Heavenly Opera
Heavenly Opera
Saturday, April 24, 2027 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 25, 2027 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre
Concert Duration: Approximately 110 minutes, including a 20-minute Intermission
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM
Program Notes & Digital Program
Coming in April
The full force of the orchestra, The Symphony Chorus, and Ojai Pixies Choir nearly overflows The Granada stage, summoning Boito’s thunderous Prologue to Mefistofele — heaven and hell colliding in sound so vast you feel it in your chest. Then the lights soften. Casta Diva: Homage to Maria Callas tells the story of The Voice that changed opera forever.
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Maritina Tampakopoulos, soprano
Zaikuan Song, bass
The Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus
The Ojai Pixies Choir
Jonathan Fox, director
Repertoire
BOITO | Mefistofele – Prolog in Heaven
CASTA DIVA | Homage to Maria Callas
in music and dialogue
Maritina Tampakopoulos, soprano
Hailed by Italian La Stampa as “one of the most interesting voices `released in the recent years: a very solid lirico-spinto (for now), with a beautiful timbre, ringing in the high notes” and as “a Gift to a Director” by English Opera Now, Maritina Tampakopoulos is making a difference as a versatile and luminous Artist in the Operatic World, offering exhilarating dramatic experiences.
Read more about Maritina Tampakopoulos
After obtaining her Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School in 2020 Maritina has sung a wide variety of roles on the opera stage including: la duchesse Hélène in Les Vepres Siciliennes (Teatro Massimo Palermo) & (Deutsche Oper Berlin) Mimi in La Boheme (Teatro Regio Torino) cov. Lucrezia in Due Foscari (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino) Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden) Pauline in Le Jouer (Festival della Valle D’Itria) Aida in Aida ( Národní Divadlo Prague) Smaragda in The Master Builder ( Olympia Theater of Athens) Leonora in Il Trovatore ( Israeli Opera Tel Aviv & Maggio Musicale Fiorentino), Bon-Bon in Il Paese dei Campanelli (Festival della Valle D’Itria) Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Nedda in Pagliacci ( Winland Festival Beijing).
She enjoyed making music, as well esteemed working with a number of the world’s leading conductors, including Yannick Nezet Seguin, Francesco Lanzillotta, Omer Meir Wellber, Enrique Mazzola, Carlo Rizzi, Ian Latham Koenig ,Andriy Yurkevich, Valerio Galli, Joseph Colaneri, Zoi Tsokanou, Sebastiano Rolli, Giuliano Carella, Fabio Luisi, and Daniele Calegari.
At the same time she has appreciated and relished evolving her acting skills under the guidance of Emma Dante, Sir David Poutney, Olivier Py, Valentina Carasco, Paolo Gavazzeni, Piero Maranghi, Grischa Asagaroff , Emma Griffin, Stephen Wadsworth , Cesare Lievi, Roberto Abbado and Alessandro Talevi .
As a soloist she has had the privilege of collaborating with a plethora of orchestras, chanting various repertoire in numerous venues such as Verdi Gala with La Toscanini in Parma, Opera Gala at Deutsche Oper Berlin , Mendelson’s Elijah in New York, Gala for Raina Kabaivanska in Opera Sofia , Stabat Matter in Athens, Gala Viotti in Teatro Vercelli , Galla di Voce Liriche in Pisa,Gala Belcanto in Modena, Gala for 100 years birth anniversary of Maria Callas in Athens, Opening Gala of Opera Krakowska in Polland and other.
Maritina’s training includes past resident artist apprenticeships with Accademia Chigiana in Siena/Italy, Wiener Staatsoper, Oper im Steinburg, Riva del Garda Festival and Juilliard Opera where she sang Elisabetta in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda and Elisabetta de Valois in Verdi’s Don Carlos(French version) as well as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.
Additionally she has also participated in live-streamed working sessions with Metropolitan Opera’s Music Director Yannick Nezet-Séguin on Elisabetta in Don Carlo and with acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming on Rusalka.
Her talent excelled in several International singing Competitions like: Hans Gabor Belvedere (Vienna) , F. Vinas (Barcelona), Giovanni Consiglio (NYC) Gerda Lissner (NYC), Zachary Competition (Los Angeles), Zandonai (Garda), Gian Battista Viotti (Vercelli) ,Voci Verdiane (Parma) Vincero International Competition(Napoli), Spazio Musica, Ottavio Ziino (Rome) and was awarded First, Second Prizes, Critics Awards, Main Stage Debuts as also captivated the public’s heart and recognition winning 6 times the Audience Award.
