It is not often that an individual of this calibre, world-wide recognition, and artistic excellence visits the Niagara Area. This past week, Metropolitan Opera and international operatic star, Aprile Millo visited Niagara Falls and Toronto with family members and agreed to hear a select group of singers in Masterclasses organized by Mary-Lou Vetere. Having artistically and personally admired Millo since I was a young girl, it was a great honour and privilege to accept her invitation to perform with her and be part of her sold out 25th Anniversary Recital at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Recital Hall last November. Since then, Ms. Millo has continued to perform and yet maintain a keen interest in young operatic talent. It was more than an honour for her to find interest in singers of this region.
Aprile Millo as Verdi’s Leonora
On July 5th, Ms. Millo gave masterclasses in St. Catharines at St. Thomas Anglican Church on Ontario St. and heard, Cynthia Konopka (soprano), Heather Thomas (soprano), Vicky Vlassis-Radulovich (mezzo-soprano), Shane Glabb (Tenor), Melissa Shriner (soprano), and Brittany Wilson (soprano). In Toronto, she heard Beth Bayley (soprano), Sarah Isles (soprano), and Jessica Lalonde (soprano). Ms. Millo in her own words stated on her Facebook Page:
“Celebrating with my fabulous sister in Niagara on July 4th, I got to hear the amazing vocal studio of a talented young colleague of mine, newly minted PhD grad, Mary-Lou Vetere. Pleased to hear, work with, and be inspired by her varied and very impressive studio. All seriously prepared, musically correct, full of promise. Brava, Miss Vetere & to all who came to be with me–music is alive in the hearts and hopes of these lovely people.”
She also posted the following:
“Thrilled to have spent time with you and your wonderful vocal studio this weekend. They are full of promise and show all the hard work and belief you have in lavished freely on them. Musically well prepared, very serious with a desire to learn and improve themselves in service to music. My compliments to you and them, and my prayers for a collective success for all. Brava, Mary-Lou, on this and again on your very talked about newly minted Phd – everyone here in NY is buzzing.”
Millo in Recital
Aprile Millo has long been associated with the authentic Italian Style, all over the world critics and fans alike have compared her voice with some of the greatest ever to sing in the Italian Canto Lirico tradition, singers such as Claudia Muzio, Renata Tebaldi, Rosa Ponselle, Zinka Milanov and Magda Olivero, and Licia Albanese. Tebaldi and Milanov would become her mentors, and Schwarzkopf, personally would bring her to Herbert Von Karajan. Her video recording of Verdi’s Aida with Placido Domingo has remained one of the staple performances of the 20th century, alongside the magnificent Un Ballo in Maschera with Luciano Pavarotti. Millo is scheduled for a series of performances and new recordings this fall, and yet continues to encourage young opera singers to maintain operatic traditions. She is to return to Toronto in Recital and plans a public master-class later this year. A direct line, carrying forward the great traditions and inspiring a new generation to do the same. What could be more fabulous?
The Last Verista 
I like the italian soprano singer Maria Rota