Orchestra Miami presents Puccini's Legacy
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini
An historic concert in a historic venue
Join Orchestra Miami as we celebrate the legacy of the one of the most important and influential opera composers that ever lived- Giacomo Puccini. ?Puccini’s Legacy commemorates the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death with a gala concert featuring nine world-class opera singers, the Puccini choir, and the 56 musicians of Orchestra Miami led by Maestro Elaine Rinaldi. The featured soloists include sopranos Elaine Alvarez, Eglise Gutierrez, Maria Natale and Cong Cong Wang, tenors Ben Gulley, Martin Nusspaumer and Minghao Liu, and baritones Joseph Lodato and Nelson Martinez. ?The Puccini Choir is made up of singers from the Florida Grand Opera’s Canto program and students from the New World School of the Arts under the direction of Megan Barrera. The stunning program includes selections from each of Puccini’s operas, as well as the regional premiere of the rarely discovered Trio in A Minor/Scherzo in F Major for Orchestra.?
“Puccini is the reason that I’m a conductor,” says Orchestra Miami’s Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi. “In 1992, I was hit by a car while biking in NYC; my collarbones were broken, and I had to have facial reconstruction surgery. The damage from the accident ended my aspirations for a career as a concert pianist. Afterwards when I was in recovery, I noticed that I wasn’t listening to piano music- I was listening to Tosca. Puccini got me out of bed and out of my depression and gave me direction and inspiration. If it weren’t for opera and Puccini in particular, I’m not sure what I would be doing today.”
“Additionally, the collective star power of our guest artists is staggering!”, she adds. “Elaine Alvarez recently returned from the Metropolitan Opera, Eglise Gutierrez has sung at nearly every important opera house in the world, and Minghao Liu recently won First Prize in the prestigious Opera Index Competition in NYC. Nelson Martinez has been on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera since 2016, Joseph Lodato is one of our up-and-coming heroic baritone voices with credits at the Metropolitan Opera and Chicago Lyric, among many others. Maria Natala is a soprano to watch- she just made a stunning debut in the title role of Manon Lescaut at the Opera Festival of Chicago, and Ben Gulley has exploded onto the opera scene in recent years- I met him in 2023 when he was singing the role of Radames when I conducted Aida at the Fort Worth Opera. His musicality, lyricism and overall beauty of voice is stunning. Martin Nusspalmer has one of the most beautiful spinto tenor voices that I have ever heard. And finally, you will want to watch Cong Cong Wang- she has the most heart-meltingly beautiful voice and is poised for a major career. I’m ecstatically excited about this concert and can’t wait to make music with these incredible artists.”
This gala event takes place at 8:00 PM on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the atmospheric and historic Miami Scottish Rite Temple, located at 471 NW 3rd Street, Miami, FL 33128. Not only is Scottish Rite’s auditorium an acoustically perfect place to listen to music, it has perfect sight lines from every seat, as well as free on-site parking. Tickets are priced from $25- $75, and for $100 per person, you can enjoy a Premium Seat (first four rows front and center) and an exclusive Prosecco Reception in the Lodge Room at intermission. All seats are reserved; Due to high demand, advanced purchase is highly recommended!
Tickets and information can be found at www.OrchestraMiami.org or by calling (305) 274-2103.
This concert is sponsored in part by the Miami Salon Group and a gift from Olga Melin, and is presented with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Gratitude is extended to the Florida Grand Opera and the New World School for the Arts for their help in this production, as well as to our corporate sponsors, American Airlines and the Four Seasons Hotel Miami.
What: Puccini’s Legacy – a Gala Concert celebrating the life and compositions of Giacomo Puccini
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Where: Miami Scottish Rite Temple, 471 NW 3rd Street, Miami, FL 33128. Free on-site parking.
How Much: Tickets are $25-$75, reserved seating only. Enjoy a Gala Premium Experience for $100, which includes a Premium Seat (first 4 rows) and an exclusive Prosecco Reception in the Lodge Room at intermission.
How to get Tickets: Visit www.OrchestraMiami.org for tickets and more information.