In 1930, the Italian Cultural Garden opened as a "symbol of Italian culture." Almost 70 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. A record crowd of over 2,000 attended the July 26, 2015 performance by the artists from the Opera Circle Cleveland Company.
Congratulations to Joyce Mariani, Executive Director of the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation, and her team for this tremendous event.  Joyce Mariani
Mike Spena of Spena Landcape and
Tom Berardenelli of the Italian Cultural Garden
 Pizza Oven
While the photos and videos below capture some of the event you really need to experience it live. Check out Opera Circle's performance schedule and make plans to attend the Opera in the Garden in 2016.Be sure to watch the videos full screen (click the icon that looks like 4 corners on the lower right corner of the video after you click the play arrow to make it full screen).
The evening began with Tony Marotta of Radio Italia who welcomed the crowd to the performance and thanked sponsors and friends.
 Tony Marotta of Radio Italia
Wanda Sobieska served as narrator for the evening.
Wanda Sobieska
The first performance was Brindisi from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.
Next, Bass Baritone Christopher Aldrich of Opera Circle Cleveland sang the aria Come dal ciel precipita from Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi.
Bass Baritone Christopher Aldrich
Then, Mezzo Soprano Laura Avdey of Opera Circle Cleveland sang the aria Stride la vampa from Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi.
Mezzo Soprano Laura Avdey
Tenor Mikhail Urusov who has performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia, sang the aria La mia letiza infondere from I Lombardi by Giuseppe Verdi at the 2015 Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden.
Tenor Mikhail Urusov
Next, Bass Baritone Christopher Aldrich sang the aria Infelice! E tuo credevi from Ernani by Giuseppe Verdi
Then, Opera Circle Cleveland performed the Quartet 'Bella figlia dell'amore' from Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi.
Quartet
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