Showing a youthful joie de vivre, Elena Monti, celebrated Italian opera soprano from La Scala di Milano, captivated everyone with her powerful stage presence and magical voice at a concert at the CCP Little Theater, presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in cooperation with Caruso Ristorante Italiano, Rustan Commercial Corporation, and the Philippine Italian Association.
Everyone sat in rapt attention as the program started. The first part was a duet. Elena and tenor Ronan Ferrer sang arias from Verdi, Tosti, and Lehar. Former musical director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) conductor maestro Ruggero Barbieri entranced the audience as he led a pocket orchestra. Together with international award-winning pianist Raul Sunico, the power players beguiled the audience with an emotional piece that stirred the senses. After the intermission, Musicgear Chamber Ensemble, principal players of their respective sections in the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra String Ensemble, accompanied the duet with arias from Donizetti, Puccini, Verdi, and Rossini.
The beautiful Elena began her musical life in Milan performing Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Verdi’s Falstaff. She reaped accolades for her performances in theaters across Europe, Tokyo, and Jerusalem. She recently made her debut in the Philippines. The limelight shone on Elena when she was selected by the Scala Singing Academy.
A stellar lineup of Monti’s roles included Mozart’s Don Giovanni; Haydn’s Orlando Paladino; Puccini’s La Boheme, Handel’s Partenope; Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Grieg’s Peer Gynt. Enviably, her roster of famed conductors include Ottavio Dantone, Jeffrey Tate, Nello Santi, Gerd Albrecht, Robin Ticciati, and Diego Matheuz.
Truly, opera is an art form and Elena has shared its beauty and character with her audience worldwide. She has performed in the most prestigious Italian and international theaters, including San Carlo in Naples, Zurich Opernhaus, Teatro Comunale in Florence, Verdi in Trieste, Ancient Music Festival in Utrecht, and La Scala as well as various venues in Bologna, Salzburg, and Tokyo.
With two encores and a standing ovation, Elena’s splendid performance at the CCP captured the hearts of opera lovers with her passion and talent. Not resting on her laurels, Elena Monti will be performing, in the coming months, Violetta in La Traviata at Teatro La Fenice in Venice and Flordiligi in Cosi fan tutte at Teatro Comunale in Florence and at San Paolo’s Opera House in Brazil.
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