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

Recent Seasons

Season 2023-2024

Die Fledermaus

Die Fledermaus and MORE!

The Tales of Offenbach

Aleko & Gianni Schicchi

Tribute to Russian Opera

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Mozart and More

Carmen

Season 2022-2023

Franz Lehar - King of Operetta

La Cenerentola

Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail

Amahl and the Night Visitors

I Capuleti e i Montecchi

Backpack of Joy!

Season 2021-2022

Die Schone Mullerin

Imre Kalman - Mister X of Operetta

Season 2020-2021

The Little Match Girl

The Magic Flute

Season 2019-2020

Briscula the Magician

Season 2004-2005

The Grimm Brother's classic tale Hansel and Gretel
An abridged version of E. Humperdink's famous children's opera. Presented by the City of Gaithersburg on July 9 and 10, 2005 at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn (more photos)

Opera Gala Aleko and More

" Sergei Rachmaninoff's youthful opera "Aleko" had a rare performance Friday at Christ Lutheran Church in Bethesda. The season finale for the energetic, imaginative Bel Cantanti opera company, it was only the third American production of Aleko, and the show was a revelation to many in the audience..." (read complete review)

Gioacchino Rossini Il Barbiere di Siviglia (more photos)

" The Bel Cantanti opera company had its usual energy and sparkle in Sunday night's performance of "The Barber of Seville"... But something new had been added. Katerina Souvorova's piano, which had served as the orchestra in previous productions, was supported by a string quartet -- a very skilled string quartet led by Oleg Rylatko, the excellent concertmaster of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra..." (read complete review)

Pyotr Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin (more photos)

" Tchaikovsky's opera "Eugene Onegin" is as fine a piece of work as anything by Verdi, Wagner or Puccini, but it is not performed in the United States nearly as often as its quality deserves. That fact adds a special interest to the Bel Cantanti production... One has to make allowances for this production, but considering the context it must be called a triumph... The chief strength of this production is the singing. Cristina Nassif is a striking Tatiana, with a stage presence and acting talent as powerful as her voice. She is well-matched with the cool, aristocratic Onegin of Adam Juran. Jose Sacin is an impetuous Lenski, Andrea Hill a bubbly, carefree Olga..." (read complete review)

Opera Gala Il Barbiere and More (more photos)

"An interesting new opera company, Bel Cantanti, presented a gala recital in the Lyceum, an auditorium in Alexandria, Virginia... and I came away from that performance more eager to see this Barber production than any other musical event in the near future..." (read complete review)

G. C. Menotti Amahl and the Night Visitors (more photos)

Bel Cantanti repeats Gian-Carlo Menotti's popular opera Amahl and the Night Visitors in December 2004.

Giuseppe Verdi Rigoletto (more photos)

"The Church of St. Stephen, at 16th and Newton St., NW, is hardly an ideal venue for opera; the lighting is dim, and the reverberation becomes a problem above mezzo-forte. So why would anyone go there to see a performance of "Rigoletto"?
There can be several reasons. Perhaps for Verdi's great melodies and tragically ironic plot, or because the price is reasonable. But primarily one goes to such a performance in hopes of seeing and hearing future stars-promising young singers near the start of their careers. That hope was justified, Sunday night in St. Stephen's, when Opera Bel Cantanti gave a semi-staged (costumes and stage action but no scenery) performance of "Rigoletto..." (read complete review)

Gaetano Donizetti L'Elisir d Amore (more photos)

Bel Cantanti's first inaugurated performance of G. C. Menotti Amahl and the Night Visitors was held at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA, December 2003 (more photos)