Opera Italiana is in the Air
The free concert, running from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, promises a memorable evening of Italian opera. Amidst a renewed interest in Italian opera within mainstream culture—highlighted by Beyoncé featuring a famous Italian aria in her song “Daughter” and the viral spread of the “Opera Challenge” on TikTok with over 300 million posts—this genre is adapting and connecting with younger generations.
The event is designed to make opera more accessible and enjoyable, breaking down traditional barriers like cost and dress codes. The line-up for the evening includes notable performers such as tenor Antonio Poli, soprano Ewa Plonka, and baritone Anthony D. Anderson.
The performance will feature beloved arias, particularly celebrating the work of Puccini on the centennial of his passing. “It should be the mission of every artist to want to share this music,” says Maestro and Founder Alvise Casellati . “For over 400 years, opera was considered ‘pop’ music and only very recently wrongly perceived as music for the elite. In its purest form, it is sheer entertainment for everyone.”
In addition to entertaining, the event underscores the therapeutic qualities of music, which has been shown to aid in healing by alleviating stress, reducing anxiety, and managing pain. Casellati emphasizes this aspect, aiming to bring these benefits to hospital settings. Accordingly, a special performance is planned at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
“I cannot think of a higher cause for music than its healing and therapeutic powers,” Casellati says. “I am thrilled with our collaboration with music therapy departments at hospitals in New York City and now with Children’s National Hospital, one of the county’s top hospitals for pediatric care.”
This event offers a perfect opportunity for both opera aficionados and newcomers to enjoy world-class music in a picturesque setting, encouraging attendees to bring a lawn chair or simply sit on the steps and soak in the atmosphere and the music.
