Famous Italian opera excerpts to be performed in Hanoi

The Opera Gala, featuring over 100 artists, is scheduled for June 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. at the Hanoi Opera House in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Soprano singer To Loan will join the Opera Gala - Paradiso dell’opera. Photo: VNOB

According to the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB), artists will introduce the beauty and grandeur of Italian opera, the cradle of this European musical genre, to Vietnamese audiences.

Opera was born in the late 16th century in Florence, Italy. It combines music and theater with the presence of singers, choirs, orchestras, and other art forms such as ballet and drama. It reveals the social reality and represents the tears of the working class, the unfolding of oppressed destinies, and the burning desire for liberation.

Through the classic Italian opera excerpts, namely "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi, "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini, and "Le nozze di Figaro" by Mozart, local and international audiences in Hanoi will have a chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant space that recreates the arena of the Italian Colosseum or the lavish, romantic balls of European aristocrats.

"The audience will enjoy what is called the 'back-to-super-classic' Italian opera, a moment of illusion and surrealism in the fiery arena of Italy," said VNOB Director Phan Manh Duc.

Italian opera continues to play a dominant role in the world's performances. Photo: VNOB

The "Paradiso dell'opera" will feature renowned opera artists such as To Loan, Huy Duc, Trang Tran, and others, with live music provided by the Hanoi Voices Choir under the direction of conductor Dong Quang Vinh.

To Loan, the outstanding soprano of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet is one of the most prominent national opera singers of the 21st century. With a strong and personal soprano voice, the artist will perform the aria "Ah fors'e lui che l'anima" in "La Dame aux camélias". She will express her wish for a happy couple in the role of Violetta. The artist also has a romantic role with the singer Anh Vu in the duo "Un dì Felice eterea".

Opera artist Trang Tran is one of the most famous lyric sopranos in Vietnam. She has performed in many musicals, including Micaela in Bizet's Carmen, Cosette in Les Misérables - music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, and many world classics as a solo opera singer. In this opera gala, the artist will perform the aria "Quando m'en vo" with her lyrical soprano voice and the duet "O Soave Favilla".

In particular, the show will see the participation of the Korean invited artist, Kim Yeo Won, and two promising talents from Vietnam - Do Vu Trang Nhung and Truong Linh.