Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden Cleveland, OH July 29, 2012
In 1930, the Italian Cultural Garden opened as a "symbol of Italian culture." Sixty-eight years ago, the Italian Garden hosted the San Carlo Opera in the lower level amphitheater. In 2008, the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation revived this tradition by presenting Opera in the Garden.
Almost 1300 people attended the July 29, 2012 performance by the artists from the Opera Per Tutti Opera Company.
Congratulations to Joyce Mariani, Executive Director of the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation, and her team for this tremendous event.
While the photos and videos below capture some of the event you really need to experience it live. Check out Opera per Tutti's performance schedule and make plans to attend the Opera in the Garden in 2013
The evening began with Tony Marotta of Radio Italia welcoming the crowd.
Tony Marotta of Radio Italia
Tony introduced Ward 8 Cleveland City Councilman Jeff Johnson.
Ward 8 City Councilman Jeffrey Johnson
The performers consisted of Sopranos Andrea Anelli and Rebecca Freshwater, Tenors Dan Doty and Leodigario Del Rosario, Baritone Benjamin Czarnota and pianist Javier Gonzalez.
The Narrator for the performance was Maryann Nagel, host of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Musical Rainbows.
Maryann Nagel
The first performance was Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix from Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saens sung by soprano Andrea Anelli.
Andrea Anelli
The next performance was the Flower Duet from Leo Delibes' Lakme sung by sopranos Andrea Anelli and Rebecca Freshwater.
Andrea Anelli and Rebecca Freshwater
Baritone Benjamin Czarnota sang Cruda funestra smania aria from Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti.
Benjamin Czarnota
Next, soprano Rebecca Freshwater performed the Caro Nome aria from Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto.
Tenor Leodigario Del Rosario sang the Flower Aria from Georges Bizet's Carmen.
