Pianist Edina Bak (left), soprano Erika Beretti (centre), and mezzo-soprano Irida Dragoti perform to a capacity crowd. Pics: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
Doha: Talented artistes from the prestigious Teatro dell’Opera di Roma breathed new life into favourite classic arias by celebrated Italian opera composers as they delivered a bravura performance to a capacity crowd at the opulent Katara Opera House on Tuesday.
Soprano Erika Beretti, mezzo-soprano Irida Dragoti and pianist Edina Bak enthralled the audience as they performed a selection of nine opera arias from famous operas by Giuseppe Verdi, Vincenzo Bellini, Pietro Mascagni and Giacomo Puccini.
Carlotta Colli, Charge d’ Affaires at the Italian Embassy in Qatar, speaking at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma concert presented by the Italian Embassy at Katara Opera House on Tuesday.
Dragoti opened the show with a moving performance of “Stride la vampa” from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” and soared in her rendition of “Voi lo sapete o mamma” From “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Mascagni and “O don fatale” from “Don Carlo” by Verdi. Beretti was mesmerising in her impeccable interpretation of “Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s “Tosca,” “Ritorna vincitor!” from Verdi’s “Aida” and “Morrò, ma prima in grazia” from another Verdi masterpiece “Un ballo in maschera.”
The duets of the incredible opera singers were also met with ovations from an impressed audience including “Duetto dei fiori” from “Madama Butterfly” by Puccini, “Fu la sorte dell’armi” from “Aida” by Verdi and “Mira o Norma” from “Norma” by Bellini. Speaking before the concert, Carlotta Colli, Charge d’ Affaires at the Italian Embassy in Qatar said the three guest artistes were from Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s ‘Fabbrica” Young Artist Program established in 2016 with the aim of “training young talents, developing their career, and giving them the possibility to perform with great artistes and abroad.”
“The Italian Embassy here in Doha is very honoured to support this significant program and welcome these guest artists here tonight,” said Colli while thanking the artistes for “promoting Italian culture and the Italian opera abroad.”
Carlotta Colli and Maryam Al Saad, Head of International Relations at Katara, with other officials at the concert.
She said the concert was specifically chosen and created to celebrate the Week of Italian Language in the World specially in Qatar, adding that every year, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes the special week dedicated to learning Italian language and promoting Italian language and culture abroad. “This concert is one of the many events for the Italian Language Week because this year the theme is specially dedicated to “Italian Language on Stage”-a theme which allows us to explore the engaging world of Italian opera, drama and music,” she said.
Colli also thanked Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the Katara Cultural Village for hosting the concert, while she hailed the good cooperation between Katara and the Italian Embassy holding many of their events in the Cultural Village. A series of events and activities had been lined up throughout the week for adults, children and families interested in learning the basics of the Italian Language and discovering the Italian culture by the Italian Embassy in cooperation with Qatar National Library and Società Dante Alighieri in Doha.
