OPERA FOR ALL -- Octavio Choy and Peter Shimkin

Catalani: La Wally. A verismo opera with all the requisites of jealousy, attempted murder, forgiveness and a tragic death scene for the 2 lovers. Noted most for a famous soprano aria, featured prominently in the French cult movie "Diva" and ever since known as the Diva Aria.  

In "I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI", Bellini explores the story of Romeo and Juliette in a slightly different version than the well known from Shakespeare"

When Verdi was asked to produce a new work for the PARIS OPERA, he did not want to fail, so he reworked

his previous opera I LOMBARDI, changing and adding a few things, with great success this story of the First Crusade, with an added love triangle between two men

and a woman"

When Verdi was asked to produce a new work for the PARIS OPERA, he did not want to fail, so he reworked

his previous opera I LOMBARDI, changing and adding a few things, with great success this story of the First Crusade, with an added love triangle between two men

and a woman"

OFA 51 I Lombardi. (Italians in the first Crusade.) A complicated plot with many conspiracies, leading to final redemption. Good arias (it is by Verdi after all) ,rousing choruses and marches with a stage band. The chorus "O Signore, dal tetto natio" is deservedly popular.

"In Donizetti's opera, Lucrezia follows a young man, while her husband spies on her and eventually kills him, without realizing the young man was Lucrezia's son"

Verdi's Otello Shakespeare's tragedy set to music equal to words. One of opera's great love duets and Desdemona's Ave Maria are among the highlights.

Vincenzo Bellini's Norma is considered to be the most taxing roles in the soprano repertoire, lending satisfaction and prestige to those who achieved its rendition.

In the 1950's, the role of Norma was the calling card of the great soprano MARIA CALLAS, followed by the interpretation of others like Joan Sutherland, Monserrat Caballe, Beverly Sills and others more recently.

Franz Lehar: The Merry Widow. An operetta about a rich widow who wants to rekindle an old love affair with a handsome guards officer. After the usually bumps in the road, love conquers all against a background of some very familiar waltzes and the guardsman/s famous salute to all dancing girls at Maxim's cafe.

"In Verdi's Ernani, the beautiful Elvira is being forced to marry her uncle,

but she loves Ernani. The plot thickens when Carlo, the King of Spain

is also in love with her."