Italian Opera Meets Jazz is a project dedicated to Neapolitan songs, Puccini and Verdi arias, intertwined with jazz, blues and Afro-Cuban rhythms, creating a truly unique soundscape. Dutch pianist Mike del Ferro is an internationally recognized artist who has performed in more than half of the world’s countries, giving both solo concerts and participating in various so-called crossover projects of contemporary music. Del Ferro has also collaborated with such jazz legends as Toots Thielemans and Jack DeJohnette.

Legendary Italian arias will be sung in Riga by Dutch-based American opera diva Claron McFadden, whose extraordinary soprano allows her to seamlessly combine classical music with jazz and traditional repertoire with modern. McFadden’s musical versatility has earned her the Amsterdam Prize for the Arts as well as leading roles in operas at the prestigious Glyndebourne and Salzburg Festivals. In Riga, both outstanding guests will perform together with the no less brilliant chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga under the direction of conductor Normunds Šnē.

CLARON McFADDEN voice
MIKE DEL FERRO piano
FRANS VAN DER HOEVEN bass
ROY DACKUS drums
SINFONIETTA RIGA conducted by NORMUNDS ŠNĒ