A Summer of Music, Sunflowers and Gorgeous Cities!!!
This Summer is filled with interesting musical evenings for me, beginning with a recital for the newly launched Amici della Lirica di Città Delle Pieve and its founder, Raffaella Franci, figlia d’arte, because yes she is the granddaughter of Italian great Benvenuto Franci and the daughter of Maestro Carlo Franci. A highly acclaimed photographer with many expositions of her evocative photographs, she has begun this most worthy group and has invited me to the glorious city of Città delle Pieve to give a recital. So my summer begins in recital among the sunflowers with great friends, Vincenzo Scalera who is to be my “orchestra” and he is without a doubt one of the great piano collaborators in the world today and I am really thrilled to make music with him…… I also am so proud to present two extraordinary young singers, the lush velvet voice of a true Italian beauty by way of Canada, Maria Vetere and the handsome honey-colored tenor of Joel Ricci. They are singing the way I like it, full bodied, involved text and beauty of sound. It promises to be very special….. More announcements coming later about several other lovely evenings, but I heartedly recommend not to miss this one….
The beautiful theater ……Teatro degli Avvaloranti
My favorite flower, with of course, red roses….. so much of my early time in Italy I would speak to these beautiful flowers and absorb their sunny friendship.
the one and only, Vincenzo Scalera, cannot wait to make music with him.
“The ideal Mimi” is what no less than the granddaughter of Maestro Giacomo Puccini, Dottoressa Simonetta Puccini said of this amazing young soprano, Maria Vetere. I have high hopes for her as a superb Desdemona, Mimí, Leonora, and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra among many roles…..the tone has great beauty and projection and a haunting quality… In a recent Opera Gala in Philadelphia, the critics wrote, ” a dead ringer for Elizabeth Taylor, with a voice of stunning quality…. she stole the show!”
Mr. Joel Ricci is the throwback to tenors when they sang with grace and style, a beautiful, honey color…. recently won the Benvenuto Franci Opera Pienza competition with Adua Veroni as president who adored greatly his beautiful tone. One of my favorite young voices…..
And then on the sixth of July…..I celebrate my beloved sister Grace’s birthday, who is coming with me to share in the beauty of this place, our friends and the great music.
Brava Gracie…..
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