Benefit concert sets the stage for a worthy cause
Left: Benefactor Mr. Aaron Fish outlines some of the urgent needs for the College's auditorium.
Right: Annamaria Popescu '79 congratulates Léa Weilbrenner-Lebeau '09 for a wonderful performance that opened the show.
As part of the Moving hearts and minds Capital Campaign, Aaron and Wally Fish (parents of Ariela '02 and Chiara '03) hosted a cocktail and private recital last May by world-renowned soprano Annamaria Popescu '79.
Ms. Popescu is a graduate of the Marianopolis music program and returned to her alma mater for an exclusive performance in our beautiful Art Deco auditorium before starring in the Opéra de Montréal's production of Madama Butterfly. She was accompanied by renowned pianist Esther Gonthier.
Mr. and Mrs. Fish graciously hosted this special evening in an effort to raise $200,000 to modernize our auditorium and ensure that this impressive venue will provide a professional quality stage for our students and the community.
Thanks to the generous support of our alumni, parents and friends, over $51,000 has been raised so far. Some of the much-needed improvements that these funds will provide include:
- new stage lighting and catwalk
- floor-to-ceiling stage curtains for use duing year-round concerts and theatre productions
- new control booth for managing light, sound and performance recordings
- 20,000 lumen LCD projector and electronic projections screen for use during lectures and presentations
- new 9 foot concert grand piano from Steinway & Sons.
These necessary upgrades will not only enhance the auditorium to the benefit of our talented students, but will offer a valuable means to generate rental revenue while supporting performing arts activities throughout the city.
For more information on this project, or to donate, contact Barth Gillan, Moving hearts and minds campaign director.
Annamaria Popescu '79
After graduating from the College in 1979, the mezzo-soprano continued her musical education at McGill University and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. She became a member of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal before making her debut in 1990. Six years later, she became the fifth Canadian woman to perform at La Scala. Since then, Ms. Popescu has been the Canadian singer to perform most often at this legendary opera house. Milan has been her home since 1999.
Her repertoire includes Tancredi, Orfeo, Carmen, Italiana in Algeri, Fenena in Nabucco, Erika in Vanessa, Arsace in Semiramide and Malcolm in Donna del Lago, as well as symphony works by Bach, Brahms, Elgar, Handel, Haydn, Mahler, Reger and Vivaldi.
A native Montrealer, Ms. Popescu returns often to Canada to appear with many opera companies and orchestras across the country. This past spring, she played the role of Suzuki in the Opéra de Montréal’s production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
