Rapla Cultural Centre
July 13 at 7 PM
OPERA GALA
in cooperation with the Carlo Bergonzi Verdi Academy
Opera soloists of the 11th Rapla International Summer Academy

Sopranos Marion Melnik, Laura Olev, Maria Leppoja, Laura-Retti Laos, Marta Ojasoo, Viktoriya Lykova,
Lioneta Roze (LV), Valeria Kolikovan (UA), Anna Boksha (UA), Servane Brochard (FR),

Naira Hatšaturjan metsosopran

Tenorid Simo Kekäläinen (FI), Damián Fanis (US), Daniil Lugovsky (LV), Paolo Breda Bulgherini bass (IT)

Renowed baritone Marco Camastra (IT)

Accompanist Simone Marziali (IT)

Simone Marziali studied classical piano at the Fiesole School of Music, early music at the Roman Philharmonic Academy, and opera conducting at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy. He has won first prizes in several national and international piano competitions, including the J.S. Bach Competition in Sestri Levante and the Città di Stresa International Piano Competition. For over 12 years, he served as principal répétiteur and assistant conductor at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago and has worked in opera houses around the world, including Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Teatro del Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo, the Opéra d’Avignon in France, Opera Australia in Melbourne, NHK in Tokyo, the "Luciano Pavarotti" Theatre in Modena, and the opera house in Palma de Mallorca. Marziali has collaborated with renowned singers such as Plácido Domingo, Raina Kabaivanska, Katia Ricciarelli, Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armiliato, Nicola Martinucci, Patrizia Ciofi, Norma Fantini, Stefania Bonfadelli, and others. He has assisted conductors including Alberto Veronesi, Kery Lynn Wilson, Roberto Tolomelli, Antonio Pirolli, Massimo de Bernart, and Andrea Licata. His wide-ranging experience makes him a highly respected accompanist and vocal coach among opera singers worldwide. He regularly organizes and leads masterclasses with renowned vocalists and artistic directors, including Stefania Bonfadelli, Cristina Park, Marco Balderi, Franco Trinca, and Gundula Hintz. His masterclasses have been held in places such as Ariadimusica Music School in Rome with Bonfadelli, the PLMF competition in Tallinn, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and with Cristina Park and Marco Balderi in Rome, Lucca, Gubbio, and Andria, as well as the Rachmaninoff School in St. Petersburg, Helikon Opera and Lemeshev School in Moscow, and recently at the Carlo Bergonzi Academy in Busseto with Alberto Gazale, Fabio Armiliato, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Ugo Tarquini, and Alberto Paloscia. Marziali conducted a tour of Aida across major theaters in Belgium and the Netherlands in a prestigious production directed by Francesco Bellotto (Artistic Director of Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo) with set design by Angelo Sala (former stage director of La Scala in Milan). Another critically acclaimed production was Madama Butterfly at the Teatro Lirico in Casciana Terme. In 2022, he successfully conducted Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and Puccini’s La Bohème at the Taranto Opera Festival. Currently, Marziali is a faculty member at the Carlo Bergonzi Academy in Busseto, collaborating with internationally renowned artists and singers. He is frequently invited to serve on juries at major international opera competitions. Marziali is also the founder of the Musikos music agency in Florence, representing world-renowned singers and international young talents. https://www.musikos.it