Vermont Philharmonic Opera Gala Concert

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October brings a brilliant display of Fall colors and the glorious sounds of operatic arias. The Vermont Philharmonic with Music Director Lou Kosma will be presenting its annual Opera Gala in conjunction with the renowned Bel Canto Institute. This year’s performances will feature operatic music by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, plus the Fountains of Rome by Respighi and Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in A Minor. Featured soloists include the Vermont Philharmonic’s new concertmaster, Letitia Quante, violin, and Helle Gössler Christensen, soprano – winner of the 2017 Bel Canto Institute Performance Award.

Letitia Quante
Violinist Letitia Quante has been appointed as the new concertmaster of the Vermont Philharmonic. She is formerly a principal player with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony and assistant concertmaster to the Lancaster Symphony. Quante moved to Northern Vermont, where she plays with Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, ME2 String Orchestra, Burlington Ensemble, the Vermont Virtuosi. She has been on a number of tours, most recently throughout Mexico and the United States, and has worked with such diverse musicians as Sarah Chang, Bajofondo, Kanye West, The Sketches and Natlia Lafourcade. In 2010 she recorded a double CD set for Sony Classical with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas in New York City and toured China with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.

Helle Gössler Christensen
Danish soprano Helle Gössler Christensen received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen where she is now pursuing her Master’s Degree. Ms. Christensen has sung in concerts and oratorios in Europe, Asia and the United States. She has also performed on Danish Radio as well as for the Queen of Denmark and the Danish Prime Minister. The Vermont Philharmonic is Vermont’s oldest community orchestra, founded in 1959 by John Borowicz, emeritus professor of music at Norwich University. The orchestra found a permanent home in the Barre Opera House in 1993, when the opera house reopened after extensive renovations. Lou Kosma has been the Music Director of the Philharmonic since 1999. The orchestra has more than 60 musicians and
presents 11 concerts per year.