Cincinnati Opera has announced the soloists for “Viva Verdi!,” made possible by a $6 million gift from The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation.

The concert, set for June 25, 2027, at Cincinnati Music Hall, will feature soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Matthew White, baritone Michael Chioldi, and bass Soloman Howard.

The Cincinnati Opera Chorus, led by Chorus Master Henri Venanzi, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alex Amsel, join the soloists.

The gift, led by foundation trustees Nanci Wilks Lanni and Barbara Wilks, establishes The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Fund for Leading Artists. The endowed fund will support the presentation of leading singers, beginning in 2027 and continuing with principal artist engagements in future seasons. The gift was first announced from the Music Hall stage during the company’s July 2026 performances of “Carmen.”

Harry T. Wilks was an attorney, philanthropist and art collector based in Hamilton, Ohio. He founded Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, served for many years on Cincinnati Opera’s Board of Trustees and endowed the role of artistic director. The foundation is now led by his daughters, Lanni and Wilks.

“An opera company is only as great as the singers on its stage,” said Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO, per an official press release. “Cincinnati Opera has long been known for bringing some of the world’s finest voices to Music Hall, and this visionary gift not only secures that tradition but strengthens it for generations to come. Endowed in perpetuity, The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Fund for Leading Artists will sustain the artistry at the heart of our mission not just for one season, but year after year.”