Hymne a L’amour

A Romantic Evening Experience in Support of Cantate

Wednesday, February 12, at 7:30 p.m.
At a private home in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.*

You’re invited to a romantic celebration of the sweetest holiday, complete with sultry serenades, delicious desserts, and luxury libations, all in support of Cantate! Mezzo-soprano and Cantate Executive Director Cara Schaefer pairs up with pianist and conductor Giovanni Reggioli for an evening of luscious love songs designed by you. Visit our silent auction page (https://app.galabid.com/cantate) to bid on your favorite tunes from opera, musical theater, and the American Songbook to dedicate to a special someone. Suggest an addition to the song auction by emailing exec@cantate.org. Win a song with a bid over $500, and Cara and Giovanni will also deliver a personalized video recording of the song to your designated email inbox on Valentine’s Day.

Offered in a private Georgetown home*, the event begins at 7:30 with desserts and drinks and features opportunities to mingle and converse with the evening’s performers after the intimate cabaret-style performance. Thanks to the generosity of the artists and hosts Sarah and Bruce Gilchrist, all ticket sales, auction proceeds, and additional donations will directly support Cantate’s Forty for Forty Campaign.

*To protect the hosts’ privacy, the address will be provided after ticket purchase. Please note that this historic private home is not ADA accessible.

Meet the Featured Artists

Maestro Giovanni Reggioli is a critically acclaimed opera and orchestral conductor whose influence extends over five continents. Among his many credits are positions at Teatro alla Scala, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Accademia Guiseppe Verdi, Orchestra da Camara di Firenze, the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York City Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Opera de Québec, Orchestra Symphonique de Québec, the National Arts Center Orchestra of Ottawa, Ópera de Caracas, Ópera de Colombia, the New National Theater of Tokyo, Opera Australia, Queensland Opera, Orchestra Victoria, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Trained in both conducting and piano performance at the Juilliard School, Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, and Salzburg Mozarteum, Mo. Reggioli has collaborated in concert and recital with such renowned singers as Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo, Cecilia Bartoli, Anna Moffo, Carlo Bergonzi, Denyce Graves, and Samuel Ramey. Also widely respected as a pedagogue, he has lectured at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music and has served as a guest coach at the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School in Brisbane; the Caramoor festival in New York; the Renata Scotto International Vocal Academy in Florence, Italy; and the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Greve, Italy. Mo. Reggioli has lent his talents as a coach and administrator to the Young Artist Programs of Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and the New National Theater of Tokyo. He is the founder and General Director of Bel Canto in Tuscany, and he coaches emerging singers, pianists, and conductors at his home studio in Washington D.C.

A native of Washington D.C., mezzo-soprano Cara Schaefer is recognized for “the kind of singing which is consummate in its power to communicate authentically” (DC Metro Theater Arts). She is known for her “wonderfully funny” portrayal of Ruth in Young Victorian Theatre Company’s The Pirates of Penzance, as well as her “sexy, transcendent” interpretation of title role in Le Cabaret de Carmen, with IN Series; Angela (Chateau Margaux), and Elena (El Barbero de Sevilla) with Teatro Lirico of DC; Mother (Hansel and Gretel) with Opera NoVa; and numerous appearances in the ensemble of Maryland Lyric Opera.

Cara premiered the roles of Wo-Man Ray in Caesar and the Mannequin and Mary Billings in Voices of Zion with Alliance for New Music-Theatre. Ms. Schaefer is a two-time winner of the Maryland/DC chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions and a Grand Prize winner of the Sue Goetz Ross Memorial Competition. She is Executive Director of both Cantate and Bel Canto in Tuscany, a member of the artistic administration team of Alliance for New Music-Theatre, and a private vocal technician in the DC area.