Tenor Salvatore Licitra, star at Bel Canto Foundation Gala alvatore Licitra was born in Bern, Switzerland and talian Tenor Salvatore Sstudied in Parma where in 1998 he made his debut Licitra - who became at the Teatro Regio in Un Ballo in Maschera. He gar- an overnight sensation nered international attention later that year when he I unexpectedly inaugurated the 1998 Arena di Verona, when substituted on short notice Luciano Pavarotti again in Ballo. The following year Maestro Riccardo at the Metropolitan Opera Muti brought him to La Scala for a new production of La in 2002 - was the highlight Forza del Destino. In May 2002 Mr. Licitra stepped in at the black-tie gala for the on short notice for Luciano Pavarotti at the Metropolitan Bel Canto Foundation on Opera where the legendary tenor was scheduled to sing September 2010. his operatic farewell in Tosca. A sold-out theater plus Tenor Salvatore Licitra 3,000 additional fans watching a live relay on the Lincoln performed arias of various Center Plaza gave the debutante a prolonged standing famous operas accompanied ovation. AP predicted “For Salvatore Licitra, it’s just the by Maestro Kerry Stratton Salvatore Licitra sings accompanied by Kerry Stratton and The Toronto beginning” hailing the debut as “the most triumphant” in and The Toronto Concert Concert Orchestra recent memory.” Mr. Licitra makes his home in Lugano Orchestra. The over 800 and New York. people attending the Gala were delighted by Licitra’s performance, tributing the famous Tenor with a long standing ovation.Hosted by Sam Ciccolini, a past Gala honoree, the Gala featured performances by Aradia Ensemble and by some of Canada’s finest young up- and-coming opera singers, who have just returned from In the picture (sitting) Suzanne Cesaroni and Ms. training and coaching from Bardini. Standing Salvatore Licitra with the Ciccolini Opera singers participating to the C.O.S.I. program in Sulmona, Abruzzo international specialists in brothers and Gianni Bardini Consul General of Italy. many aspects of italian op- public’s appreciation of a music performance and era, in the medioeval town italian opera, and support- education program of the of Sulmona, in Italy’s Abru- ing young operatic talent in University of Toronto’s Fac- zzo region. Gerard Heffer- their pursuit of Italian opera ulty of Music. Established man, OC and Gerardine Hef- studies. in 2007, C.O.S.I. provides ferman, were honored at the The young singers perform- Canada’s finest young event for their outstanding ing at the Gala were aided operatic performers with an contributions to the operatic by funds raised by the Bel advanced and comprehen- arts. The Bel canto founda- Canto Foundation in sup- sive program of professional tion is a registered charity Cosimo Crupi port of the Centre for Opera training in italian Opera, Tenor Salvatore Licitra and Salvatore Licitra with Grace dedicated to increasing the and Salvatore Licitra Studies in Italy (C.O.S.I.), language and culture. soprano Lucia Cesaroni Isgro and her husband.