Markeshia Ricks Photo
Soprano Kelly Griffin channels her inner Lady Macbeth.
A crowd of hundreds gathered on the Green Saturday evening to hear the other-worldly vocal acrobatics of young opera singers for the city’s second Opera Palooza.
The event was presented by the City of New Haven and produced by the city’s department of arts, culture, and tourism along with Salt Marsh Opera, Connecticut Alliance for Music, and Find Your Voice.
The crowd on the Green Saturday before dusk.
Harp.
“How perfectly fitting and fun to showcase opera on the city’s new performance stage,” Mayor Toni Harp said as she looked out to the crowd. “It truly does take a village to present an opera happening.”
The evening of Italian arias was hosted by internationally celebrated American Bass-Baritone David Pittsinger, who gave pithy explanations of each of the songs and the operas from which they came.
Soprano Kelly Griffin brought the crowd to its feet with her dramatic portrayal of Lady Macbeth from Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth. She wouldn’t be the last singer to do that.
Tenor Charlie Widmer.
The crowd let loose a cheer when Pittsinger let it be known that Tenor Charlie Widmer is from Oxford and would singing “La Donna E Mobile” Verdi’s Rigoletto, from an opera that involves a woman disguising herself as a man and being stabbed to death.
Soprano and Cheshire High student Alea Vernon.
“La Donna E Mobile,” Pittsinger said,“loosely translates to ‘Women are fickle.’” That drew a chuckle from the crowd.
Baritone Ryan Burns.
The antics of Baritone Ryan Burns, who sang “Largo Al Factotum,” from Italian composer Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s The Barber of Seville , included waving to the crowd and flexing his muscles to show that he indeed was what the song title implies — the important guy who does everything.
Soprano Jimi Charlotte Han.
This year’s event once again featured 11 singers, including Cheshire High School student Alea Vernon, who performed “Tornami A Vagheggiar” from George Frideric Handel’s Alcina.
Food trucks offering fried dough, pizza, and cannolis lined Temple Street as part of the event..
Mayor Harp also honored Thomas Duffy, Yale University professor of music and director of university bands, with the “City Spirit” award.
Host and celebrated American Bass-Baritone David Pittsinger closes the show.