New York City Opera: Alessandro Lora in Concert

Maurizio Barbacini, conductor

Born in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Maurizio Barbacini studied at the conservatories of Verona, Milan, and Siena. Since his debut at the Metropolitan Opera with La traviata in 1996, he has appeared with many of the world's great opera companies, including Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Frankfurt Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Teatro Verdi Trieste, Opéra de Paris, Vienna State Opera, Theater St. Gallen, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Philadelphia, San Francisco Opera, New National Theatre Tokyo, Arena di Verona, and Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. 

He has held positions as Principal Conductor of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, and Principal Conductor of the Opera Philadelphia. Maestro Barbacini has also made a number of recordings, including a disc of opera arias with Denyce Graves and the Munich Radio Orchestra which is available on the RCA Red Seal label. Before becoming a conductor he enjoyed a successful career as a singer and sang the role of Gastone in Franco Zeffirelli’s film of La traviata (1983).

Diego Basso, conductor 

Maestro Diego Basso is the frequent protagonist of important musical projects in major Italian and foreign theaters and major television networks, working fluently in genres ranging from opera to pop, and symphonic rock to classical music, and on the occasion of major events, as in the unprecedented show between the artists of the International Salieri Award and the Grande Orchestra. His is an approach to music that aims to eliminate barriers, free emotions, and transmit continuity, connecting different worlds. His life and his choices prove it: he has always favored the encounter between different musical universes, from orchestras and great artists, through the most varied stages, from famous theatres to public squares to television.

He founded the Orchestra Ritmico Sinfonica Italiana in 2004, consisting of more than 100 elements and has a youth section of 40 musicians between the ages of 18 and 25 known as the Rhythmic Symphonic Young Orchestra. The teachers of the Italian Symphonic Rhythmic Orchestra accompany Maestro Diego Basso, who is the only conductor, in concerts all around Italy and the world. Most recently, Maestro Basso conducted the orchestra long with the Art Voice Academy PopChoir at the Arena di Verona, featuring Andrea Bocelli. Other recent project include the summer 2021 tour “Musicali,” “Diego Basso PLAYS QUEEN,” “Tribute to Ennio Morricone,” and “Roby Facchinetti Symphony.” 

Chiara Cremaschi, soprano

Chiara Cremaschi, a soprano from Lonigo in the province of Vicenza, approaches singing with the same passion she did when she joined Vicenza’s children's choir “Pueri Cantores,” where she trained and sang for ten years. With the choir she sang repertoire that ranged from sacred to baroque, from concerts to operas, performing in the most famous Italian and foreign cities and participating in international festivals and prestigious films. She also began studying piano and, at the age of 20, she began her studies in opera at the Lyric Academy of Verona, eventually joining the studio of mezzo-soprano Chiara Angella, who helped her hone her path as a coloratura lyric soprano, repertoire that has brought her extraordinary recognition. 

Upcoming roles include Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann, Norina in Don Pasquale, Despina in Così fan tutte, and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera. Chiara has won acclaim on many Italian and international stages, and is especially known for her interpretation of the famous Queen of the Night aria (Der Hölle Rache) from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Cremaschi now studies with mezzo-soprano Floriana Sovilla, and since 2022 she has collaborated with Maestro Diego Basso and his Italian Symphonic Rhythmic Orchestra.

Alessandro Lora, tenor

Alessandro Lora was born in Valdagno in the Vicenza province, among the green hills of the Agno valley, overlooked by the jagged peaks of the pre-Alps. Since childhood, his passion for music has been evident. After finishing his studies, Alessandro began a career as an entrepreneur while cultivating his passion for the “bel canto,” studying vocal technique in his spare time. He eventually began studying with internationally renowned tenor Gianfranco Cecchele, who immediately saw Alessandro’s enormous potential. From there, he met soprano Antonella Pianezzola, followed by tenor Paolo Barbacini and his twin brother, acclaimed conductor Maurizio Barbacini, who to this day helps Alessandro to hone his musical and vocal skills. 

Soon, Alessandro’s first successes in Italy were followed by several international performances. Mr. Lora boasts numerous important collaborations including those with conductors Maurizio Barbacini and Diego Basso, two internationally renowned conductors. Different artists, but united by the same passion and desire to transcend physical boundaries to highlight the importance of emotions. Through the dual tutelage of Maestro Barbacini’s expertise as a renowned conductor of the operatic world and Maestro Basso’s adept skills as an internationally recognized pop/contemporary orchestra conductor, Mr. Lora has had unparalleled guidance as the new Italian tenor.