Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

A Class Act: Marianne Cornetti Wows Audience

in Stunning Benefit Performance

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette names Cornetti Concert one of Pittsburgh's 10 best in 2005 - Read About It!
 

It was an event rivaling New York's Carnegie Hall - but it was Carnegie's Carnegie Music Hall where hundreds of patrons reveled in a stunning Nov. 20 performance by internationally acclaimed opera star Marianne Cornetti.

Cornetti performed more than a dozen opera arias and popular songs by such artists as Verdi, Cilea, Donizetti, De Curtis and Gounod. She brought audience members to their feet three times, rewarding them with an equal number of encores. A portico created for Stage 62's recent production of "Once Upon a Mattress" provided the perfect operatic backdrop for Cornetti's outstanding performance.

Music critic Eric Haines of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette used such accolades as "knockout" and "blockbuster" to describe Cornetti's performance. "Consummate artistry aside, the draw with Cornetti was the voice itself. It's the huge, natural instrument of a true Verdi mezzo," Haines wrote. Click here to read the Post-Gazette's review of the performance.

A native of Cabot in nearby Butler County, Cornetti paused near the end of the concert to reflect on the time her mother urged her to follow her dreams. She urged the audience to "keep the dream alive" for the aging library and music hall by persevering with efforts to restore, renovate and revitalize the historic landmark. She then sang a stirring rendition of "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music.

The benefit concert raised $54,000 for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall. The proceeds will benefit the $8.6 million capital campaign and provide operating funds for the facility.

Jim Cunningham of WQED, who served as master of ceremonies, pointed out to the audience that the Music Hall is modeled after New York's Carnegie Hall and is "acoustically excellent." Cornetti was accompanied by pianist Mark Trawka, director of musical studies for the Pittsburgh Opera Center.

Patrons attending the dinner were treated to an elegant pre-concert supper in the newly refurbished Reception Hall. All concert-goers were invited to a fabulous post-concert dessert reception. The newly installed elevator - funded through Phase I of the campaign - premiered for its first public event that evening.

Cornetti, who joined concert attendees at the reception, is one of opera's most exciting Verdi voices. In the past two seasons, she had made international debuts at theaters including the Teatro alla Scala 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 Bouillion in Adriana Lecouvreur. Her recent recording with Placido Domingo in the opera Edgar by Puccini, will be released on the Sony Label in December 2005.

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. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently named Cornetti to its list of Top 50 Pittsburgh expatriates who continue to represent the city's artistic culture, even after they've left town.

Click here to listen to a 2005 recording of Cornetti singing Condotta ell'era in ceppi from Verdi's "Il Travatore." (The audio quality has been slightly degraded to facilitate faster downloading of this file.) Cornetti sang Condotta ell'era in ceppi on Sunday night.

Special thanks to all the volunteers and generous attendees who helped make the event such a success. Our heartfelt thanks go to members of the Event Steering Committee for their hard work and support.

Steering Committee members are: Dolores Smith Barber and Dr. John Barber, Nadine Bognar, Jean and Sigo Falk, Barbara and Ted Frantz, Clare and Charles Goetz, Katie and Tucker Gordan, Amy Janocha, Rose and Michael Kutsenkow, Katie and Jim Leyland, Betsy Martin, Diane and Ron Moehler, Molly Stockdale and Chris Ott, Kaveri Subbarao and Jonathan Nauhaus, and Judy and Tom Thompson.

Selected pictures taken at the event follow.
 

Baseball enthusiast Marianne Cornettie with opera enthusiast Lanny Frattare	Long-time Cornetti Fans: front: Gene Smith, Dolores Smith Barger, Carol Russell, Camille Goern, Nancy Traina and Harry Goren; back: Ed Smith, Stan Russell, John Barber and John Traina
WQED's Jim Cunningham, who served as emcee for program, with event sponsor Nadine Bognar and event steering committee member Rose Kutsenkow	Campaign Co-Chair Bill Manby with Bill Pysh, in from Erie, (both Bills Carnegie H.S. 1951)
ACFL&MH Trustee Rosanna Bogats and husband Ed celebrates their48th wedding anniversary at the benefit	Marianne Cornetti warming up with accompanist Mark Trawka