Apartment Arias
We're delighted to share Apartment Arias, a series of at-home performances by Cincinnati Opera artists, sharing musical moments near to their hearts.
Aaron Blake, tenor
The sun is shining, and tenor Aaron Blake is singing! Enjoy his joyous Apartment Aria featuring one of the most beloved Neapolitan songs, "O sole mio" ("My Sun"). ☀️
Elena Kholodova, pianist & coach-accompanist
Pianist and accompanist Elena Kholodova shares a sweet memory for her Apartment Aria, Franz Schubert's Impromptu No. 3, Op. 90, a piece her piano teacher used to play when Elena was a young girl. May this gorgeous musical moment bring you joy!
Victoria Okafor, soprano & Avery Bargasse, tenor
This Apartment Aria is sure to make you smile! Soprano Victoria Okafor and tenor Avery Bargasse sing a harmonious blend of "Get Happy" and "Happy Days Are Here Again," a gorgeous duet originally made famous by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland.
Burak Bilgili, bass-baritone
Enjoy our first Apartment Aria to feature the accordion! Bass-baritone Burak Bilgili sweeps us away with the wistful Russian song "Moscow Nights." 🌖
Marie-France Lefebvre, pianist & coach-accompanist
Doesn't it feel like a good day for some Poulenc? Enjoy this piano arrangement from pianist and coach-accompanist Marie-France Lefebvre, professor of opera at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Kim-Lillian Strebel, soprano
Escape the summer heat with a spring downpour in our next Apartment Aria! 🌦️ Soprano Kim-Lillian Strebel performs a piece from Jaromír Weinberger's 1933 operetta Frühlingsstürme ("Spring Storms").
Renato Balsadonna, conductor
Italian conductor Renato Balsadonna, who would have conducted our Barber of Seville, plays another lively work by Rossini: "Thoroughbred Tarantelle (with the crossing of the procession)." Despite its "almost nonsensical title," Renato calls the piece an "unrestrained, frenetic, delightful, spirited dance."
Rodion Pogossov, baritone
Baritone Rodion Pogossov sings a touching folk song from his native Russia, with hopes that it will warm your heart.
Daniela Candillari, conductor
Conductor Daniela Candillari performs a beautiful song by Dvořák, a piano setting of a Serbian folk poem.
Kevin Short, bass-baritone
Bass-baritone Kevin Short chose a classic American folk song for his Apartment Aria—“Oh Shenandoah.” Watch for Kevin in our 2021 world premiere of Castor and Patience by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith!
Christian Pursell, bass-baritone
Bass-baritone Christian Pursell brings high spirits and a bullfighting energy to this week's Apartment Aria, performing "Votre toast" (also known as the "Toreador Song") from Carmen. As Pursell says, "Let's celebrate what we once took for granted, and what we yearn for in seasons to come.”
Mezzo-soprano Catherine Martin
Did you know that when Charlie Chaplin wrote his beloved song "Smile," he drew inspiration from Puccini's Tosca? Hear mezzo-soprano Catherine Martin perform this sweet tune in our newest Apartment Aria!
Henri Venanzi, Chorus Master
This week's Apartment Aria ("and a big Arizona greeting!") comes to you from our chorus master Henri Venanzi. Henri performs a piano medley that he arranged himself from the beloved musical Les Misérables.
Soprano Lada Bočková
Czech soprano Lada Bočková reminds us that "in music we can find freedom and refuge." Here is her serene rendition of "Song of the Wood-Sprite" from Dvořák's Rusalka.
Tenor Adam Smith
Hand-in-hand, we'll find love's promised land... in this brand new Apartment Aria from tenor Adam Smith! Adam has us swooning with Mario Lanza's popular "Be My Love."
Mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller
Mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller brings us our next Apartment Aria, performing Randy Newman's touching "I Think It's Going to Rain Today." 🎵Human kindness is overflowing... 🎵
Bass-baritone Paolo Bordogna
Italian bass-baritone Paolo Bordogna sings “Viva l'Italia” from Carlo Pedrotti’s Tutti in maschera. It’s an aria about people, singing, dancing, and love. “And that is what we all need now…love.”
Bass Morris Robinson
BLOOPER! Cincinnati Opera Artistic Advisor Morris Robinson sent us a stunning Apartment Aria. Or, at least he tried to... Even the professionals encounter hiccups when working from home!
Soprano Janai Brugger
Soprano Janai Brugger (who sang Clara in Porgy and Bess and will create the role of Wilhelmina in our world premiere of Castor and Patience) sings a song that always puts a smile on her face. We hope her a capella rendition of "Blue Skies" brings a smile to your face, too.
Soprano Melody Moore
When dramatic soprano Melody Moore (our Foreign Princess in Rusalka) was asked to sing something near to her heart, she chose a piece that gives her strength to weather the storm. Here is her rendition of Kacey Musgraves's "Rainbow."
Introducing Apartment Arias
Evans Mirageas introduces Apartment Arias, a series of at-home performances by some of our 2020 season artists.
Follow us
Follow us on social media, where we’ll share uplifting opera content daily!