She holds degrees from The Juilliard School (Artist Diploma in Opera Studies) Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali “Vecchi-Tonelli” ( Master’s)and National Conservatory of Greece (Bachelor in Music with Honors and First Prize). Her mentors and teachers, including Cheryl Studer, Raina Kabaivanska, William Matteuzzi, the late Glenys Linos, James Pearson, Bill Schuman, Mary Birnbaum, Stephen Wadsworth the late Eve Shapiro and Sherman Lowe,have been offering up to date a great refinement to her vocal technique and artistic perception, and to whom is evermore thankful.
Maritina is also deeply grateful to be awarded the George & Marie Vergottis Foundation Scholarship, Constance Goulandris Scholarship , the Kabaivanska Foundation Scholarship offered by the acclaimed Raina Kabaivanska herself. She is supported by the Hardesty and Beverly Peck Johnson Fund and Finally she is very proud winner of the Florence and Paul DeRosa Grant Prize for “Extraordinary Achievement and Outstanding professional promise in the Vocal Arts”.
She currently resides between Venice, Vienna and New York, being a citizen of the world while pursuing ways to unite people by serving the Arts, by awakening and cultivating the spirit, the instincts and all dimensions of the human soul.
Zaikuan Song, bass
Zaikuan Song, bass, is known for his majestic tone, expressive depth, and commanding presence on the operatic stage. He has earned acclaim for his portrayals of Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Banco (Macbeth), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Colline (La Bohème), Timur (Turandot), and both Ramfis and The King (Aida). Mr. Song has appeared with leading opera companies across the United States, including Houston Grand Opera…
Read more about Zaikuan Song
Utah Opera, Opera Tampa, Opera Carolina, Opera Delaware, Opera Orlando, Opera Grand Rapids, Opera Southwest, Toledo Opera, and Opera on the James.
His repertoire spans works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Donizetti, showcasing his versatility across both comic and dramatic bass roles. As a concert soloist, he has performed Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Handel’s Messiah with ensembles such as the Pacific Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony, National Philharmonic, and Duke University Chapel Music. A Metropolitan Opera National Council Midwest Region Finalist and National NATS First Prize Winner, Mr. Song holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance from the China Conservatory of Music.
Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus
The Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus has quickly established itself as a vibrant ensemble within Santa Barbara’s choral community, bringing together approximately 100 singers from all over the region. Now in its third season, they represent a rich spectrum of musical backgrounds and experience.
Under the direction of Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, The Symphony Chorus exemplifies artistic collaboration at its highest level, showcasing the depth of talent and shared passion that defines the community.
The Ojai Pixies Youth Choir
The Ojai Pixies are an auditioned teen girls choir, for ages 10-14, founded in 2022. The Ojai Pixies, the Academy’s first youth choir, was formed during the pandemic to address the need for music education in our community, especially during a time when the school budget was severely limited, particularly for group singing.
Not only do the girls receive expert European-style choir direction under Julija Zonic’s leadership, but they are also constantly coached in kindness, professionalism, hard work, and leadership.
Jonathan Fox, director
UPDATED BIO COMING – Jonathan Fox (Director) is Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) of Santa Barbara. Past collaborations with Santa Barbara Symphony include their 2015Midsummer Night’s Dream Suite and Valentine’s Day concert. His directing work has been seen in Santa Barbara, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Germany, and Austria, and has received critical acclaim in The New York Times, Variety, the LA Times, and other publications.
Read more about Jonathan Fox
Nir Kabaretti
is The Santa Barbara Symphony's world-renowned Music & Artistic Director
Nir Kabaretti has worked with some of the world’s most sought-after musicians. Some of his most well-known collaborators include Lang Lang, Placido Domingo, Joyce Di Donato, Angel Joy Blue, Vadim Repin, Gilles Apap, Hélène Grimaud, and André Watts.
Nir Kabaretti
is The Santa Barbara Symphony's World-Renowned Music & Artistic Director
Nir Kabaretti has worked with some of the world’s most sought-after musicians. Some of his most well-known collaborators include Lang Lang, Placido Domingo, Joyce Di Donato, Angel Joy Blue, Vadim Repin, Gilles Apap, Hélène Grimaud, and André Watts.
A very warm and special thank you
to our 2026/27 season donors and the sponsors making
this event possible!
Sponsors
Principal Sponsor
Zegar Family Foundation
Artist Sponsor
Chris Lancashire
Choral Sponsors
Dick & Marilyn Mazess
Susan & Paul Zink
Stage Sponsor
Eve Bernstein
2026/27 Concert Season Sponsors
Corporate Season Sponsor
Grand Venue Sponsor
All program and concert dates are subject to change. Check our website for regular updates and read our Subscription and Ticket policy for more information.
