Opera Santa Barbara in collaboration with the Argyropoulos Chair of Hellenic Studies at UCSB celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas with an evening of arias and ensembles from the repertoire of the great diva sung by sopranos Eleni Calenos and Jana McIntyre, accompanied by the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra conducted by Kostis Protopapas.
Greek soprano Eleni Calenos, has portrayed Puccini and Verdi heroines throughout the United Stated in performances that were hailed as “for the ages, both vocally and dramatically” by Opera News, “searing…, mercurial, heart-on-the sleeve” by The Wall Street Journal, and “a true wonder” by the Houston Press.
Metropolitan Opera Competition 2022 Grand Prize winner Jana McIntyre has performed with Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Arizona opera, in addition to several roles with Opera Santa Barbara. Jana, whose repertoire includes baroque and bel canto operas, contemporary works, and musical theater, has been praised for her “dancer’s grace, mercurial wit, and vibrant soprano tone” by Opera News and her “…movie star looks and the poise to match” by Opera Wire.
The program will include selections from Maria Callas’ signature repertoire, such as The Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, and Norma. The concert is presented in collaboration with UCSB, through the generosity of the Argyropoulos family. A lecture on the life and legacy of Maria Callas by her principal biographer Helena Matheopoulos, will be presented by UCSB at the Lobero Theatre on Wednesday, November 8th. “We are so excited to be commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the birth of perhaps the most celebrated opera singer of the 20th century with this concert, and accompanying lecture” said Helen Morales, the Argyropoulos Professor of Hellenic Studies. Opera Santa Barbara will perform the program again on Sunday, November 12, at 2pm in the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. Tickets for the Santa Barbara performance will be available on August 1 at www.lobero.org. Tickets for the Thousand Oaks Performance will be available on August 15 at bapacthousandoaks.com.