On November 7, 2021, Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director and Opera House of Sarasota, received the One World Award from the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota at a gala.

Maestro DeRenzi was recognized for “enhancing peace, understanding and respect among the citizens of the world through his extraordinary accomplishments”. He is the only conductor to have performed all of Giuseppe Verdi’s works, his 28-season Verdi cycle being the catalyst for a great artistic and cultural partnership in the Sarasota region. It even led to a ratified Friendship City Agreement between Sarasota and Verdi de Busetto’s hometown, signed by Busetto Mayor Giancarlo Contini on 119^e anniversary of the composer’s death. The Italian government also knighted DeRenzi in 2016 for his dedication to Italian culture, granting him the title of Cavaliere dell’ordine della Stella d’Italia, or Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.

The gala was chaired by former Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert, as well as Isabelle Eidet, Katherine Benoit, Kenney DeCamp and Jana Stanley, among others. Sarasota opera artists Hanna Brammer, Samuel Schlievert and Alexander Boyd, accompanied by Curtis Serafin, performed works by Verdi.

Managing Director Richard Russell accepted the One World Organizational Award on behalf of the company in recognition of the historic completion of their Verdi cycle. Russell and DeRenzi also received a proclamation from Sarasota City Commissioner Alpert for their accomplishments.