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Opera Providence at Renaissance
by
Ronald E. Murray
Opera Providence has chosen Friday, March 28, 2008 as the date of its next gala fundraising event, to be held at the Providence Renaissance Hotel. In conjunction with the 2008 Providence Italian Arts & Music Festival and its producers Classic Artist Entertainment, the highlight of the evening will be a concert performance by the great Philadelphia-based tenor Frank Tenaglia. Mr. Tenaglia will sing highlights and arias from the great Italian opera repertoire, along with selections made famous by Mario Lanza. This appearance will serve as a preview of the Providence Italian Arts & Music Festival, which will take place this summer throughout downtown Providence from August 7th through 11th , during which Mr. Tenaglia will be featured with full orchestra in CAE's production of "A Tribute To Mario Lanza."
Mr. Tenaglia has received the Sergio Franchi Scholarship three times, the Drexel Music Award and the Mario Lanza Institute Award (also three times). He has appeared with the Greater Miami Opera Company in productions of Madama Butterfly, Il Trovatore and The Barber Of Seville, among others, and has toured in concert with the Florida Philharmonic under the direction of the great pianist/conductor Peter Nero, who remarked of Tenaglia, "Frank has a pure and natural tenor voice, along with a rare warmth and solid musicianship. He combines these attributes to become that unique performer whose artistry results in instant communication to his audience as evidenced by consistent standing ovations."
Mr. Tenaglia is scheduled for two performances of the "Tribute To Mario Lanza" during the Providence Festival, as well as two performances of his own show.
Opera Providence will also be involved in the festival, as part of the Opera Pavilion, which will be housed in a large tent and will include displays from the Lanza Legends collection of Los Angeles, overseen by Damon Lanza, Marios only surviving son, and the Enrico Caruso Museum of Brooklyn, curated by Cav. Aldo Mancusi. Lecture-demonstrations will be featured in the Opera Pavilion throughout the Festival, along with rare film clips from the Lanza and Caruso archives, and other related films and opera-related displays.
Tickets for the Renaissance Hotel Fundraiser on March 28 are available through Opera Providence or the Federal Hill Gazette. Opera Providence is also gearing up for its next production, Strauss's Die Fledermaus, on May 16th and 18th. Tickets for Die Fledermaus are available through Opera Providence.
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