Los Angeles – Until May 28th the Institute of Italian Culture in Los Angeles celebrates Verdi with an exhibition that tells the story of the most famous performances of his operas at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, and of the great performers, singers, set designers, and costume designers who have kept the legend of Giuseppe Verdi alive. On display will be a selection of scenic and costume sketches from productions designed by some of the greatest opera names of the 20th century including Luchino Visconti, Franco Zeffirelli, Pierluigi Pizzi, Danilo Donati, Nicola Benois. The exhibit also includes 18 original costumes dating back to 1916 worn by artists such as Beniamino Gigli, Renata Scotto, and Angela Gheorghiu , and a video collage of Verdi operas performed at the Rome Opera House. A number of related programs will take place throughout the duration of the exhibit: the IIC will host a screening of Rigoletto introduced by Maestro Ignazio Terrasi (LA Opera, LA Grand Ensemble) and a concert of Verdi arias produced by Opera UCLA and the Department of Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The Verdi Chorus will present its spring concert with arias and ensembles by Italian composers ranging from Donizetti to Leoncavallo, late works from the Puccini canon and, of course, Verdi. (9Colonne)
