This seasoned soprano is showing her range!
An 89-year-old opera singer will take center stage this weekend at a Bath Beach concert celebrating Italian heritage month, performing tunes in a wide variety of genres. Nina Di Gregorio and members of her Italian Opera Company will sing traditional arias and duets at the “Celebration of Inspirational Music” at St. Finbar’s Roman Catholic Church on Oct. 8 — along with some American oldies, Broadway show-stoppers, and jazz tunes. Di Gregorio said that her many years of experience have helped her to pick out tunes that will resonate with the crowd.
“Those are the songs that people like and recognize,” said Di Gregorio. “Through the years I’ve had experience — and that’s what people like, and we try to amuse them with that.”
Di Gregorio, who grew up in Bath Beach, began singing at age 14, and founded the Italian Opera Company in 1947, hoping to explore new avenues of music and to maintain Italian musical culture in the neighborhood. She has also worked as a singer at Bath Beach’s legendary Tommaso’s restaurant, and as an organist at a church in Manhattan’s Little Italy for almost three decades.
The veteran soprano still exercises her vocal chords whenever she can, and said that the audiences that keep her coming back to the stage.
“That’s what makes you happy — when you can make the public happy,” said Di Gregorio. “Their smiling gives you more animation. The animation comes from the audience.”
The three-hour concert on Oct. 8 will feature a chorus of 10 singers, including Di Gregorio and members of the Italian Opera Company, the Kings Chorus, and Regina Opera, supported by a four-person orchestra. The score will include songs from “The Barber of Seville” and “Showboat,” the swinging 1950s hit “That’s Amore,” and Di Gregorio performing selections from “La Traviata” and the Latin American song “Siboney,” among many others.
The “Celebration of Inspirational Music” is also a fund raiser for St. Finbar’s church. As a lifelong Bath Beacher and parishioner of the church, Di Gregorio wants to make sure he house of worship stays open.
“As we know all Catholic churches are closing and they have to keep their upkeep,” said Di Gregorio. “And that costs thousands of dollars, and they need to make some money.”
The almost-90-year-old said that her passion for music has kept her going, and that she has no plans to stop — in fact, she is determined to pass her singing techniques to a younger generation.
“I’m 90 because of all these things,” said Di Gregorio. “There will be more and I need my health because I’m going to be teaching at this academy. I’ll be teaching students.”
“Celebration of Inspirational Music” at St. Finbar’s Roman Catholic Church [1839 Bath Ave. between Bay 19th and Bay 20th Streets in Bath Beach, (718) 400–8366]. Oct. 8 at 7 pm. $15 suggested donation.
