On Feb. 19, 2019, a number of opera companies in Buenos Aires came together to present a performance of arias by Puccini and announce collaborations together throughout 2019.

The showcase featured such companies as Magna Lírica and its director Mariana Carnovali; Ensamble Lírico Orquesta and its leader Cecilia Layseca; Compañía Lírica Verdi and its manager Adriana Segal; and Espacio Victorium, headed by Marina Arqueros.

The companies revealed that they will work together starting in 2019 and revealed a slate of productions that included Puccini’s “La Rondine” in June, which will be a co-production between Magna Lírica and the Ensamble Lírico Orquestal on June 21, 22, and 23. The latter organization noted that it will also present “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” at the Teatro Astral on May 22 and 29 as part of its plans to showcase opera in unique spaces. It will also showcase “Il Trovatore” on “April 26-28,  and “L’Elisir d’Amore” on August 23-25.

Meanwhile, Magna Lírica will be putting on Puccini’s “La Bohème” on July 12 in collaboration with the Orquesta de Florencio Varela. The company will also continue its “Vamos a La Opera” project in September.

The Compañía Lírica Verdi is set to revive its recent production of “Falstaff” with Luis Gaeta and Juán Font in the title role. The company will also be mounting Bellini’s “Norma” with piano reduction in August, followed by”Simon Boccanegra” in October and Verdi’s “Jerusalem” in December. All of these performances are set to take place at the Teatro del Globo.

The Compañía Lírica Verdi will also work with Magna Lírica and Espacio Victorium on a production of “La Traviata” that will appear onstage on June 1, 2019.

Espacio Victorium is set to showcase around 15 vocal showcases in 2019 that are aimed at younger audiences, specifically children.

The concert itself featured a plethora of arias and ensembles by Puccini with such singers as Eugenia Forteza, María Ximena Farías, Carnovali, Tamara Pepe, Juan Feico, Reinaldo Samaniego, and pianist Eduviges Picone.