La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita (The Beautiful Life!) offers an enchanting experience of beautiful Italian repertoire throughout the ages brought to life by Eugene Vocal Arts with our superb chamber orchestra and exquisite soloists. Vivaldi’s vibrant Magnificat is the cornerstone of this program, which spans the centuries from madrigals of Marenzio and Monteverdi to the avant-garde experimental music of Luciano Berio. The Romantic Era makes a powerful appearance with selections from Rossini’s haunting Petite Messe Solennelle, originally composed for chamber choir, soloists, two pianos, and harmonium—designed for performance in his own home.

Our professional soprano and mezzo soloists will charm the audience with their duets, interweaving their voices in both the Vivaldi and Rossini works. Barbara Baird will captivate us all with a fascinating extended solo on the harmonium, offering a rare opportunity to experience the rich, expressive sound of this instrument. Mezzo Ágnes Vojtkó tears at our heart with the plaintive "Lamento della Ninfa" from Monteverdi’s 8th book of madrigals – a precursor to the birth of opera – and Soprano Arwen Myers brings a unique twist with Berio’s Neo-Baroque setting of Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday,” creating a poetic link to the final concert of our 51st season.