Back by popular demand, The Regina Opera Company returned to Marine Park on Wednesday, July 13th for another outstanding performance by the Brooklyn-based opera company.
The opera was the second concert in the popular Marine Park Summer Concert series, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Jaime Williams.
The Regina Opera is always a big hit with the crowd, and this year was no different. Regina Opera soloists and instrumentalists welcomed the arrival of summer with a two-hour concert of popular operatic and instrumental selections, including arias from popular Broadway shows and famous operas.
Paolo Buffagni (tenor) gave heartfelt performances of “La donna e mobile” (Rigoletto) and “O sole mio” while the talented Daewon Seo (baritone) gave rousing performances of the “Toreador Song” (Carmen) and “Di provenza il mar il suol” (La Traviata). Lisa Bryce (soprano) belted out two tunes from Porgy and Bess, “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Summertime,” and Taerra Pence (soprano) wowed the audience with “Italian Street Song” (Naughty Marietta) and a well-known favorite from The King and I, “Shall we Dance.”
All performances were accompanied by the company’s flutist (Richard Paratley) and pianist (Victoria Ulanovskaya). Special violin performances by Mikhail Parkhomovsky delighted the crowd. A “Concerto for 2 violins” was performed by Parkhomovsky and Paratley.
The Marine Park concerts are sponsored in partnership with Kings Plaza, Nick’s Lobster House, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, District Manager Sue Ann Partnow, District Leader Frank Seddio, Millennium Development, NYC Parks, Marine Park Alliance and Marine Park Community Association.
The Regina Opera Company has been in existence for 52 years. Originally based in Dyker Heights for 42 years, the opera company’s year-round performance space has been at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, 5902 Sixth Avenue, in Sunset Park for the last 11 years. Visit reginaopera.org for more information.
The next concert will be held on Wednesday, July 27th, where Plastic Soul will perform 60s and 70s Classic Rock. Rain date is July 28th. All concerts start at 7 p.m. and are located on the lawn near the Bocce Court. Bring a blanket, chair, family and friends – and your dancing shoes!
Photos by Boris Gorin
