Alessandro Baricco Opera Lecture Recital

The Italian Cultural Institute is delighted to present an Opera Lecture Recitals with Alessandro Baricco, one of Italy’s most celebrated contemporary writers and a renowned expert on music and opera, together with talented singers from Opera UCT.

What makes this event unique? Rather than simply attending a concert, audiences will be invited on an enchanting journey through the history of opera, guided by Alessandro Baricco and interspersed with some of the most beloved arias from the operatic repertoire, performed live by prestigious Opera UCT singers.

It is a rare opportunity to experience opera, literature and storytelling coming
Alessandro Baricco is one of Italy’s most celebrated contemporary writers and an expert on music and opera. Throughout his career, he has moved effortlessly between literature, music, theatre and film.

His best-known works include Silk, Ocean Sea and Novecento, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and read by audiences around the world. His stories have also inspired acclaimed films. Novecento became Giuseppe Tornatore’s award-winning The Legend of 1900; Silk was adapted for the screen starring Keira Knightley; and, in 2024, Angelina Jolie directed Without Blood, based on Baricco’s novel.

The Programme
The Lecture Recital will feature a selection of celebrated arias from the Italian operatic tradition:
• “Io ti lascio, perché uniti” — Il matrimonio segreto, Domenico Cimarosa
• “Madamina, il catalogo è questo” — Don Giovanni, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• “Mira, o Norma” — Norma, Vincenzo Bellini
• “Una furtiva lagrima” — L’elisir d’amore, Gaetano Donizetti
• “Miei rampolli femminini” — La Cenerentola, Gioachino Rossini
• “Vissi d’arte” — Tosca, Giacomo Puccini
With
Dr Lisa Engelbrecht, piano
Molly Dzangare, soprano
Rosa van der Dussen, mezzo-soprano
Landula Hambile, baritone
Vuyani Halam, tenor

Experience opera through a different lens.
Join us for a unique South African experience with Alessandro Baricco and Opera UCT.