Opinions
- one of a kind, transformative musical and artistic experience.
-exhilarating intercultural peace project, with each professional opera singer, each instrumentalist, each fine artist from a different culture.
- unforgettable performances in one of most gorgeous small opera houses in Italy
- totally safe, medieval Umbian hillside village which received award for most perfect town in Italy.
- life changing daily rehearsals under baton of beloved Italian Maestro, now conductor at Finnish National Opera
- inspirational rehearsals developing self esteem and confidence though unique movement based, collaborative staging system
- extraordinary, lasting friendships with young, professional artists from more than 20 cultures
- out of this world 12 day Renaissance Festival which draws spectators from throughout Europe.
International Opera Theater’s 15th world premiere Italian opera: “Sacco e Vanzetti: gli uomini e chi li amava (“Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men and Those Who Loved Them”) will take place in Teatro Comunale “Accademia degli Avvaloranti”, Citta’ della Pieve, Italy on August, 24, 25, 26, 2018.
Our opera has 8 roles for professional opera singers and 14 roles for children. There will also be a 12 member chamber orchestra.
Each child selected will represent a child who labored in the looms and mines of 1920s Massachusetts, or was a family member or friend of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, the central subjects of our opera.
Sacco and Vanzetti were blue collar workers who came to the US seeking the American dream. It was after WWI and during a period of intense fear of foreigners, including Italian immigrants. Dispirited by the horrifying working conditions of the poor, they would speak out in support of the oppressed and eventually participate in the anarchist movement.
In 1920 they were arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder. They would go on to be tried, convicted and on August 23, 1927 put to death in the electric chair, despite doubtful ballistic evidence and strong alibis for being elsewhere at the time of the crime. The verdict caused protesting and strikes throughout the world where it was sincerely believed that these two innocent immigrants had been convicted due only to their political beliefs and their ethnic background.
My name is Karen Lauria Saillant, Founder and Artistic Director of International Opera Theater and I am honored to share more information about 
our beautiful and meaningful 15th world premiere- a true social justice opera.Our opera will once again take place in the medieval town of Citta' della Pieve, (high in the hills of Umbria), one of the most beautiful small towns in all of Italy.
Our timely opera focuses on the humanity of these two Italian immigrants: Nicola Sacco as a father, husband and friend, Bartolomeo Vanzetti, as a brother and beloved father figure/hero to a little boy who was the son of his landlady. Intertwined are the hopes of the immigrant children, forced to labor in the mines and loom factories, who also dreamed of justice and believed it especially possible for them, because they were in America.
I invite talented young sopranos (ages 8-18, boys with unchanged voices) to join with our cast of professional opera singers and instrumentalists from throughout the world in Italy this summer- for an unforgettable once in a lifetime experience.
This year, our production gives each child the opportunity to represent an actual child who was either a child laborer in Massachusetts at the time, or related to one of the two Italian immigrants who were wrongfully executed in Massachusetts in 1927.
Under the direction of Italian Maestro Mauro Fabbri, resident conductor at The Finnish National Opera and State Opera Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, each professional opera singer and instrumentalist will come from a different culture.
In past years, our young singers have included sweet voiced elementary school through high school sopranos who had little stage experience, as well as those who had performed on Broadway and in operas at The Metropolitan Opera or with Opera Philadelphia.
In previous years we have invited only young sopranos from Philadelphia area , New Jersey and New York, but this year, because of the deep historical and educational importance of our production, for the first time, we have decided to expand our quest to include young sopranos 8-18 from throughout the US.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would help me spread the word of our search for special sopranos. We solicit the aid of music teachers, parents and all those interested in the artistic, creative and expressive development of young people.
This unique opportunity for school age sopranos to sing with international artists onstage in a beautiful Italian opera house under the guidance of a uniquely qualified professional Italian conductor and American stage director, skilled in expressive arts and intercultural communication, will certainly be transformative in the lives of all involved.
All Love,
Karen
Karen@internationaloperatheater.org
To Audition click here
- Here is article on Internet about child who participated in our opera project three years ago:
Here’s what one parent had to say about working with Karen Lauria Saillant:
"Karen Saillant’s breadth of knowledge on opera, stagecraft, and the mechanics of young voices coupled with her passion and love of children and their capacity to communicate through the performing arts is unlike anything I have ever encountered. I, myself, am a visual artist, a K-12 art teacher, and have taught several college classes to pre-service arts educators. I can tell you beyond a doubt that her techniques far surpass best practices in the field. She begins with high expectations, she watches carefully and learns the nature of each child in order to provide specific guidance and support, always instructing with a mix of rigor and joy. Finally, as the children gain confidence, she begins to peel away the scaffolding she has so carefully constructed, until suddenly the children are flying on their own!" Jenni Desnouee, mom of two children who performed in International Opera Theater Young Company in US and Italy.
Please take a moment to view this video highlighting our sopranos from 2 years ago in "Sogno" based on "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
Here is a link to translation of Italian article about the philosophy and work of Karen Lauria Saillant: Female Soldier in The Service of Art
Karen Saillant: Working with Children to create new works of art
Karen Saillant: Famous Teacher of Singing, Creates New Opera in Citta' della Pieve, Every Year. - "La Nazione"
Karen Saillant: The moving work she has done with children and the breakthroughs that they have experienced as a result.
Karen Speaks about overcoming obstacles
