I’m not exactly sure why I love opera. It’s an historic art form that is not particularly common, but I find it to be gorgeous, sensual, and weirdly entertaining. I think it makes me feel a connection to the past, to Italy especially, and to the concept of “great art” in general. There are no small and quiet operas. It’s an art form that is unapologetically bold and extravagant, and listening to this music is an opportunity to exist in a different mindset for a while. It’s never background music, although combining it with great food and wine seems like a win-win for everyone.
When I heard that Cinghiale, Tony Foreman’s Harbor East Italian restaurant and wine bar, would be hosting a monthly series of Opera Salons, a ticketed price fixe dinner with paired performances, I was intrigued.
On Sunday, October 12, about thirty of us showed up for the second ticketed event of the series, loosely themed around Halloween. We started out with a glass of prosecco and some passed hors d’oeuvres before entering a wood paneled dining room. Punctuated with oil paintings, velvet curtains, comfortable seating, and low lighting, each guest found their way to their own reserved seat, awaiting the performance and four course meal.
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In a short introductory speech, Cinghiale’s Greg Tucker and pianist Dina Kasman explained how the evening would flow, with alternating performances and courses inspired by the season. The opera began with “Les Filles de Cadix” from Chanson Espagnole by L. Delibes, sung by Philadelphia-based soprano Shelby R. Tipling, followed by “La donne é mobile” from Rigoletto by Verdi sung by tenor Louis Tiemann. The performance was quickly followed by the first course, a choice of grilled radicchio and green apple salad or honeynut squash soup with crispy sage.
We were sitting right near the grand piano, but had no problem hearing and seeing everything in the intimate space. The second performance featured solos and duets of Donizetti, Lehar, and Verdi by Tipling and Tiemann with perfect piano accompaniment. It was followed by the next course: hand-cut potato gnocchi with smoked lamb ragu, tomato, and mint or pumpkin risotto.
Next up were more opera performances of C.M. von Weber, in German, Der Freischutz and Donizetti by the two singers, followed by a choice of veal shoulder breasato with cannellini beans and braised mustard greens, grilled swordfish with purple potatoes and fresno chiles, or grilled veggie risotto for a vegetarian option.
The night ended with dolci, either a pumpkin apple torta or traditional tiramisu, both arriving frozen and in the shape of a cute little skull for Halloween. The last performance segment was the least formal and most fun, featuring “Maria” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and “Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me by J. Bock.
Throughout the evening, each guest could order wine or cocktails as necessary, and although it wasn’t part of the program, we got up and socialized with other guests in between performances. Many of us were seated at two-top tables, and people were quite dressed up for a Sunday evening dinner, signaling their respect for the medium of opera and that this event was more than just a dinner or performance, it was an experience.
The monthly series is set to continue, with a four course price fixe menu and performance curated to match the season. If you’re interested in attending the next one on Sunday, December 14, head to the Cinghiale website for tickets and more information. In the meantime, I hope these gorgeous photos by Mollye Miller provoke a sense of bravura coloratura and ottimo cibo italiano!
