CELEBRATING FIGARO: A Night of Opera, Language, and Culture
On Wednesday, October 15th, the Italian Cultural Society headquarters in Bethesda hosted a wonderful evening dedicated to the Week of the Italian Language in the World, held under the patronage of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Francesca Casazza, Executive Director of the Italian Cultural Society, who introduced the event and our distinguished guests. She was followed by Francesca Vanoli from the Embassy of Italy, who shared the importance of this year’s theme, “Italofonia: Lingua oltre i confini”, emphasizing how Italian transcends borders—and how opera is one of the most powerful cultural expressions of the Italian language beyond borders.
Next, Francesca Zambello, Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera, took the stage to share fascinating insights about the Kennedy Center’s ongoing opera season. She highlighted the upcoming performances of Aida and Le Nozze di Figaro, offering behind-the-scenes perspectives and the artistic vision that continues to make WNO a cornerstone of Italian opera in Washington, D.C.
The evening continued with Maestro Diego Rodriguez, Director of the ICS Music School, who guided the audience through the story of The Marriage of Figaro, and introduced each aria performed by the Cafritz Young Artists, whose extraordinary voices brought Mozart’s humor, emotion, and elegance to life.
Guests concluded the night with refreshments and conversation, celebrating the beauty of Italian music, language, and community.
🎥 Missed the event? Watch the full recording on YouTube:
Watch here
Visit our Upcoming Events page to see what’s next at ICS.
