Program:
Antonio Cesti: Intorno all’idol mio – Aria from Orontea 
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Se tu m’ami
Giuseppe Verdi: Composizioni da camera – 1. In solitaria stanza, 2. Brindisi
Richard Wagner – Franz Liszt: Isoldes Liebestod
Franz Liszt: Sonetti di Petrarca – 1. Pace non trovo, 2. Benedetto sia 'l giorno
***** 
Francesco Paolo Tosti: Canzoni d'Amaranta – 1. Lasciami! Lascia ch'io respiri, 2. L’alba separa dalla luce l'ombra 
Ottorino Respighi: Rispetti Toscani – 1. Quando nasceste voi, 2. Venitelo a veder 
Sergei Rachmaninov: Mélodie Op. 3/3
Francesco Cilea: Io son l’umile ancella – Aria from Adriana Lecouvreur
Giuseppe Lillo: Domani, oh me felice – Aria from L’osteria di Andujar
Featuring:
Karine Babajanyan – soprano
Alessandro Amoretti – piano
An evening full of rich tones and emotions awaits the audience with a diverse program: from Italian Baroque and bel canto traditions through Romantic songwriting to the world of grand opera.
The first part features intimate love songs by Antonio Cesti, Paisiello and Giuseppe Verdi, followed by Wagner's poignant Liebestod in Liszt's virtuoso transcription. Franz Liszt's Petrarch sonnets crown the first part with their passionate poetry and refined piano texture. In the second part, the audience can enjoy the great Italian song cycles of Francesco Paolo Tosti and Ottorino Respighi, which enchant with their melodic intensity and folk song-like elegance. The evening's highlight is a selection of opera excerpts: an aria from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur and an excerpt from Lillo's L'osteria di Andujar.
Karine Babajanyan (soprano) and Alessandro Amoretti (piano) – two internationally renowned artists – invite the audience on a musical journey full of passion, virtuosity and expressiveness.
Karine Babajanyan
Karine Babajanyan, a German-Armenian soprano, graduated with distinction from the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan and perfected her vocal technique in Rome and Milan. Her singing career began in Germany and led her to the Stuttgart State Opera from 2003 to 2011, where she excelled in leading roles. The internationally celebrated soprano has performed at renowned opera houses around the world. She received the prestigious R. Wagner Scholarship for her portrayal of Senta in The Flying Dutchman. Her most recent notable debuts include Tosca at the Vienna State Opera (DVD), Lisa in Pique Dame at the Toulon Opera, Elena in Mefistofele at the Teatro Lirico Cagliari and the soprano part in Les Noces by I. Strawinsky at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She shone as Sieglinde in Budapest in Die Walküre under the direction of Adam Fischer and thrilled audiences in Tosca and Madama Butterfly at the Puccini Festival. She sang the title role in P. Mascagni’s opera Iris at the Konzerthaus Berlin and was nominated for the prestigious OPUS Klassik Award (album available on OehmsClassics). Her solo album Puccini Arias was released by EMI Classics.
Alessandro Amoretti
Vocal coach and pianist Alessandro Amoretti, born in Livorno, Italy, is renowned for his work in prestigious international music institutions. He has freelanced since 2011 after serving as Studienleiter at the Opera Theatres in Bremen and Weimar, Germany. Alessandro has worked as a vocal coach at various Opera Houses and festivals worldwide, such as Vienna State Opera, Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne Festival. In the last years, Alessandro keeps an intense cooperation as music assistant of Maestro Enrique Mazzola in several Opera productions. He has also given masterclasses at institutions such as the Sibelius Academy and the Royal Danish Opera Academy. Alessandro has performed as a pianist accompanist in several countries and as a continuo player with orchestras like the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Weimar.