­On June 19, Cincinnati Opera kicks off its 90th Anniversary Season with a star-studded Gala Concert of internation­ally-renowned opera artists, esteemed conductors, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Allen Temple A.M.E. Choir, May Festival Chorus, and Cincinnati Ballet. Here's a sampling of some of the concert­'s highlights! (full repertoire list below)

Repeating her step-in performance at the Metropolitan Opera for Angela Gheorghiu, soprano Hei-Kyung Hong will be joined by tenor Gregory Turay in selections from Verdi's La Traviata; the pair will delight audiences with "E strano!"..."Ah, fors'è lui" and "Semp­re Libera." Later in the opening half of the concert, the stage will be taken by another pair. Soprano Angela Brown and tenor Richard Leech will perform the heart-wrenching love duet "Vicino a te" from Giordano's Andrea Chenier. Their portrayal of lovers soon to be executed will surely move the Music Hall audience as they soar to a unison high 'b.'

As a special tribute to Mrs. Louise Dieterle Nippert for her extraordinary support to the musical and performing arts in Cincinnati, the first half of the gala concert will also feature the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performing the ponderous "Intermezzo" from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. The Cincinnati Opera Chorus, too, will share in the spotlight as they fill Music Hall auditorium with Verdi's anthem "Va pensiero" from Nabucco. 

The second half of the night will include two Puccini favorites, the reprisal of a Cincinnati Opera commission, and a bombastic finale sure to blow the roof off of Music Hall! Cincinnati will have its own "Three Tenors" moment with Richard Leech, Russell Thomas, and Gregory Turay sharing the stage in a compelling performances of "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's Turandot. Made famous by the film A Room with a View, the aria  "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" from Puccini's La Rondine will follow, sung by young Italian soprano Maria Luigia Borsi.

Cincinnati Opera audiences will experience déjà vu with the reprise of Danielpour's "Quality Love" from 2005's sold-out performances of Margaret Garner. It will be sung by no other than soprano Denyce Graves, who created the role in critically-acclaimed performances at Michigan Opera Theater, Cincinnati Opera, and Opera Company of Philadelphia.

To close the celebratory evening, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus will be joined by the May Festival Chorus, members of the Allen Temple A.M.E. Choir, and the Cincinnati Ballet in presenting Verdi's powerful Triumphal Scene from Aida. Angela Brown and Denyce Graves will protray Aida and Amneris respectively; Antonello Palombi will reprise the role of Radames (à la his infamous last minute step-in at Milan's La Scala); Norman Garrett will sing Amonasro. 

Full Concert Repertoire
“Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser, Richard Wagner
Christine Brewer, soprano; Edoardo Müller, conductor

“Ach, so fromm” from Martha, Friedrich von Flotow
Russell Thomas, tenor; Edoardo Müller, conductor

“Va pensiero” from Nabucco, Giuseppe Verdi
Cincinnati Opera Chorus; Henri Venanzi, conductor

“È strano!…Ah fors’è lui…Sempre libera degg’io” from La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi
Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano; Gregory Turay, tenor; Edoardo Müller, conductor

Card Trio from Carmen, Georges Bizet
Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano; Amita Prakash, Meghan Dewald, sopranos;
Edoardo Müller, conductor

“Vicino a te” from Andrea Chénier, Umberto Giordano
Angela Brown, soprano; Richard Leech, tenor; Nathan Stark, bass; Edoardo Müller, conductor

Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, Pietro Mascagni
Edoardo Müller, conductor

Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana, Pietro Mascagni
Christine Brewer, soprano; Cincinnati Opera Chorus; Edoardo Müller, conductor

- INTERMISSION -

“Done Made My Vow”, Traditional, arranged by Nolan Williams
Allen Temple A.M.E. Church Combined Choir; Robert Gazaway, conductor

“Nessun dorma” from Turandot , Giacomo Puccini
Richard Leech, Russell Thomas, Gregory Turay, tenors; Cincinnati Opera Chorus;
Edoardo Müller, conductor

Sextet from Tales of Hoffmann, Jacques Offenbach
Russell Thomas, tenor; Stacey Rishoi, Catherine Keen, mezzo-sopranos; Nathan Stark, David Michael, basses; Brendan Tuohy, tenor; Cincinnati Opera Chorus; Edoardo Müller, conductor

“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La Rondine, Giacomo Puccini
Maria Luigia Borsi, soprano; Edoardo Müller, conductor

“Be My Love” from The Toast of New Orleans, Nicholas Brodsky and Samuel Kahn
Richard Leech, tenor; Steven Reineke, conductor

“A Quality Love” from Margaret Garner, Richard Danielpour
Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano; Steven Reineke, conductor

Triumphal Scene from Aida, Giuseppe Verdi
Angela Brown, soprano; Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano; Antonello Palombi, tenor; Norman Garrett, baritone; Nathan Stark, David Michael, basses; Cincinnati Opera Chorus; dancers from Cincinnati Ballet; May Festival Chorus; members of Allen Temple A.M.E. Church Combined Choir; Edoardo Müller, conductor