Opera fans can savor the highlights from some of their most-beloved operas when Fiorenza Cossotto fills the room with her award-winning voice in a one-off show at The Metropolitan Hall in Taipei.
After regular performances at the La Scala music theater in Milan, Cossotto is well known throughout Europe and North America.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHINESE CULTURAL UNIVERSITY
More recently, she has garnered a following in Asia after touring Japan on several occasions. Invited to Taipei by the Chinese Cultural University's department of Western music, the show marks her first performance in Taiwan.
"We chose Cossotto because she is the best-known dramatic mezzo-soprano in the world," university assistant Huang Hsaio-wen (黃曉雯) said.
For the most part, the invitation was extended in order to offer workshops for the department's students and faculty. A public lecture is scheduled for tomorrow, from 12pm to 9pm. Topics to be covered include analysis of various European operas in addition to a closing talk given by Cossotto.
Attendance is free of charge but advance registration is recommended.
Born in Cresatino, Italy, in 1935, Cossotto trained at the Verdi Conservatory in Turin. She has worked with notable composers including Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Muti, and Giananderi Gavazzeni and she has shared the stage with such popular performers such as Maria Callas, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
For her Taiwan recital, Cossotto will be accompanied on piano by Wu Hui-zhu (吳惠珠). The Japanese pianist received her training at the Tokyo University where she specialized in opera. She became a permanent accompanist for Cossotto on her Japan tours beginning in 2001.
The recital begins at 7:30pm at the Metropolitan Hall (台北市立社教館), at 25, Bade Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市八德路三段25號). Tickets range in price from NT$200 to NT$1,000 and are available at the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center box office, or online at http://www.artsticket.com.tw.
Tomorrow's lecture will be held at the Chinese Cultural University's downtown branch located at 127, Yanping S Rd., Taipei (台北市延平南路127號). For additional information or to register call (02) 2861 0511 x 347.
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