Lina de la Torre

Having completed the first phase of the restoration of the buildings and the historic rural landscape in June of 2016,  with the support of Fondazione Zegna, FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the National Trust for Italy) is proud to open …

Why has Madame Butterfly endured within the modern opera repertory and become a favorite of audiences throughout the world? One reason might be that the immensity of the tragedy carries audiences to new emotional depths. The story of an innocent …

Looking for a new city to add to your itinerary on your next visit to Italy?  Turin has a lot to offer.    Turin is one of the more prominent cities of Italy but is relatively undiscovered by tourists. It …

There was a lull in the city of Perugia during the week leading up to the Umbria Jazz 2016 festival before the jazz fans arrive and fill the city to the brim.  A few scattered tourists milled around the Piazza …

The dynamic and talented Speranza Scappucci was in Los Angeles preparing for her West Coast debut as a conductor for the LA Opera production of La bohème recently. She brings to that production her diverse international experience, derived from an …

Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, is a picturesque town in the province of Perugia within the region of Umbria.  The stunning Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi crowns the top of the hill and dominates the landscape of …

What better theme could there be for an opera than the intense rivalry for the English throne between the two real-life queens: Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I of England? It is hard to imagine a more compelling …

The Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) held an event called the FAI Marathon on Sunday October 18th. The event is a unique kind of ‘cultural marathon’ to be experienced by the participant as a self-guided tour of discovery of the sights …

You may not have heard of Le comte Ory (Count Ory) by Gioacchino Rossini.  Don’t feel too badly if you are unfamiliar with this work; many seasoned opera-goers have not yet seen it.  Count Ory was the penultimate opera that …

Seattle Opera is presenting a bold production of the Marriage of Figaro set against a backdrop of mobile modern sets that help visually illustrate the events within the complicated and twisted plot.  The audience is treated to a series of …