Two years ago, during the summer of 2021, I had the honor of being commissioned to write an original work for Opera Italiana. At the same time, I had my piece performed live by this incredible orchestra in Central Park, for passersby and invited guests alike. Although two years have come and gone, Opera Italiana has remained a wonderful opportunity in my musical career. As someone who is currently studying composition for orchestral instruments, working with Opera Italiana has provided invaluable experience in this field. Since Opera Italiana, I’ve embarked on some ambitious and at times daunting musical projects through school. But after this experience, I not only gained important skills in writing for orchestra, but the confidence to take on these endeavors. I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity with Opera Italiana, and I’m excited to see how it continues to inspire and uplift future young composers.

— Mondriana Villegas | NY, October 2023

Attending Opera Italiana created such a strong positive emotion that we decided to get married that evening.

— Anonymous | Rome, May 2021

"Harold could not see but he could hear the beauty of all before him. His senses were alive. It was an experience he talked about afterwards to friends for the next weeks." "When I look back, that evening was a turning point for us. It showed us we can still find beauty in our life together."

— Harold's husband speaking about how Harold's eye-sight loss in 2020 affected their life together during the pandemic | NY, June 2021

“Dear Maestro Casellati -
What a joyous and wonderful concert you gave at the Naumberg bandshell this past week!
On behalf of the Very Young Composers of the New York Philharmonic and especially the young people themselves, I wish to congratulate you and thank you profoundly for the great work you have done, and for your inclusion of our youngest generation of composers.”

— Jon Deak, Founder and director, the Very Young Composers New York Philharmonic | NY, June 2021

 "Having witnessed the enthusiastic reception given to Alvise Casellati's Opera Italiana Concert in Central Park last summer, I am looking forward to the 2018 concert. I hope that this will become an annual event, because it brings pleasure to people who are already opera fans and introduces newcomers to this great art form."

— Harvey Sachs, Author of the Toscanini Biography and journalist for the New York Times, New Yorker, The Times Literary | NY, July 2017

"This was a fun evening that made audiences appreciate the power of opera. One hopes that as life gets back to normal, opera companies will consider more of these outdoor concerts as they reach not only opera lovers but new audiences."

— Francisco Salazar, Operawire | NY, June 2021

"Go to Central Park and enjoy Opera Italiana in the open air with beautiful weather."

— John Turturro, Actor and Stage Director supporting Opera Italiana's event | NY, June 2019

“The singers were amazing, young, sexy, very musical and the orchestra was terrific. What could be better than sitting outdoors of a summer evening listening to the delicious melodies and passions of Italian opera? Opera Italiana brings us superb musicians and lively commentary, and spices it up with lyrical music by today’s young composers. The art of sophisticated song is alive and well.”
— Ted Wiprud, Composer and former President of Education of the New York Philharmonic | NY, July 2018

“Dear Maestro Casellati,
Thank you so much for all the work that went into my piece. I thought the concert was a huge success, and my family and I are all very happy with how it turned out. I appreciate your kindness and respect during rehearsals. It was such an honor to have worked with you and the orchestra, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity. ”

— Mondriana Villegas, composer |the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers Program | NY, June 2021

Last year was "the beginning of a beautiful tradition: the conductor is Italian, the sponsors are Italian and New Yorkers, the opera and the music are Italian, the musicians are all Newyorkers coming from the best schools of NY.  So I can’t imagine a better symbol of the natural and strong partnership between Italy and New York.”

— Francesco Genuardi, Consul General of Italy in New York | NY, July 2017

“Dear Alvise,
What a remarkable, beautiful and healing concert last night. Thank you so very much for making it available to the MSK community. Sitting in the audience with my colleagues was a joy. We all left feeling much lighter. I don’t know how the orchestra, vocalists and you managed to deliver such divine music in the extreme heat. You are all exceptional.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

— Karen Popkin, Program Coordinator, Music Therapy, Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital | NY, June 2021