| Gourmet concerts for opera connoisseurs |
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Micaele Sparacino General Director and Conductor
Who
was Mario Lanza?
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Our first full season, 2003-04  La Favorita June 2004
The Washington Post praised the "dramatic musicality" of Marje Palmieri, the "dark, melted caramel tone" of Valentin Vasiliu and the "fluid, clarion voice" of Antonio Giuliano in our production of La Favorita. [See full review.] It was the world premiere of a new critical edition of Donizetti's grand opera in the French style, performed in Italian The cast: Marje Palmieri as Leonora, Antonio Giuliano as Fernando, Valentin Vasiliu as Alfonso XI, King of Castille, Michael Malovic as Baldassarre, Linda Kiemel as Ines, John Garofolo as Don Gasparo The new edition compiled by Maestro Sparacino
in collaboration with William Ashbrook and sponsored by Fondazione
Donizetti of Bergamo, Italy, restores many original elements deleted
over the years. Petite
Messe Solennelle
Joseph McLellan wrote in The Washington Post: "'O Salutaris Hostia' ... was beautifully sung by soprano Marje Palmieri, and the 'Agnus Dei,' powerfully performed by the ensemble, with an eloquent solo by contralto Susan Sevier.... The ensemble ... gave power and clarity to the ancient texts in Rossini's heartfelt, ingenious and often technically demanding music, under the baton of conductor Micaele Sparacino. This fascinating and unusual musical experience will be repeated Sunday afternoon." Starring Marje Palmieri, Susan Sevier,Antonio Giuliano, Reginald Allen About the cast
| About the Mass La Traviata Verdi's romantic tragedy,
unabridged our production of La Traviata, brought out "the
full musical and dramatic value in Verdi's brilliant score,"
wrote Washington Post critic Joseph McLellan. Pictured: Marje
Palmieri, who sang with "intelligence and expressive power." |
