Arlington concert honors Italian Americans

Opera singer Angela Pregano headlines an Italian-themed concert July 21 in Arlington that will honor the area’s widespread Italian- American community.

Italian restaurants are being solicited to sponsor the unusual Opera NOVA concert, which will feature opera favorites plus a few Italian-themed pop tunes.

Italy was singled out for the concert because, as Luciano Pavarotti once said, “Opera is the blood of Italians, or at least of this Italian and many others, and I want to see it survive and flourish.”

Pregano, a soprano, sings regularly with the Washington National Opera and has sung the national anthem at numerous sporting events. She has sung several times in Sicily. Three of her songs will be by the renowned Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini

Along with Pregano, other singers include Alex Alburqueque, Cara Gonzalez, Eduardo Castro and Jose Sacin.

The concert will be held at 3 p.m. at Wakefield High School, 1325 S. Dinwiddie St in Arlington, with general admission seats $20. Tickets will be sold at the door, but reservations are recommended at 703-536-7557 or mcdm1@verizon.net. Details at www.operanova.org.

Opera NOVA is Virginia’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to sharing the musical and cultural riches of opera, particularly those with historically little operatic exposure or opportunities.