Season 2005-2006

P. Tchaikovsky Iolanta (more photos)

"The best part of the experience was the discovery of this mostly unknown opera, premiered at St. Petersburg's Mariinsky during the December holidays in 1892, where it was paired with his fluffy little ballet about a girl who gets a nutcracker for Christmas. The latter, although charming, is performed far too often, while the former practically vanished." (link to this article)

"There really was a King Rene -- he rode with Joan of Arc to Orleans -- and he did have a daughter named Yolande. But there is no truth in Iolanta -- only beauty." (read complete review)

S. Rachmaninoff Aleko
First performance in Washington, DC; second performance in the USA since 1926. Libretto by V. Nemirovich - Danchenko, based on Alexander Pushkin’s poem “The Gypsies.” Fully staged and costumed, accompanied by piano, string quartet and harp. The opera was performed in Russian with English super titles combined with slides of famous 19^th-century Russian paintings. Bel Cantanti’s first performance of this unique opera-drama, called “the Russian Carmen,” was presented on February 10^th, Pushkin Memorial Day, when the famous Russian poet died in 1837. (more photos)

Viva Mozart 250th Birthday commemoration. Opera Gala
Bel Cantanti performed Viva Mozart at la Maison Francaise, Embassy of France, January 14 and 15 2006 (more photos)

Gian-Carlo Menotti Amahl and the Night Visitors
Bel Cantanti presents G. C. Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Embassy of Germany on December 18, 2005. (more photos)

"... Formed in 2003, Bel Cantanti has remarkably accomplished young soloists. For Amahl, Menotti specified a boy soprano, but Jennifer Weingartner's clear, focused voice filled the bill nicely. As his mother, soprano Kathleen Sasnett has Wagnerian depth gilded with a mezzo-ish tint. Issachah Savage, VaShawn McIlwain and Daryl Ott made up the trio of kings, combining regal bearing with strength to match..." (read complete review)

Engelbert Humperdink Hansel and Gretel (more photos)

" Bel Cantanti Opera gave a capital performance of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel...The singing (in English) was excellent and -- despite limited space -- reinforced by inventive and tasteful sets, staging and costumes... " (read complete review)

Gaetano Donizetti La Fille du Regiment Bel Cantanti performs La Fille du Regiment at the French Embassy. (more photos)

"...Riffing on the Italian term for beautiful singing, Bel Cantanti, founded in 2003 and helmed by General and Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova, offers fully-costumed operas featuring young, up-and-coming singers in local venues backed by budget scenery and small instrumental ensembles. Its latest effort, Gaetano Donizetti's charming "La Fille du Regiment" ("The Daughter of the Regiment") is both a pleasant surprise and an affordable opportunity for suburban audiences to become better acquainted with one of opera's most user-friendly tune fests..."    (read complete review)
" The future of opera as fun, rather than spectacle or museum piece, lies with such groups as  Katerina Souvorova's Bel Cantanti Opera..." (read complete review)