On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from Noon till 1:30 pm, CSUN College of Humanities, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures-Italian Studies Program, the Opera Festival of Chicago, the Italian Opera LAb, and The Soraya will present The Art of Italian Opera Singing and UNESCO.

International Artists to Headline Italian Opera Event at CSUN

The upcoming event will feature internationally acclaimed soprano Elisabetta Russo, whose extensive global repertoire has earned widespread praise for its vocal brilliance and emotional depth. Russo continues to captivate audiences across Europe and the United States with her dynamic stage presence and refined artistry. Joining her is Maestro Emanuele Andrizzi, the renowned Italian American conductor and founder of the Chicago Opera Festival. Known for his expressive musical interpretation and leadership in operatic performance, Andrizzi brings a distinguished artistic vision to the program.

The panel conversation moderated by Thor Steingraber, executive Artistic Director of The Soraya, will feature Elizabetta Russo, Maestro Emanuele Andrizzi, Conductor-Founder Chicago Opera Festival, Sasha Gerritson, General Director of the Opera Festival of Chicago, James Tumminia, Executive producer of the documentary ‘Viva Verdi’, and Professor Patrizia Miller, Director-Special Projects-MCLL Italian Studies Program.