OPERA IN VIETNAM: Soprano Scilla Cristiano of Italy will sing arias from Italian operas at the “Italian Night” concert at the HCM City Opera House on September 23. – Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY – Eighteen soloists and artists from Italy will perform compositions and arias by great Italian composers at the HCM City Opera House on September 23.

The “Italian Night” concert is co-organised by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) and General Consulate of Italy in HCM City.

The night will open with Sinfonia (an orchestral introduction) from the two-act opera Semiramide by Gioachino Rossini, which was first performed in Venice in 1823.

HBSO’s symphony orchestra will play the composition.

The programme will also present arias from two other Rossini operas, Mose and Guillaume Tell (William Tell).

The highlights of the night will be arias from operas by Giuseppe Verdi, including I vespri siciliani (The Sicilian Vespers) and Rigoletto and Il trovatore (The Troubadour).

The performances will feature Italian soprano Scilla Cristiano and tenor Manuel Amati, along with HBSO vocalists such as Phạm Khánh Ngọc, Phạm Trang, Phạm Duyên Huyên and Nguyễn Thu Hương.

In addition, the concert will introduce Tarantella for Double Bass and orchestra composed by Giovanni Bottesini with the performance of double bass artist Diego de Santiago Botta.

Violinist Lucrezia Costanzo will play Cantabile in D major for Violin and Orchestra by Niccolo Paganini, while cellist Enrico Mignani will present another Paganini work Variations “Dal Tuo stellato soglio" for Cello and Strings.

ITALIAN CULTURE - Italian conductor Paolo Olmi will lead the “Italian Night” concert at the HCM City Opera House on September 23. – Photo courtesy of HBSO

Italian conductor Paolo Olmi will wield the baton at the concert.

HBSO conductor Trần Nhật Minh will be the concertmaster, while vocal coach Vernocchi Vilma will offer vocal training for soloists at the concert.

The concert will begin at 8pm at 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1. Tickets are available at the box office. VNS