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Opera 'in the country'

Highlights from Puccini's La Bohème and Bizet's Carmen performed at Aldergrove concert, Saturday, July 26
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Soprano Shadan Saul is one of four vocal talents to perform Saturday

Four young rising vocal talents will present arias from two beloved operas in an Aldergrove concert, Saturday evening, July 26.

White Rock-based opera repertory company, Cantanti d'Oro, will perform highlights from two of the most romantically charged and passionate operas, Bizet's fiery Carmen, and Puccini's heart-wrenching La Bohème.

These sensational operas will be brought to life by a thrilling quartet of world-class opera singers, on the verge of having major careers. They have sung on international stages including Canada and the U.S., Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. Under the musical direction of collaborative pianist and maestro, Richard Epp, over the course of two hours, they will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions as they perform highlights and narrate the stories of two of the most popular operas.

Lyric soprano Shadan Saul, with her passionate, gorgeous and warm voice will sing both Don Jose's girlfriend, Micaela, in Carmen, and Mimi in La Bohème.

Lyric tenor Sunny Shams will bring his round, velvety and commanding voice to sing the intense Don Jose in Carmen, and the young romantic poet Rodolfo in La Bohème.

Lyric baritone Jose Ramirez Solano sings the suave Toreador in Carmen, and the painter Marcello in La Bohème, with his seductive, brassy and masculine baritone voice. Mezzo soprano Francesca Corrado turns up the heat with her sultry, dark tones and earthy depth, to portray the sensual gypsy Carmen. Collaborative pianist and conductor Richard Epp will provide the one-man orchestra tour-de-force on the piano, as he helps set the moods and reflect the drama with his expert touch, sensitivity, and knowledge of the multifaceted plots of these operas.

This production by Cantanti d'Oro will be presented in three cities over the weekend of July 25-27. The premiere will take place on Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the architecturally beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, with its superb acoustics, in downtown Vancouver. Saturday evening's performance is at 7 p.m. in Aldergrove at St. Dunstan's Anglican Church, an open and acoustically warm performance space. The third and final performance rounds out the weekend on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in West Vancouver at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, a 100-year-old landmark of West Vancouver, with its rich acoustics lending it to many concerts.

Tickets for these performances are $25, and will be available at the door, or contact Cantanti d’Oro ticket office at 604-725-4220 for more details and to purchase tickets. Tickets are also available at the office of St. Dunstan's, 3025 - 264 Street, Aldergrove, call 604-856-5393.