From Canada and China to Valcamonica to study opera, one of Italy’s great cultural heritages. Tonight, at 8.45 p.m. the Teatro delle Ali in Breno will host the final concert – with free entry – of the BIIMA (Breno Italy International Music Academy) singing masterclass, promoted by the association Cieli Vibranti and held at the academy Arte e Vita, by soprano Maghan McPhee and by pianist Carl Philippe Gionet, both Canadian. An adventure started in 2014 as a gamble has now become a staple in Breno every year.  This year, five Canadian singers – Laura Bruno, Ariane Bell Vila, Julia Jordan, Julianne Porteus, Diane Ross – and the Icelandic baritone Bodvar Geirfinnsson will perform. 

Maghan McPhee talks about her new Italian experience:

In 2014 Carl and I wanted to create a program and we discovered Breno and the academy Arte e Vita, an ideal place to nurture art and beauty.   The daily work with small groups of musicians, individual attention and nurturing leads to excellent results.

Talk about the masterclass participants. Which aspects of Italy strike the young singers the most?

I could say a lot of things, but certainly the food and the wine are such a luxury for us! For the young singers though, the most exciting part of the trip is when they had the chance to see an opera at the Verona Arena, where this year they have seen Turandot.

What is on the program tonight?

The final concert represents the arrival point of this intense experience of study. You will listen to pages drawn from a wide repertoire, but with a focus on Mozart.

The future of this project?

Our goal is to make Breno a place where singers young and old can nurture their craft.  We will be continuing this venture for many years to come.