Kathleen McGhee
(September 29th, 1956 – September 1st, 2013) served as a Founding Director and Costume Designer of Bel Cantanti Opera since December 2003. She designed BCO performances of Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Cosi Fan Tutte, Rigoletto, Die Fledermaus, L’Elisir d’Amore, Eugene Onegin, Barber of Seville, Daughter of the Regiment, Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, Aleko, Iolanta and so many other operas. Kathleen also was a pianist and harpist and held an undergraduate and two graduate degrees in music.

Rest in Peace, dear friend, amazing musician, a person of rare beauty, generous heart and kindness.

Bel Cantanti Opera dedicates all the performances of its 10th anniversary season to Kate McGhee, whose whole life has been given to the arts, music, and opera.

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" Bel Cantanti reminds us that our region's smaller companies are arguably smarter, better stewards of the art form, spending more wisely than the big-budget houses, presenting sturdy, smaller-scaled evenings of opera..."

Tom Huizenga. Washington Post, September 27, 2010

Season 2013 - 2014

Current Performances

J. Strauss Die Fledermaus (The Bat)

Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is perhaps the world's best loved Vienese operetta. Come pop the cork on this champagne gem in celebration of Christmas, New Year and Bel Cantanti Opera’s 10th Season Anniversary!

Johann Strauss’s masterpiece features intoxicating waltzes, mistaken identities, and flirtations at a masked ball.

Don't miss the party of the year! It will be full of surprises!

Bel Cantanti Opera will present four performances of Die Fledermaus at the intimate venue of the Randolph Road Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland. This updated to the modern day production will be sung in German with English spoken dialogues, projected English supertitles. It will be accompanied by BCO Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Artistic director of BCO Dr. Katerina Souvorova.

Stage Director: Catherine Huntress-Reeve.

Rosalinde: Merideth Marano, Huanhuan Ma; Eisenstein: Aaron Halevy, Mattia D'Affuso; Adele: Laura Whittenberger, Brieann Pasko, Liz Lalor; Alfred: Dan Noone Falke: Mark Bublitz, Eric McKeever; Blind: David Artz; Ted Kerrick; Frank: Adam Sterling, Jonathan Wagstaff; Prince Orlovsky: Jacqueline Karle, Rebecca Henry; Ida: Leslie Zapiain; Charlotte Woolley; Adriana del Castillo.

Saturday, December 7, 7:30pm

Sunday, December 8, 3:00pm

Saturday, December 14, 7:30pm

Sunday, December 15, 3:00pm

Randolph Road Theater, 4010 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, MD

Tickets are sold online and at the door.

Adult: $38,40. Senior: $35. Student: $15. Groups of 10 and more: $30.

Ticket information: (240) 230-7372 or at tickets@belcantanti.com

F. Handel Serse (The Xerxes)

Sung in Italian with and projected English supertitles, accompanied by BCO chamber orchestra, conducted by Katerina Souvorova.

Friday, May 2, 7:30pm

Sunday, May 4, 3:00pm

Saturday, May 10, 7:30pm

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Rd. Rockville, MD

Serse: Nicholas Tamagna, Romilda: Huanhuan Ma, Atalanta: Julia Ebner.

Tickets are sold online and at the door.

Adult: $38,40. Senior: $35. Student: $15. Groups of 10 and more: $30.

Ticket information: (240) 230-7372 or at tickets@belcantanti.com

Past Performances

S. Rachmaninoff. Concert of Song and Opera

A concert of Russian vocal music. Well known and loved songs as well as unknown romances and operatic music. The concert is accompanied by projections of Russian art of 18th through 21st century and English translations of the Russian texts.

Performers: Cristina Nassiff, Chantelle Grant, Ashley Alden, Gustavo Ahualli, Jeffrey Springer, Michal Celentano.