10/21/2004

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

For photo of Ms. Cornetti: CLICK HERE

 CABOT NATIVE OPERA SINGER MARIANNE CORNETTI TO RAISE SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa., -- Internationally acclaimed opera singer Marianne Cornetti, a native of Cabot, will present several Giuseppe Verdi’s opera works when she performs at the Slippery Rock University Scholarship Benefit Concert set for 8 p.m. Nov. 6.

          The concert, held in Swope Recital Hall, is under the direction of Dr. Colleen Gray Neubert, assistant professor of music and coordinator of vocal studies at SRU. Mark Trawka, a member of the Pittsburgh Opera, will be the accompanist.

          Tickets are $10 for the general public with contributions above general admission accepted to benefit the music department’s vocal scholarship fund. Those contributing $25 or more will be listed in the program and invited to an after-concert reception with the artist. Call 724-738-2335 for details.

Cornetti has recently emerged as one of the most exciting Verdi voices. In the last two seasons, she has made international debuts at major theaters, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan; Vienna State Opera; Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova; Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma; Teatro Bellini; Catania, at the Arena di Verona; and in Tokyo. She has won unanimous acclaim as Amneris in “Aida,” Azucena in “Il Trovatore,” Eboli in “Don Carlos” and as the Principessa di Bouillon in “Adriana Lecouvreur.”

In the 2004/2005 season she will return to the Metropolitan Opera as Ulrica in “Un Ballo in Maschera” and as Amneris in “Aida,” a role she also sings for her debut at the Theatre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels. She will return to the Vienna State Opera as Eboli and makes her debut at the Bregenz Fesitval in the summer of 2005 as Azucena in Robert Carsen’s new production of “Il Trovatore.” Cornetti will also be heard in Montpellier in Cilea’s L’Arlesiana and a CD will be produced from the live performances. Future projects include her debut in Munich as Azucena under Zubin Mehta, “Aida” at the Teatro Regio, Turin, Azucena for her debut in Parma as well as in Japan with the Teatro Comunale of Bologna.

A graduate of Duquesne University with a major in vocal performance, Cornetti undertook graduate studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music and at EPCASO Oderzo in Italy. She began her professional career singing supporting roles in important theaters such as the Metropolitan Opera, Pittsburgh Opera Center and in Wolf Trap.

PN, PgN, WPN, PR