Alessandro Lora with New York City Opera
at Bryant Park Picnic Performances
Former New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia (Mayor from 1934-1946) dubbed the New York City Opera "The People’s Opera" in 1943 at its founding, and on Saturday, August 19, 2023, the name still held true as New Yorkers as well as visitors, sought to enrich a beautiful summer evening with music.New York City Opera’s Director Michael Capasso opened the performance by stating that for over a decade they have been bringing free music to the people in Bryant Park, which has been an important part of the New York City Opera’s mission.
Bryant Partk – Breathtaking Venue
For the Saturday, August 19, 2023, performance, there was a special treat; Italian Tenor Alessandro Lora and Italian Soprano Chiara Cremaschi were making their United States debut on the Bryant Park stage, and the acclaimed Maestro Diego Basso, and Maestro Maurizio Barbacini were both conducting.
Maestro Diego Basso
The program included Italian opera favorites and popular music as well, with selections by Diego Basso, Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Morricone, Facchinetti, Mozart, Verdi, and Bizet. Maestro Barbacini opened the performance by dedicating the concert to the great Italian Diva Soprano Renata Scotto (February 24, 1934 – August 16, 2023), who had died a few days earlier, and commenced with the exciting Bizet orchestral composition, Prelude from the opera Carmen.
Alessandro Lora and Maestro Diego Basso
VIDEO – Alessandro Lora performing a solo – https://youtube.com/shorts/x8yL
Tenor Alessandro Lora’s voice was magnificent as he sang the aria Ch’ella mi creda from the third act of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West opera, which was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera House and premiered on December 10, 1910, starring Enrico Caruso, and conducted by Arturo Toscanini.
Maestro Maurizio Barbacini
Another wonderful Puccini composition followed, Recondita armonia, which is the first romanza from the opera Tosca. Interesting to note about the opera Tosca is that it premiered in 1900 and remains a favorite of opera lovers, including New York City Opera’s Director Michael Capasso.
Chiara Cremaschi and Alessandro Lora Duet
VIDEO – Alessandro Lora and Chiara Cremaschi duet – https://youtube.com/shorts/GB
Chiara Cremaschi’s stunning vocals fully did justice to the Puccini composition O mio babino caro from the opera Gianni Schicchi. Next there was the aria by Verdi: Di quella pira (from Il trovatore) sung by Alessandro Lora. The program followed with the New York City Opera Orchestra performing the Mascagni composition, Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana conducted by Maestro Basso.
Michael Capasso – Director, New York City Opera
The program continued with the very famous Neapolitan song written for Enrico Caruso entitled Core ‘ngrato with an arrangement by Diego Basso and featured Alessandro Lora. Next, there were three selections from Morricone, all conducted by Maestro Diego Basso: Gabriel’s Oboe featuring the New York City Opera Orchestra with an extended oboe solo performed by NYCOO’s Randy Wolfgang, C’era una volta il West featuring Chiara Cremaschi with an arrangement by Maestro Basso, and E piu ti penso featuring Chiara and Alessandro.
After a brief intermission, the orchestra returned to the stage as the daylight slowly turned to dusk and continued the program with the famous song, O sole mio sung by Alessandro Lora and arranged by Maestro Diego Basso. Next, Maestro Diego Basso conducted his own orchestral composition entitled Vigneti come Pentagrammi. Chiara fully did justice to the next aria, Der Hölle Rache (Queen of the Night) from Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), which New York City Opera Director Michael Capasso described as having "stratospheric high notes" and Chiara met each and every one.
Chiara Cremaschi and New York City Opera
VIDEO – Chiara Cremaschi performing a solo – https://youtu.be/t99CDra43sY
Interesting to note about composer Giacomo Puccini is that 2024 will be the 100th anniversary of his death, and La boheme (composed between 1893-1895) is one of the most performed operas in the world, and closes many scenes in the 1987 film, Moonstruck (starring Nicolas Cage and Cher). For the famous La boheme duet O soave fanciulla, Alessandro portrays the poet Rodolfo and Chiara portrays Mimi, his girlfriend, the seamstress.
The New York CIty Opera
Alessandro Lora & Maestro Maurizio Barbacini
The audience had the pleasure of another wonderful orchestral composition by Diego Basso, followed by Maestro Barbacini returning to the stage to conduct Puccini’s E lucevan le stelle from the third act of the opera Tosca featuring Alessandro Lora. Next there was a selection from Verdi, Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (the drinking song) from the opera La traviata sung by Chiara and Alessandro, followed by Alessandro singing another Puccini selection, Nessum dorma from the opera Turandot.
As dusk turned into night the lights in the surrounding skyscrapers came on creating a magical backdrop as Chiara and Alessandro gave the audience one more song to remember them by, the New York favorite known throughout the world, New York, New York. Apropos to the lyrics, "…If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere…" they did indeed make it in New York! Bravo!
The Bow!
In addition to the New York City Opera’s performance on August 19, the Opera returns to Bryant Park on Friday, September 8, 2023, for a fully staged and orchestrated Romeo and Juliet sung in French.
Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
Upcoming 2023 Schedule of Bryant Park Picnic Performances – Shows Start at 7:00 pm
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8/19
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New York City Opera
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Alessandro Loro in concert
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8/25
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Accordions Around the World
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Diana Burco, Suistamon Sähkö, Ragini Ensemble
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8/26
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Roulette Intermedium
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Immanuel Wilkins, 75 Dollar Bill, Ka Baird
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9/1
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The Classical Theatre of Harlem
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Young, Gifted and Black
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9/7
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American Symphony Orchestra
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Full orchestra with Leon Botstein
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9/8
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New York City Opera
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Romeo and Juliet
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9/14
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Harlem Stage
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On & On: José James Sings Badu
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For more information on Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances, please visit the website: https://bryantpark.org/activities/picnic-performances
Important Information: Bryant Park lawn opens at 5:00 pm. Performances start at 7:00 pm, however you can drop it at any time. Come early for a front row seat, bring your own blanket, or borrow a blanket or chair from Bryant Park. There are kiosks where you can purchase wine, beer, and other beverages, as well as food, or you can bring a picnic if desired. Please note that performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. Follow Bryant Park on Twitter and Instagram at @bryantparknyc for day-of-event updates.
Bryant Park
Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
40th and 40nd Streets
New York, New York 10018
Website: https://bryantpark.org/activities/picnic-performances
Social Media: Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook @bryantparknyc
New York Opera
142 West 57th Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Email: info@nyopera.com
Telephone: +1-646-981-1888
Website: www.nyopera.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/search/top?q=newyorkcityopera
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nycopera/
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© August 2023. Luxury Experience www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
