The Italian American Opera Foundation, that for the past two years has produced the Italian Opera Festival ™ (IOF) in Orange County, has announced today the program for its expanded 2014/2015 season, with a preview concert on October 26th at the Performing Art Center of Soka University, in the marvelous City of Aliso Viejo, and three new dates: March 20th, 21st in Los Angeles and March 22nd in Orange County.

"The mission of the IOF has always been to bring Italian Excellence to the US, and Southern California in particular, and we are excited to be able to continue to deliver great performances to our audiences in Orange County and now extend the reach to Los Angeles County." Proudly announces Maestro Stefano Vignati, Founder and Artistic Director of the Italian American Opera Foundation.

Bulgari, the fine Italian jeweler, confirmed the presenting sponsorship for the 2014/2015 season. "We are delighted once more, to support Italian Excellence in the world through our collaboration with the IOF." Says Alberto Festa, Bulgari President USA: "Bulgari has been setting the pace for Italian style in jewelry, watches accessories, fragrances and leather goods all over the world, " says Claudio Ferri, Managing Director of the Italian American Opera Foundation, "and we are honored to have them again as presenting sponsor." To support IOF's new season Turkish Airlines came on board as one of the main sponsors, together with Maserati, Urbani Truffles, Bisazza and Italian Tramer Art Lounge. 

"All Puccini's Heroines", a tribute to Giacomo Puccini is the Concert program of October 26th

with Mariangela Spotorno as Guest Star Soprano and the IAOF Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Stefano Vignati.

During the Concert there will be also an intermission with a cast of outstanding young singers, winners of the 7 Stars Project, who will be awarded and will be performing arias and opera

duets.

About principal Artists:

Maestro Stefano Vignati began his professional career in 1990 he earnest, conducting Concerts and Opera in Italian theatres and enlarging his area of experience in Europe, China and United States. His operatic repertoire includes more than thirty Operas already debuted.

He conducted many important international Orchestras like: the Franco Ferrara Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra di Roma e del Lazio (Italy), the Amarillo Symphony (US), the UNM Symphony Orchestra (US), South-west German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim (Germany), the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra (China), the Accademia Barocca of Santa Cecilia (Italy).

He has collaborated and recorded several CDs with re-knowed Artists as: Lina Wertmuller, Bruno Praticò, Janet Perry, Alexander Malta, Ramin Bahrami, Pierre Amoyal, Benedetto Lupo, Svetla Vassileva, Alfonso Antoniozzi, Michele Campanella, Maria Solozobova, Nicola Ulivieri, Alice Baker, Accademia Barocca di S. Cecilia.

He conducted in 2007 and 2008 two important productions "Le Nozze di Figaro" and "Il Barbiere di Sivigklia" and was invited to conduct a concert for the series "I Concerti di Rai Tre" all three produced and boadcasted by RAI - Italian Radio/Television.

Next engagements: Symphonic Concert with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra (QinTai Concert Hall, Whuan China November 2014), Symphonic Concert (Zurich Tonhalle, May 2015), "Così fan tutte" (Italy, July 2015).

Maestro Vignati in January 2011 has been nominated Artistic and Music Director of one of the most important European Festival, the Festival Barocco di Viterbo (44th edition). He was born in Rome (Italy), where he studied Pianoforte and Composition under the guidance of noted Maestri C. Savelloni, C. Ricci and T. Procaccini. He also studied History and Musical Analysis at the University "La Sapienza" in Rome with Prof. P. Luigi Petrobelli, obtaining the highest honors. Maestro Vignati has studied Conducting and participated in International Masterclasses with H. Baumann, A. Joo, N. Hansalik Samale, and V. Delman. He also earned the Artist Diploma in Conducting at the University of Denver under the guidance of

Lawrence Golan.

Maria Angela Spotorno, winner of the "Placido Domingo" Competition, she started collecting important successes playing alongside world renokwn artists such as Ruggero Raimondi and Vincenzo La Scola. Shortly after she landed the leading role next to Placido Domingo at the Turku Arena in Finland. Jose Carreras wants her with him for his 25th commemorative concert for his carreer at the Arena di Verona.

She played Desdemona in the Verdi's Otello at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna for the opening season, together with tenor Kristian Johansson conducted by M° Thielemann, she played Susanna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at the Teatro Comunale di Cagliari and at the Glindebourne Opera Festival is Manon Lescaut directed by Sir Elliot Gardner.

At the Massimo "Bellini" theater in Catania she was Antonia in the "I Racconti di Hoffmann" by Offenbach, conducted by M° Alain Lombard and directed by Hugo De Ana. Alongside Andrea Bocelli she toured France, Italy and Germany. She was the lead in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Trapani Festival and the critics rave about her performance of Tosca at the Teatro Comunale of Salerno under baton of M° Nicola Luisotti.

About the 7 Stars Project:

THE SEVEN STARS PROJECT

The Seven Stars is a project dedicated to up and coming lyric talents.

The Italian American Opera Foundation (IAOF) in partnership with Viterbo Artemusica, Italian non-profit

organization, is offering to 7 extraordinary young talents the opportunity to debut in the 3rd edition of the Italian Opera Festival™ in Aliso Vejo (October 26) and in the 9th edition of the Tuscia Operafestival in Italy (Rome and Viterbo, July 2015). The 7 winning talents will receive a scholarship of $4,000 that will go toward their travelling expenses to Italy. Throughout the Festival, the 7 young talents will have the opportunity to perform in concerts, recitals and full Opera productions and to work together with world-reknown artists.

Moreover the 7 winners will be able to audition for international talent management companies and to attend, free of charge, the master classes offered in the US by the Italian Opera Studio™ starting in January 2015.

The Winners of the Seven Stars Project 2014

Leah McIntire Barnett, Soprano

Abigaille Grosche, Isobel Anthony, Sopranos

Pamela Williamson, Mezzosoprano

Alfredo Martirena, Tenor

Daniel Grambow, Bariton

Sean Galligan, Bass-Bariton

About The Italian American Opera Foundation

The Italian American Opera Foundation (IAOF) was created with the aspiration to develop a cultural bridge between Italy and the United States.

Italian American Opera Foundation was formed to unite the most talented young Opera singers and musicians in an ensemble that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries – all in the common pursuit of musical excellence and to create a community for their families and the people that support their passion for music.

The purpose of the Foundation is to rekindle a passion for Opera by bringing large productions and Master Classes to United States and with them a taste of Italy, its culture, arts and style.

Italian American Opera Foundation will design and produce an Italian Opera Festival in California from Oct 24, 25, 26 2014. The Foundation is also implementing a variety of programs that will provide unprecedented opportunities for young local artists and disadvantaged children in the community to learn and appreciate Opera with the help of many internationally renowned artists. IAOF is a non-profit organization with 501c3 status

Program Details:

Sunday October 26th, 2014 - at 3:00 p.m.

(SOKA • Performing Arts Center)

ALL PUCCINI'S HEROINES (Opera Gala)

Excerpts from:

La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Tosca

Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, Le Villi

Manon Lescaut, La Rondine, Turandot

Mariangela Spotorno, Soprano

& the Winners of the Seven Stars Project 2014

IAOF Philharmonic Orchestra

Stefano Vignati, Conductor

The Winners of the Seven Stars Project 2014

Leah McIntire Barnett, Soprano

Abigaille Grosche, Isobel Anthony, Sopranos

Pamela Williamson, Mezzosoprano

Alfredo Martirena, Tenor

Daniel Grambow, Bariton

Sean Galligan, Bass Bariton