On November 2, CKUA is hosting a concert to celebrate the famous Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. It’s the finale of “O Mio Puccini Caro,” a concert tour commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Puccini. Soprano Cara Lianne McLeod and pianist Emilio De Mercato launched tour early in 2024. They will be joined by guest tenor Andrea Pinna. To complete the tour with a collaborative event in CKUA’s performance space is a lovely finale.
Bonus: Your ticket purchase supports CKUA! We’d love to see you there.
McLeod says that she and De Mercato met early in 2024 to plan a series that would honour Giacomo Puccini and his contributions to classical and operatic music. As the tour developed, they also wanted to find special venues that had pianos, and good acoustics.
Says De Mercato, “The idea was to have a tour in different venues and situations. From Sunday brunch to coffee to evening concerts, we wanted it to be accessible to different audiences. For the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death, we just wanted to celebrate his music and bring it to as many people as possible.”
Both performers are eager to express what Puccini means to the world and to them personally, even though their experiences are quite different. McLeod says, “I did not grow up with opera, but when you start a path of classical singing, you will hear his name. His operas are performed all over the world. The stories are such human stories. We have performed these pieces many times, and each time it gets deeper. The music serves the story and it so beautiful.”
De Mercato laughs, “I’m Italian, so I am biased.” He adds, “I have listened to opera since childhood, everywhere, all the time. I love the idea of doing something for this composer. His operas are known all over the world. His music reaches our souls. Even after many times in performance, it moves me: the intensity, the drama, the incredible melodies. His music will be performed for generations to come.”
It’s all about universal human emotions, says De Mercato. “When I think of Puccini operas, I think about love, and how love can be a source of both joy and pain. The music is about struggle, passion, and all the things that love produces in humans. This project is also to reach out to new generations, so young people will be exposed to this music!”
To have this finale performance take place in CKUA’s performance space is also significant for McLeod. “I was living in Fort Mc Murray when I started a music diploma. We were studying classical and blues and all kinds of music. If you’re flipping through radio stations, CKUA, is one of the only stations that plays it all. And what’s amazing about CKUA is the stories. The stories of the composers, the artists. It’s not just a playlist. It goes deeper than that with CKUA. That is important to me. CKUA is a fantastic resource.”
De Mercato adds, “I have been living in Edmonton for 12 years, and this is the first time I will perform in CKUA’s performance space. It’s exciting. I think that it’s great for us to support CKUA and bring a unique event to the community.”
Everyone is welcome at the event, which will include piano solos, duets, arias, and art songs.
Find all the information on the CKUA Events Calendar.
