BWW Previews: APRILE MILLO: A DIVA COMES HOME at Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall
By: Peter Danish Jan. 23, 2019
The anticipation is building! One of the most celebrated opera singers of the twentieth century is coming home! For her first New York concert in nearly a decade, the legendary singer, who recently made a triumphant London recital debut, will be accompanied by Inseon Lee on piano, and will perform a program of songs by Bellini, Tosti, Liszt, Donaudy, Rachmaninoff and Wagner, as well as arias & scenes by Verdi, Boito and Puccini.
Aprile Millo was born in New York City, the daughter of two opera singers, tenor Giovanni Millo (John Hamill) and soprano Margherita Girosi. The Metropolitan Opera also offered the young singer at 22 years old, to become a member of the Met's Young Artist Program, as well as to cover leading roles.
In November 1982, Millo made her European debut as Aida in Karlsruhe, Germany and at La Scala as Elvira in Ernani replacing an indisposed Mirella Freni. She made her New York debut with Eve Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York in November 1984, singing Matilde in Rossini's Guillaume Tell.
On December 3, 1984, Millo made her Metropolitan Opera debut in dramatic fashion replacing an ailing soprano as Amelia in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra with James Levine on the podium. The critics praised Millo's performance with The New York Times proclaiming that her voice had "a breadth and a shining ring that would have won her a midscene ovation in any Italian opera house". Since that night, Millo has performed at all the great opera houses in the world.
Michael Capasso, General Director of New York City Opera said, "I have been a devoted fan of Aprile Millo since the storied debut that marked her arrival as a great Verdian soprano. This past August, I was fortunate to be reacquainted with this singular artist at her recital at London's Cadogan Hall. It was an unforgettable evening - an affirmation of her continuing legacy as interpreter in the grand style, with a voice that has retained both its power and its beauty - and it was an experience that I can't wait to share with our audience.
Born and raised in our city, she is a genuine New York treasure and City Opera is honored to host her return in this special recital dedicated to her father, tenor Giovanni Millo, who graced the City Opera stage in its earliest seasons."
The performance, which the diva is dedicating to her father, who sang with New York City Opera during its early seasons, is an extraordinarily eclectic blend of music from and equally eclectic group of composers - a seriously audacious program! It will surely be one of the musical highlights of 2019. Tickets are almost completely sold out, but a few remain and can be purchased at the NYCO site or at the Carnegie Hall Box office.
PRESENTED BY NEW YORK CITY OPERA
Aprile Millo, Soprano
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:30 PM
Tickets: 212-247-7800 or https://www.carnegiehall.org
-Peter Danish
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