OperAffinity Festival Returns to Todi

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A Week of Opera, Diplomacy, and Global Talent

Following its successful debut, the OperAffinity Festival returns to Todi with an ambitious program themed: “Artistic Excellence, Cultural Diplomacy & Youth Engagement – Umbria on the International Stage.”

From September 8 to 14, 2025, the festival brings together a vibrant week of opera, orchestral and chamber music, international collaborations, world premieres, and educational initiatives. The event gathers institutions and artists from Italy, the UK, Africa, the US, Australia, and beyond, highlighting Todi’s growing role in the global arts scene.

At the heart of the project is British-Australian soprano and cultural advocate Breana Stillman, founder and director of OperAffinity. Her mission is clear: to use opera and classical music as bridges between cultures, platforms for emerging talent, and tools for fostering global opportunities.

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What to Expect at OperAffinity 2025

This year’s edition welcomes prestigious partners such as the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, the Stradivari Sextet from the Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and the Conservatory of Perugia, alongside 14 hand-selected young opera singers from five continents. These singers will undergo an intensive training program led by an international faculty, including celebrated Scottish soprano Marie McLaughlin.

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Festival Highlights

  • September 10: Opera Aperitivo at Cantina Todini – a relaxed concert of arias and duets, performed by a selection of this year’s exceptional emerging artists from the Opera Program, with wine and local food.
  • September 11: The festival continues with a chamber concert by students from the Conservatorio “Francesco Morlacchi” of Perugia at Teatro Nido dell’Aquila, preceded by an open rehearsal for local youth.
  • September 12: Violinist Giulia Rimonda and baritone Johannes Moore perform with pianist Laetitia Ruccolo. The program includes the Italian premiere of works by American composer Alan Fletcher.
  • September 13: The Stradivari Sextet from the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia performs at Teatro Comunale. Open rehearsals welcome local students behind the scenes.
  • September 14: A grand Opera Gala closes the festival, featuring 14 young singers in arias and scenes, marking the finale of their intensive training week.

International Collaboration: Kenya Opera Program

A standout element of this year’s program is the Kenya Opera Program, a collaboration between OperAffinity, the Kenyan Ministry of Culture, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Nairobi. Two talented young Kenyan singers, selected by the Ministry, will take part in the full week of rehearsals, concerts, and the final gala, a concrete step in building long-term artistic exchange between Africa and Europe.

A Festival for the Whole Town

OperAffinity isn’t just for concert halls. Throughout the week, the music spills out into cafés, piazzas, and unexpected corners of Todi, with flash mobs, open rehearsals, and pop-up concerts designed to connect artists with the public, and to spark a love of music in the next generation.

About OperAffinity

OperAffinity is a cultural organization committed to artistic excellence, inclusion, and international cooperation in classical music and opera. Through its festivals, educational programs, and global partnerships, it aims to redefine how opera connects with the world, starting from a small Umbrian town with a big cultural heart.

For more information, visit www.operaffinity.com or contact info@operaffinity.com

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