The Great Opera Arias
The Great Opera Arias, a concert by I Solisti dell'Opera Lirica di Roma, is an hour-long celebration of Italian musical genius. Beloved opera arias and ensembles, standout instrumental pieces, and a Neapolitan song for good measure demonstrate the wide range of musicality and creativity that we have come to associate with the native land of Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and company. The musical journey, performed by a string quartet, a tenor and a soprano, unfolds at the Sala Riaria (Aula Magna), within the Palazzo della Cancelleria, one of the most prestigious Renaissance palaces in Rome. Located in the heart of the Eternal City, just a few steps from Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Navona, this palace reveals its notable history, architecture and artistic beauty.
The programme of the concert The Great Opera Arias features, as the title suggests, a number of beloved opera arias and ensembles by leading Italian composers, interspersed with thoughtfully handpicked instrumental pieces. Giacomo Puccini is well-represented with ‘E lucevan le stelle’ from Tosca, ‘O mio babbino caro’ from Gianni Schicchi, and ‘Nessun dorma’ from Turandot. Giuseppe Verdi appears with ‘Bella figlia dell’Amore’ from Rigoletto. Other operatic highlights this evening include the ‘Intermezzo’ from Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and ‘Galop’ from Wilhelm Tell by Gioachino Rossini, which do not have vocals, but even in the hands of the talented string quartet they convey the unique feel of the genre.
Excellent instrumental numbers make sure that the programme feels fresh and varied throughout the performance, allowing the singers to rest between the technically challenging and emotional arias and ensembles. Most of Antonio Vivaldi’s popular string concerto cycle The Four Seasons is part of the set list, with ‘Spring’, ‘Winter’ and ‘Summer’ making prominent appearances. Other instrumental works include ‘Minuetto’ by Luigi Boccherini. The Italian romance ‘Musica proibita’ by Stanislao Gastaldon and the classic Neapolitan song ‘Torna a Surriento’ by the great Ernesto De Curtis add another mood to the evening’s colourful palette. Taken together, the individual numbers that make up The Great Opera Arias at Rome’s Palazzo della Cancelleria form a cohesive, transporting performance that is well worth the attention of classical music connoisseurs.