In the historic Carnegie Hall, amid the shimmering lights of Broadway, the Fondazione Arena di Verona held a special concert to celebrate their 100th anniversary and to promote the 2023 season. The concert was held in Zankel Hall, Carnegie’s newest concert venue and was opened with a speech by Cecilia Gasdia, Artistic Director of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, and Fabio Finotti, director of the Italian Culture Institute of New York.
The concert immersed the audience in the world of music by selecting, and subsequently performing, 10 arias, as excerpts from the operas that the Arena will be presenting in its 2023 season. The evening paid tribute to some of the greatest opera composers that Italy has ever produced: Verdi, Leoncavallo, Bellini, Ponchielli and Giordano.
The beauty of being in Carnegie Hall–the world’s landmark for opera music–was enhanced by with the history, heritage and excellence that is synonymous with the Fondazione Arena di Verona, and these were only topped by the glass-shattering voices of the performers.
Monica Conesa, soprano, opened the festivities with the first aria, Verdi’s “O cieli azzurri”, from Aida. She was followed by Brian Jagde, tenor, who performed Leoncavallo’s “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci. Olesya Petrova, mezzo soprano, Luca Salsi, baritone, and Christian Van Horn also performed and garnered enthusiastic applause from what was obviously a discerning audience.
The closing act was performed by soprano Gilda Fiume who impressed the audience with her compelling interpretation of an aria from La Traviata, and who fluttered around the stage in her black and gold, scintillating dress. On the piano was Federico Brunello, who has collaborated with major Italian theaters, including La Fenice, as musical stage conductor.
To the surprise of the audience, which numbered about 500 people, the concert ended with a an astounding group performance of all the singers, with Cecilia Gasdia, who took over the piano. In this informal performance, accompanied by jokes, giggles and joyful smiles, the group sang “O Sole Mio”, inviting also the public to sing along who joined in with exuberance.
The crowd showed their appreciation and thanked the performers with a standing ovation.
More information on the 2023 Arena di Verona Tour may be found here.
