Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden July 31, 2016
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 31, 2016 performance by the artists from the Opera Circle Cleveland Company who were joined by dancers from the Cleveland Ballet under the artistic direction of Gladisa Guadalupe.
Congratulations to Joyce Mariani, Executive Director of the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation, and her team for this tremendous event.
Joyce Mariani
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 2017.
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 served as MC and welcomed the crowd, told of the history of opera in the Italian Cultural Garden and thanked some of the people and sponsors who made it possible.
Tony Marotta
The first performance was Brindisi from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.
Next, Opera Circle Cleveland's Soprano Dorota Sobieska and Wanda Sobieska on violin performed Czardas from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss Jr.
Dorota Sobieska
Dorota Sobieska and Wanda Sobieska on violin
Mezzo Soprano Laura Avdey from Opera Circle Cleveland sang Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix from Samson & Delilah by Camille Saint-Saens.
Mezzo Soprano Laura Avdey
Mezzo Soprano Laura Avdey and Soprano Dorota Sobieska from Opera Circle Cleveland sang Flower Duet from Lakme by Leo Delibes.
While the ladies from Opera Circle Cleveland sang Flower Duet from Lakme, ladies from the Cleveland Ballet danced. This was one of four dances at the Opera.
Next, Tenor Mikhail Urusov sang O surdato nnammurato by Enrico Cannio.
Mikhail Urusov
Tenor Mikhail Urusov then sang Pecche by Carlo de Flaviis.
Mikhail Urusov
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