a nunnery? Based on an amazing historical event, Elizabeth leads a stunning nonviolent overthrow of the ruling regime to save herself, her peasant lover, and her people.

A Date With Debussy

Have a date with Debussy featuring favorite samples of Debussy's work performed by David Ohrenstein. This collection is regularly heard at the Gasparilla Inn; and, at private parties by request.  Contact David to book a Date with Debussy and other fine dining music today. 

SaraSolo Festival to feature Sharon Ohrenstein as Golda Meir in our new musical, Golden Roads

Sharon Ohrenstein

Singer, Lyricist, Arranger

Sharon Ohrenstein is not only an amazing play writer, but also arranger and director.

rebuilt Steinway at the Gasparilla Inn

David Ohrenstein

Pianist, Composer, Instructor

David Ohrenstein has a masters degree in music and is one of the busiest pianists in the area.

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Featuring all original ballroom dance numbers.

  1. You Gotta Love
  2. Dancing Near You
  3. The Snows of Winter
  4. The Mango Tango
  5. The Neon Twirl
  6. The Highlander Jig
  7. Joining Hands for Life
  8. Laughing Eyes
  9. Waltzing with Kathryn
  10. Dark and Dangerous
  11. Sippin' Monkey La Las
  12. Breezin' Along
  13. Bubbling Baroque
  14. Bolero Brillante
  15. The Masks of Drama

Videos and Media

  • David Ohrenstein at the Piano

    • David Ohrenstein at the Piano

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  • Boogie Man of the Opera

    • Boogie Man of the Opera

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  • King David's Dance

    • King David's Dance

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  • Elemental Suite - Air

    • Elemental Suite - Air

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  • Elemental Suite - Earth

    • Elemental Suite - Earth

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  • Elemental Suite - Water

    • Elemental Suite - Water

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  • Napoleaon & Marie Waltz by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Napoleaon & Marie Waltz by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

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  • Lost Concert

    • Lost Concert

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  • Moonlight on the Lake by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Moonlight on the Lake by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

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  • Sharon Ohrenstein sings

    • Sharon Ohrenstein sings

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  • Iguana Farm

    • Iguana Farm

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  • We Are One by Lesley and Ohrenstein

    • We Are One by Lesley and Ohrenstein

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  • Fork in the Road

    • Fork in the Road

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  • Sarasota Keys

    • Sarasota Keys

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  • Elemental Suite - Fire

    • Elemental Suite - Fire

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  • Glory and Honor

    • Glory and Honor

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  • Paris Piano Connection

    • Paris Piano Connection

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  • Elemental Suite - Ether

    • Elemental Suite - Ether

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  • Elizabeth of Russia - Dance of the Cossacks

    • Elizabeth of Russia - Dance of the Cossacks

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  • Glory and Honor

    • Glory and Honor

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  • Vi Geyts

    • Vi Geyts

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  • Aura Lee Variations

    • Aura Lee Variations

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  • El Nino

    • El Nino

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  • Oquaga Spirit Speaks

    • Oquaga Spirit Speaks

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Upcoming Events

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Oquaga Spirit Speaks About Her Indian Tribe Where the Women Ruled

 The Oquaga Spirit Speaks About Her North American Indian Tribe Where Women Ruled. They were  part of the Algonquin Indian nation. Could this spirit speak!  My poem on the Oquaga Spirit  states the situation: What a communicator was she This sprite both blithe and free. So much she needed...

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A Date With Debussy: As I Record His Music at Glenridge Performing Arts Center

    A Date With Debussy: As I Record His  Music at Glenridge Performing Arts Center- My family put together an incredible birthday present for me. Abe, my oldest son, wanted me to play and record one hour of the piano music of Claude Debussy. That got the ball...

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Brookdale colonial park performance

Maximum Stretch for the Piano

Maximum stretch for the piano is essential. There seems to be very few ideally sized hands. Short fingers make wide stretches on the piano difficult. Playing closely with stubby fingers is difficult. Wide palms slow down tucking the thumb under for scales or arpeggios.  My instructions through piano lessons...

