Our Cio-Cio San

Soprano Carol Ann Manzi will grace our stage with her performance as Butterfly. We heard Carol Ann at two of our concerts last summer, Opera on the Terrace and Opera in the Vineyards. If you were fortunate enough to hear the final aria at Opera in the Vineyards, you were lucky indeed. As Carol Ann, Sally Mouzon (Suzuki in Butterfly) and Christopher Bengochea wandered through the audience singing, I know that I, and those around me, felt swept up into the performances. It was really magical.

Most recently, she performed at our Night of the Butterfly Gala in a memorable preview of Butterfly's most famous aria, "Un bel di." More than one person was dabbing their eyes by the time she was done.

Carol Ann first performed the role with Abeline Opera, and has also sung with Connecticut Opera, Eugene Opera, Sarasota Opera and the Tanglewood Music Festival among others. Ms. Manzi is a cancer survivor who provides key-note speeches for organizations across the United States. I invite you to visit her website: carolannmanzi.com. There you can read some wonderful reviews as well as getting more information about her singing and speaking.