Opera lovers had a double treat in February when the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago held two events showcasing Italian opera.
The first event (February 11) was "Inside The Elixir of Love" - a conference on Gaetano Donizetti's ever popular opera, which has engaged audiences since it opened to great acclaim in 1882. Before a packed roomful of people, Maestro Bruno Campanella and singer Alessandro Corbelli discussed the experience of producing The Elixir of Love, Bel Canto, and the state of opera today. They shared personal stories and offered insight into all aspects of the Italian musical tradition.
After the conference, both Maestro Campanella and Alessandro Corbelli graciously joined us for a reception where they answered questions and mingled with dedicated opera fans.
Our second event (February 17) was "Lyric Opera and Sir Andrew Davis." This discussion centered around Lyric Opera of Chicago and its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Sir Andrew Davis.
The Director of Music Staff at Lyric, Maestro Philip Morehead, and Italian conductor Emanuele Andrizzi, provided a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of one of Chicago's most beloved institutions. This special evening was filmed by CAN TV for their archives. We're happy that it will be aired on March 7, 2010. We hope you'll be able to check it out!