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Mischa Kottler- A Visit By the Legendary Piano Instructor

A VISIT FROM THE LEGENDARY MISCHA  KOTTLER Mischa Kottler – A visit by the legendary piano instructor. Here’s how it all started: The phone rings.  I pick it up and hear, “David, this is your piano teacher, Mischa.” I was incredulous .  Having left Detroit, Michigan 10 years earlier, I remembered...

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Unique Finger Exercises for Pianists

Numerous pianist-composers have written their own finger exercises. At times these exercises were performed away from the piano and were termed “finger gymnastics.” E. Piccirilli mentions in his book, Gymnastics and Massage of the Hand, published in 1914 in Rome how the conductor of La Scala, Tonassi,  had seen...

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Fibonacci hidden content is not so hidden on the piano keyboard

Piano Lessons in Sarasota Florida

PIANO LESSONS IN SARASOTA FL Taking piano lessons is an activity for all ages.  Don’t let that phrase, “I always wanted to play the piano,” go unheeded.  I have taught students from the age of four to well into their seventies.  My oldest student was 83 and she decided...

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Five clucking hens

Five Clucking Hens Became my Friends

  Five Clucking hens made my acquaintance by Schroon Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. We stayed in a Bed in Breakfast while staging our new musical/opera, Patra. Yes, it’s nice to make friends with people in a new place. Sometimes, it’s also nice to make friends with the animals....

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virgin flower birth

Virgin Flower Birth by a Black-Eyed Susan

Virgin Flower Birth by a Black-Eyed  Susan.   Emerson, Thoreau…all communed with nature. They were part and parcel of trancendentalism: This was a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the eastern United States. A core belief is in the inherent goodness of people and nature.   Belief...

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poetic escape

Poetic Escape to Forget Your Concerns

Poetic Escape to Forget Your Concerns. Poetry must make a comeback! There is no better way to forget about your problems, than to recite meaningful poetry. William Wadsworth Longfellow summarized the importantce of poetry in this regard. This post serves as an introduction to the following post on DSOworks.com....

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opera completely changes

Opera Completely Changes in the Nineteenth Century

Opera Completely Changes in the Nineteenth Century. History twists and turns trends in music as it does everything else. Basically opera writers wrote everything in the 18th century. Their writing skills  ranged from operatic to  symphonic music to cantatas, trios duets, quartets and all types of sonatas. That was...

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Love note

Love Note Written by Darlene Changed Rubinoff’s Life

Love Note Written by Darlene changed Rubinoff’s Life. I, David Ohrenstein, worked with Rubinoff and His Violin over a 15 year period. We started in the summer of 1970.  I was working on my Master of Music degree at Wane State University. As I walked by theLieral Arts Music...

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musical taste

Musical Taste Referenced by 3 Composers

Musical Taste Referenced by 3 Composers. Obviously, the feature picture is a gag photo and from the 1930’s. Bing Crosby was not a violinist. Here, Rubinoff let him play his Stradivarius violin. Back then, like now, people needed laughter and fun; anything to raise the spirits. My connection with...

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Five bar opening

Five Bar Opening for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony

Five Bar Opening for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Phrases have always come in four bar segments. Beethoven opens his 5th symphony with five bars. Look at the opening motif . We have two bars and a fermata (hold). Then we have three bars and a hold. The hold sign is...

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Caruso versus McCormack

Caruso versus McCormack which was a better singer?

Caruso versus McCormack which was a better singer Caruso and McCormack – What Did they Think of each Other On December 26, 1900, Enrico Caruso celebrated the Christmas season with his debut at La Scala by performing the part of Rodolfo in Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème with Arturo Toscanini conducting. As his career...

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Delayed Performance Due to a Virus

Delayed Performance Due to a Virus named corona. The virus has a solar allusion: A corona (meaning “crown” in Latin derived from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korōnè, “garland, wreath”)) is an aura of plasma.  Many stars share this concept surrounding our Sun. The Sun’s corona extends millions of  miles into outer space. Solar eclipse,  highlights it; but it is...

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Theatrical phoenix

Theatrical Phoenix is Beginning to Fly- a Brief History

A Theatrical Phoenix is Beginning to Fly- a Brief History.  It took wing in New York as a staged reading.  This was at the oldest summer vocal training camp in America: The Seagle Music Colony.  Our singers had won auditions with the New York Metropolitan Opera.  Other prominent opera...

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