Welcome to Bel Cantanti, an opera company within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area devoted to giving performance experience to both seasoned and aspiring professionals. Between the beautiful singing and glorious music, you will find yourself thoroughly captivated.

"Bel Cantanti Opera continues to be one of the best kept musical secrets in the Washington area."

AllArtsreview4u

"The future of opera as fun rather than spectacle or museum piece, lies with such groups as Bel Cantanti Opera."

Washington Post

"Bel Cantanti… reaffirmed the belief that we are living in a golden age of opera and the hope that opera in America has a promising feature. Bel Cantanti … makes the special magic of opera happen.”
Washington Post

“… an absolute delight for opera aficionados and the perfect opportunity for timid newbies to be surprised at just how much fun opera can be.”

Washington Times

"Bel Cantanti Opera has emerged as a great showcase for area talent."

Arlington Weekly News TV

"Bel Cantanti…shows a serious, focused orientation, high ambition and significant potential."

Washington Post

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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

Upcoming Performances:

Autumn Sings! Carmen and More

A concert of popular music. Opera, Operetta, Musical theatre and Jazz! Highlights of Bizet's Carmen.

Sarah Nordin, Emily Casey, Catherine Wethington, Ashlyn Rock, Nicholas Hudak, Allan Palacios Chan, Henrique Carvalho.
Accompanied by BCO Artistic director Dr. Katerina Souvorova (piano) and TJ Maistros (percussion)

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Sunday, September 17, at 3:00pm
Dunstan's Episcopal Church,
5450 Massachussetts Ave. Bethesda, MD

Tickets: $25, Group of five: $100
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Carmen

Abridged opera, performed in French with English spoken dialogues, fully staged , in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova. Stage Director Catrin Davies.

Carmen: Sarah Nordin, Don Jose: Nicholas Hudak, Escamillo: Eric McConnell, Micaela: Emily Casey, Ashlyn Rock, Frasquita: Leah Brzysky, Mercedes; Karoline Guerine, Remendado: Aaron McKone; Dancairo: Joseph Wilson, Lillas Pastia: Christopher Hartung.

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Saturdays, October 7,14, at 7:30pm
Sundays, October 8,15, at 3:00pm
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Amahl and the Night Visitors

A Christmas tale about a poor crippled boy Amahl meeting Three Magi on their way to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Everybody's favorite one-act opera by G.C. Menotti. Performed in English, fully staged, in costume, accompanied on piano by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova.

Amahl: Darryl Lillian Johnson, Nika Nickinson, ther: Antona Yost; King Kaspar: Peter Burroughs, King Melchior: Michael Nansel, King Balthazar: Elliot Matheny, Gustavo Ahualli, Page: Ben Ross.

Schepherds, vilagers: Willow and Missy Dyette, Katherine and Reba Winstead, Lena Goldweber, Toma Fritz, Morgan Joi Pastrana, Heather Fetrow, Erica Zimmermann, Sandra Gust, Clarence Baney, Benjamin Riniker, Jonathan Kahn.
Dancer: Shonnita Johnson.

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Saturdays, December 9 & 16 at 7:30pm
Sundays, December 10 & 17, at 3:00pm
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church,
5450 Massachussetts Ave. Bethesda, MD

Tickets: $40, Child under 12: $25
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Aleko & Gianni Schicchi

A beautiful duet, double bill of Rachmaninoff's one act opera-drama Aleko, called Russian Cavaleria Rusticana and a hilarious Puccini's comedy Gianni Schicchi. Performed in Russian and Italian with English supertitles. Fully staged, in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova.

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Aleko: John Allen Nelson, Zemphira: Zoe Gramagin, Young Gypsy: Nicholas Hudak, Old Gypsy: Jeremy Harr, Old Gypsy: TBA Gianni Schicchi: TBA, Simone; John Allen Nelson, Rinuccio: Nicholas Hudak Lauretta: Emily Casey, Nella: Catherine Wethington.

Saturdays, February 10,17, at 7:30pm
Sundays, October 11,18, at 3:00pm
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Les Contes d'Offenbach

The Tales of Offenbach. Operetta Gala.

The third annual celebration of the Kings of Operetta. After presenting the operettas of Imre Kalman in 2022 and Franz Lehar in 2023, we share with you music of another master of the operetta, Jacques Offenbach.
Bel Cantanti's singers and Four Season Dancers, directed by Elena Indrokova Jones will perform the excerpts from the composer's famous and little-known works. A brilliant and unforgettable tribute to the genius of French operetta.

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Saturdays, March 16,23, at 7:30pm
Sunday, March 17, at 3:00pm
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Sonnambula

A beautiful bel canto jewel by V. Bellini. Performed in Italian with English supertitles. Fully staged, in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova.
Amina: Alina Tamborini, Catherine Wethington, Elvino: Allan Palacios Chan, Rodolfo: Dorian McCall, Lisa: Jennifer Cherest Flory.

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Saturdays, May 11,18 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 12, at 3:00pm
Sunday, May 19, at 6:00pm
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Past Performances:

Summer Sings 2! Community Concert

Cristina Nassif, Emily Casey, Edrie Means, Catherine Wethington, Amanda Densmore, Rob McGinnes, Allan Palacios Chan, Joshua Bates. Accompanied by BCO Artiastic director Dr. Katerina Souvorova (piano) and TJ Maistros(percussion)

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Sunday, August 20, at 3:00pm at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 5450 Massachussetts Ave. Bethesda, MD

Summer Sings 1! Community concert series

Emily Casey, Catherine Wethington, Ashlyn Rock, Allan Palacios Chan, Rob McGinness, Josh Bates. Accompanied by BCO Artiastic director Dr. Katerina Souvorova (piano) and TJ Maistros,(percussion)

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Friday, July 28, 7:30pm at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 5450 Massachussetts Ave. Bethesda, MD