The second recital of the 2017-18 Tabor College Recital Series will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Tabor College’s Wohlgemuth Music Education Center’s Rehearsal Hall.
The recital showcases soprano Cristina Castaldi, a member of the Wichita State University school of music faculty, and pianist Gene Philley.
In addition to the recital, Castaldi will give a masterclass earlier in the afternoon for Tabor College music majors and minors studying voice.
“We are so looking forward to Dr. Castaldi’s residence at Tabor,” said Jen Stephenson, Tabor College’s director of vocal studies. “The opportunity for our students to work with and learn from voice professionals from throughout the state and nation is an invaluable learning experience, and we’re so glad that Castaldi is able to come to Tabor.”
Castaldi, an American lirico spinto soprano, has been described as “a rare talent… having a warm, agile, exciting voice… she moves like a dancer, looks like a model and is at home on stage as off.”
She specializes in the early Verdi and verismo repertoire.
Most recently, Castaldi sang Alice Ford in “Falstaff”and Le Prince Charmant in “Cendrillon” as well as Mimì in a concert performance of “La Bohème” with the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra.
Other roles of note include the title role of Giovanna d’Arco with Sarasota Opera with Maestro Victor De Renzi conducting, of which The Observer wrote: “Cristina Castaldi, as Giovanna, has a lovely bearing on stage…got our attention…in the final scene…she became radiant as an actress and singer.”
Before joining the Wichita State University voice faculty, Castaldi taught at Rowan University in New Jersey and at Rutgers,The State University of New Jersey for three years. She holds degrees from The Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers University, the New England Conservatory of Music and Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
Castaldi’s guest artist recital is apart of the 2017-18 Tabor College Recital Series, which features performances by internationally renowned music professionals from around the world. This season’s recitalists include Grammy-nominated cellist Leonid Shukaev as part of the Central Kansas Piano Quintet, and Metropolitan Opera singer Hugo Vera, among others.
The Wohlgemuth Music Education Center is located on the campus of Tabor College at 400 S. Jefferson Street in Hillsboro. There is no charge for admission to the recital. For further information, please contact the Tabor College Music Department at 620-947-3121 x 1403 or email jenniferstephenson@tabor.edu.