Soprano Lucia Conte.

Thailand Cultural Centre will be transformed into an opera house on May 25 when Italian singers perform in the bel canto style of early-19th opera buffa masters.

Presented as part of the Great Artists Concert Series 2014, the “Gala Italiano — Opera Highlight Arias” concert will see the esteemed Carlo Magni conduct the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Four vocal soloists — soprano Lucia Conte, mezzo soprano Paola Cacciatori, tenor David Sotgiu and bassist Giuseppe Ranoia — will also perform. The show will start at 8pm.

The lighthearted first half of the programme will begin with the overture to The Barber Of Seville by Rossini. The more serious second half will focus on the powerful, dramatic and often tragic style of Romantic period opera master Giuseppe Verdi, arguably the most iconic Italian opera figure.

Bassist Giuseppe Ranoia.

His rousing Va, Pensiero, Sull’ali Dorate — famously known as the Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves — will conclude the concert with all four singers performing together. This will be preceded by the vocal quartet Un Di Se Ben Rammentomi from audience favourite Rigoletto.

Conte will perform Donizetti’s solo So Anchio La Airtu Magica from Don Pasquale, duets from the same composer’s Lucia Di Lammermoor with Sotgiu and Bellini’sI Capuleti E I Montecchi with Cacciatori.

Sotgiu will render the first solo aria of the concert, Una Furtive Lagrima from The Elixir Of Love. The lovely Cavatina Di Rosina from The Barber Of Seville will be Cacciatori’s solo, a piece she has performed many times in cities such as Istanbul, Beirut, Rabat and Damascus.

Ranoia will complete the line-up with two solo arias. The basso buffo style of comedic Don Basilio’s La Calunnia E Un Venticello will be complemented by the basso profundo Aria Di Attila by Verdi.

Tenor David Sotgiu.

- Tickets cost 400-2,000 baht and can be purchased from Thai Ticket Major booths (visit www.thaiticketmajor.com or call 02-262-3456).

- Call 02-255-66178 or 02-254-4954.

Conductor Carlo Magni.

Mezzo soprano Paola Cacciatori.