Season 2008-2009

Bel Cantanti Opera Summer Music Festival 2009.

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Seventeen singers from North Carolina, Detroit, San Jose, New York, Texas and Washington DC area were selected for participating in the first BCO summer music festival ( August 10 through August 23, 2009). During two weeks singers received coachings, voice lessons, workshops, master classes and performance seminars from some of the leading teachers, coaches and professionals in the area.

Faculty and guest artists: Katerina Souvorova - BCO director, producer, opera coach; Rick Christman - voice technician; Gene Galvin - stage director, Nicholas Catravas: - rehearsal pianist, coach, Francois Loup - Comic in opera; Delores Ziegler - German Diction in opera and art song, Sharon Christman, - vocal technique, Fabiana Bravo - Italian diction, Bel Canto, Rick Christman - vocal technique, Gene Galvin - acting, movement, Joe Walsh, VAO, - audition technique, Katerina Souvorova: - Russian Diction.

"... The unquestioned star of the evening was Dennys Moura as Nemorino.  Moura, clearly marked out for an early rise to fame as a tenor, sang with obvious emotion, great clarity and instinctive and convincing acting ability.  His voice is lovely to hear and his rendition of "Una furtiva lagrima" left his audience dazzled.  Moura's will be a career to watch as he adds other roles to his repertoire and gains in experience..."  Stephen Neal Dennis, Allartsreview4U.com (read complete review)

V. Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi

"Jessica Renfro as Romeo was the Ferrari on stage... alert and quick in her acting, and superb as a singer in a role Bellini draped with opportunities for solo excellence.  At times Renfro left her audience almost breathless with admiration as she breathed life into her character and spun melodies into charismatic suggestion."

G. Donizetti Don Pasquale

Francois Loup Don Pasquale:; Meghan McCall Norina; Adam Hall Ernesto; Eric Black Dr. Malatesta; Jim Krabbendam Notary. (Click for more pictures)

"What a treat for Bel Cantanti Opera's young singers: doing "Don Pasquale" with François Loup, a top-notch buffo bass-baritone. And what a treat for the audience on Sunday afternoon at the Olney Theater Center for the Arts: Loup also stage-directed, creating a fast-moving blend of visual fun and delightful music." Washington Post. (read complete review)

Valentine's Cabaret What is this thing called LOVE?

Love, Love, Love! An unique mix of cabaret, musical theatre and operetta. Jessica Renfro, Meghan McCall, Anamer Castrello, Eric Gramatges, Bryan Jackson.

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Seymour Barab Little Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood: Meghan McCall, Mother / Grandmother: Jessica Renfro, Wolf / Woodsman: Bryan Jackson. (Click to see more videos)

G. Verdi La Traviata

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" .. Tonight, a triumphant Bel Cantanti Opera production of Verdi’s beloved "La Traviata" was presented in the resonant concert space at the Embassy  of Austria... Bel Cantanti Opera continues to move from strength to strength..." (read complete review)

" On Tuesday evening at the Austrian Embassy, a ray of sunshine peeked through opera's gathering storm. Bel Cantanti gave a delightful performance of "La Traviata"... Amy Call and Jerett Gieseler showed that singing is at the center of "La Traviata." Call, making a name for herself in some European houses, sang radiantly with a healthy bloom and focus. She held nothing back, her lovely soprano resounding across the hall. Gieseler, as Germount pere, displayed a warm baritone..." (read complete review)