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Welcome to Bel Cantanti, an opera company within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area devoted to giving performance experience to both seasoned and aspiring professionals. Between the beautiful singing and glorious music, you will find yourself thoroughly captivated.
"Bel Cantanti Opera continues to be one of the best kept musical secrets in the Washington area."

AllArtsreview4u
"The future of opera as fun rather than spectacle or museum piece, lies with such groups as Bel Cantanti Opera."

Washington Post
"Bel Cantanti… reaffirmed the belief that we are living in a golden age of opera and the hope that opera in America has a promising feature. Bel Cantanti … makes the special magic of opera happen.”
Washington Post
“… an absolute delight for opera aficionados and the perfect opportunity for timid newbies to be surprised at just how much fun opera can be.”

Washington Times
"Bel Cantanti Opera has emerged as a great showcase for area talent."

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"Bel Cantanti…shows a serious, focused orientation, high ambition and significant potential."

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" Bel Cantanti reminds us that our region's smaller companies are arguably smarter, better stewards of the art form, spending more wisely than the big-budget houses, presenting sturdy, smaller-scaled evenings of opera..."

                                                                                     Tom Huizenga. Washington Post, September 27, 2010

Upcoming Performances:

Les Contes d'Offenbach

The Tales of Offenbach. Operetta Gala.

The third annual celebration of the Kings of Operetta. After presenting the operettas of Imre Kalman in 2022 and Franz Lehar in 2023, we share with you music of another master of the operetta, Jacques Offenbach.
Bel Cantanti's singers and Four Season Dancers, directed by Elena Indrokova Jones will perform the excerpts from the composer's famous and little-known works. A brilliant and unforgettable tribute to the genius of French operetta.

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Saturdays, March 16,23, at 7:30pm
Sunday, March 17, at 3:00pm

Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

La Sonnambula

A beautiful bel canto jewel by V. Bellini. Performed in Italian with English supertitles. Fully staged, in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova.

Amina: Alina Tamborini, Catherine Wethington, Elvino: Allan Palacios Chan, Aaron McKone
Rodolfo: Tyler Putnam, Lisa: Emily Casey, Alessio: Andrew Boisvert.

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Saturdays, May 11,18 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 12, at 3:00pm
Sunday, May 19, at 6:00pm

Bender JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD

Tickets: $40, Group of ten and more: $35,
Tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite and at the doors.
Buy Tickets online
Tickets information : (240) 230-7372

Past Performances:

Aleko & Gianni Schicchi

A beautiful duet, double bill of Rachmaninoff's one act opera-drama Aleko, called Russian Cavalleria Rusticana and a hilarious Puccini's comedy Gianni Schicchi. Performed in Russian and Italian with English supertitles. Fully staged, in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director: Katerina Souvorova.

Stage director: Muriel Von Villas, Costume designer: Tessa Grippaudo, Lighting designer: Trevor Pierce Stoneburner, Set designer and Production coordinator: Peter Joshua Burroughs.

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Aleko: John Allen Nelson, Zemphira: Zoe Gramagin, Young Gypsy: Nicholas Hudak,
Old Man: Jeremy Harr, Old Woman: Sarah Nordin.

Gianni Schicchi: Jeremy Harr, Rinuccio: Nicholas Hudak, Lauretta: Emily Casey
Simone: John Allen Nelson, Betto: Tyler Putnam, Zita: Laura Zahn,
Nella: Catherine Wethington, La Cesca: Sarah Nordin, Marco: Henrique Carvalho, Gherardo: Joseph Kaz
Amantio/Spinelloccio
: Joshua Bates, Pinellino: Eric Gramatges, Guccio: John Solomon Collins,
Gherardino: Roi Kim, Buoso: Dale Dyer.

Tribute to Russian Opera. ALEKO, ONEGIN and MORE!


Community concerts at St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Bethesda

Eugene Onegin, Iolanta, Pique Dame by P. Tchaikovsky and Aleko by S. Rachmaninoff.
Zoya Gramagin, Emily Casey, Laura Zahn, Rob McGinness, Nicholas Hudak, John Allen Nelson.
Accompanied by BCO Artistic Director, Katerina Souvorova, piano.

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Amahl and the Night Visitors

A Christmas tale about a poor crippled boy Amahl meeting Three Magi on their way to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Everybody's favorite one-act opera by G.C. Menotti. Performed in English, fully staged, in costume, accompanied on piano by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova.

Amahl: Darryl Lillian Johnson, Nika Nickinson, Mother : Antona Yost
King Kaspar: Peter Burroughs, King Melchior: Michael Nansel, King Balthazar: Elliot Matheny, Page: Ben Ross.

Schepherds, vilagers: Missy Dyette, Katherine and Reba Winstead, Lena Goldweber, Toma Fritz, Morghan Joi Pastrana, Heather Fetrow, Erica Zimmermann, Sandra Gust, Clarence Baney, Benjamin Riniker, Jonathan Kahn.
Dancers: Shonnita Johnson and Harmony Porter.

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Autumn Sings 2! Mozart and More


Community concerts at St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Bethesda

Kaleidoscope of famous arias from the operas Le Nozze di Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni,
La Clemenza di Tito, Idomeneo, and Zaide.

Catherine Wethington, Claire Galloway, Avanti Dey, Rob McGinness, and Melissa Chavez.
Story Narration: Melissa Chavez.

Accompanied by BCO Chanber ensemble:Kathryn Farenish - flute, Theresa Cigan - clarinet, Christine Kharazian - violin, Hyejin Kim - violin, Ken Ding - cello and BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova on piano.

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Past concerts (information and video)

Carmen

Abridged opera, performed in French with English spoken dialogues, fully staged , in costume, with orchestra. Conducted by BCO Artistic Director Katerina Souvorova. Stage Director Catrin Davies.

Carmen: Sarah Nordin, Don Jose: Nicholas Hudak, Escamillo: Eric McConnell, Micaela: Emily Casey, Ashlyn Rock, Frasquita: Leah Brzysky, Mercedes; Karoline Guerine, Remendado: Aaron McKone; Dancairo: Joseph Wilson, Zuniga: Tyler Putnam; Lillas Pastia: Zain Shariff.

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