Tuesday, July 14 | 6:30PM
Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug
2800 Main Street | St. Helena
Experience the enchantment of La Dolce Vita at this special evening dedicated to the artistic legacy of Luciano Pavarotti, one of the world’s most celebrated tenors and cultural ambassadors. The evening begins at Charles Krug Winery, where the festival pays tribute to Pavarotti’s extraordinary impact on opera and his lasting influence on generations of singers and audiences. Renowned for the brilliance and power of his voice, as well as his warmth and generosity of spirit, Pavarotti brought opera to vast new audiences throughout his career. He expanded the art form beyond the walls of traditional theaters, reaching millions through televised performances and spectacular open-air concerts in stadiums and arenas worldwide. An advocate for young artists, he was also committed to nurturing the next generation of operatic talent.
This symphonic program highlights his enduring legacy. Festival alumna Michelle Di Russo, recipient of the 2022 Joel Revzen Conducting Prize, leads Festival Orchestra Napa with internationally acclaimed soprano Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti, along with winners of the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition – presenting a new generation of artists shaped by the standards he set.
With the support of the Italian Cultural Institute San Francisco.
PROGRAM
Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti, soprano | Grace Ryan, mezzo-soprano | Victor Cardamone, tenor
- Cumhur Görgün, bass | Michelle Di Russo, conductor | Festival Orchestra Napa
- Gioachino Rossini | Overture from L’italiana in Algeri (1813)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | “Madamina, il catalogo è questo” from Don Giovanni (1787)
- Giuseppe Verdi | “È strano!… Ah, fors’è lui… Sempre libera” from La traviata (1853)
- Giacomo Puccini | “Che gelida manina” from La bohème (1895)
- Georges Bizet | “Habanera” from Carmen (1875)
- Pietro Mascagni | Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana (1889)
- Gioachino Rossini | “La calunnia” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816)
- Giacomo Meyerbeer | “Ombre légère” from Dinorah (1859)
- Georges Bizet | “Seguidilla” from Carmen (1875)
- Gaetano Donizetti | “Ah! mes amis” from La fille du régiment (1839)
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
JEANETTE VECCHIONE-DONATTI
2026 Manetti Shrem Opera Prizewinner. Internationally acclaimed soprano Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti is a thrill to audiences both in the opera house and on the concert stage. She has graced the stages of the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, and Theatre des Champs Elysees, among others, and her accolades include awards from the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation and Concorso Riccardo Zandonai.
MICHELLE DI RUSSO
2022 Joel Revzen Conducting Prizewinner. A graceful yet powerful force on the podium, Argentinian Italian conductor Michelle Di Russo is known for her compelling interpretations, passionate musicality, and championing of contemporary music. Di Russo is Music Director of the Delaware Symphony and has served as Associate Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony.
FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA NAPA
Festival Orchestra NAPA is an all-star ensemble of musicians from major international orchestras and faculty from renowned institutions, together with participants from the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley’s Blackburn Music Academy. As the central ensemble, the orchestra interacts with nearly every program the festival provides.