941-724-4826
DSO Works David and Sharon OhrensteinSinger composer concept is returning

Help support PATRA: An Opera Comique by offering a contribution.

Donate

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.

Buy a Copy Today!

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

    • Watch Video

  • Boogie Man of the Opera

    • Boogie Man of the Opera

    • Watch Video

  • King David's Dance

    • King David's Dance

    • Watch Video

  • Elemental Suite - Air

    • Elemental Suite - Air

    • Watch Video

  • Elemental Suite - Earth

    • Elemental Suite - Earth

    • Watch Video

  • Elemental Suite - Water

    • Elemental Suite - Water

    • Watch Video

  • Napoleaon & Marie Waltz by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Napoleaon & Marie Waltz by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Watch Video

  • Lost Concert

    • Lost Concert

    • Watch Video

  • Moonlight on the Lake by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Moonlight on the Lake by composer/pianist David Ohrenstein

    • Watch Video

  • Sharon Ohrenstein sings

    • Sharon Ohrenstein sings

    • Watch Video

  • Iguana Farm

    • Iguana Farm

    • Watch Video

  • We Are One by Lesley and Ohrenstein

    • We Are One by Lesley and Ohrenstein

    • Watch Video

  • Fork in the Road

    • Fork in the Road

    • Watch Video

  • Sarasota Keys

    • Sarasota Keys

    • Watch Video

  • Elemental Suite - Fire

    • Elemental Suite - Fire

    • Watch Video

  • Glory and Honor

    • Glory and Honor

    • Watch Video

  • Paris Piano Connection

    • Paris Piano Connection

    • Watch Video

  • Elemental Suite - Ether

    • Elemental Suite - Ether

    • Watch Video

  • Elizabeth of Russia - Dance of the Cossacks

    • Elizabeth of Russia - Dance of the Cossacks

    • Watch Video

  • Glory and Honor

    • Glory and Honor

    • Watch Video

  • Vi Geyts

    • Vi Geyts

    • Watch Video

  • Aura Lee Variations

    • Aura Lee Variations

    • Watch Video

  • El Nino

    • El Nino

    • Watch Video

  • Oquaga Spirit Speaks

    • Oquaga Spirit Speaks

    • Watch Video

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

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...

Read More

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...

Read More
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...

Read More
Piano Lessons

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...

Read More

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...

Read More
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...

Read More
music perpetuates

Music Perpetuates the Sumerian Dodecahedron

Music Perpetuates the Sumerian Dodecahedron. Twelve is employed by our key signatures. Not counting enharmonic keys, we basically have twelve; as per the featured picture.  Key signatures fit the pattern of the the 12-sided  Dodecahedron. Below I will explain how the Sumerians used this figure as they ascribed the...

Read More
Melody Determines Harmony

Melody Determines Harmony or Vice Versa?

Melody Determines Harmony or Vice Versa? Very seldom do I write a post of personal content. This is possibly the first, I hope. Perhaps #630 could be the first one after having written 629 previous posts on DSOworks.com.   Early life —  Jones published his autobiography in 2001: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. On...

Read More
concert continues

Concert Continues this Time on Metro Zoom

Concert Continues this Time on Metro Zoom.  Newton stated: In an inertial frame of reference, an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force. Hopefully, the right amount of force will be applied to not only keep our show motion;...

Read More
Tausig Outdid Liszt

Tausig Outdid Liszt in Flawless Playing

Tausig Outdid Liszt in Flawless Playing. Karl Tausig (November 1841 – 17 July 1871) was a Polish virtuoso pianist, arranger and composer. He is generally regarded as Franz Liszt‘s most esteemed pupil, and one of the greatest pianists of all time. History is subjective. It seems to smile and favor certain...

Read More
Pianist Arkansas Ohrenstein

Pianist Arkansas Ohrenstein Teams up with Shootin’ Sharon

Pianist Arkansas Ohrenstein Teams up with Singer Shootin’ Sharon. P.S. that’s our names for just one section of our 80 minute concert. Arkansas Ohrenstein is my nickname for the country western music Shootin’ Sharon  and I wrote.   Stories, fun, humor are all mixed with music to make a memorable...

Read More
engage

Engage November 8, 2020 with this Dynamic Quartet

Engage November 8, 2020 with our Dynamic Quartet in the featured picture. If you could have more fun anywhere else, please tell us where. Our Music for the Night is listed as an upcoming event immediately to the right. Literally, for $10.00 as many people as you can fit...

Read More

Thousand Mile Journey on a Comfortable Couch

Thousand Mile Journey on a comfortable couch. Below are some synonyms about beginning any effort: During our entertainment career we’ve literally travelled thousands of miles. We went to the mountains of New York eighteen times times to perform and/or audition or musical shows:  Fifteen times to the Catskills and...

Read More
Literary musical cocktail

Literary Musical Cocktail Describes a Romantic Mix

Literary Musical Cocktail Describes a Romantic Mix. What exactly is a cocktail? A cocktail is a mixed drink.  Typically it is made with a distilled liquor.  They can include  arrack, brandy, cachaça, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey) among others.  The preparer mixes  these with other ingredients or garnishments. We Have a Number of the Literary Musical Cocktail Variety More...

Read More
Chopin Greatly Admired Liszt

Chopin Greatly Admired Liszt Documentation in a Letter

Chopin Greatly Admired Liszt as per Documentation in a Letter. I feel a special connection to both  Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt. Thanks to a generous father, I was able to study piano under Mischa Kottler. In the 1920’s Kottler studied with Alfred Cortôt in Paris and Emil von...

Read More
Illness costs Chopin

Illness Costs Chopin and His Companion, George Sand.

Illness Costs Chopin and His Companion, George Sand.  Lives of the great composers of the past are often presented in the most impersonal way possible. You read about the composer, what he wrote and when he wrote it. You take for granted the fact that he may have lived...

Read More