Soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Matthew White, baritone Michael Chioldi, and bass Soloman Howard are the international opera stars who will headline Cincinnati Opera’s “Viva Verdi!” special concert as part of its 2027 Summer Festival.

The concert, to be at 7:30 p.m. June 25, 2027 in Music Hall, celebrates a transformational $6 million gift from the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation.

Cincinnati Opera announced the cast this week. The cast includes some of the most sought-after voices in classical music who perform regularly with prestigious opera companies and orchestras throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. (Opera fans will recognize a number of Cincinnati Opera appearances, as well.)

They will be joined by the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, under the leadership of Chorus Master Henri Venanzi, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alex Amsel.

This special concert is made possible by a transformational $6 million gift from The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, led by trustees Nanci Wilks Lanni and Barbara Wilks.

The gift was first announced from the Music Hall stage during Cincinnati Opera’s July 2026 performances of Carmen. It will establish The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Fund for Leading Artists, an endowed fund that will provide Cincinnati Opera with ongoing support for the presentation of singers of the highest quality, beginning in 2027 and continuing with key principal artist engagements in seasons to come.

This artists who will be performing represent “the kind of lineup you’d expect to find on the stage of Carnegie Hall or the Paris Opera,” said Evans Mirageas, whose own position is named The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director. “Each of these artists is a star in their own right, and together they represent the very best of opera today. Harry Wilks loved great singing, and thanks to the family foundation that carries on his legacy, Cincinnati audiences will hear these artists together, right here at Music Hall.”

Best known for establishing Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Harry Wilks was also an avid opera lover and former board member. The Hamilton, Ohio-based attorney, philanthropist, and art collector was an alumnus of Miami University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He went on to found Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, preserving hundreds of acres in Hamilton to create one of the most remarkable outdoor-art spaces in the country.

Wilks also loved opera and served for many years on Cincinnati Opera’s Board of Trustees, eventually endowing the role of artistic director. Since his passing, his philanthropic legacy has continued through The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, now led by his daughters and Foundation trustees.

Tickets & Information
Subscriptions to Cincinnati Opera’s 2027 Summer Festival, including Viva Verdi!, are currently on sale. Single tickets for Viva Verdi! go on sale February 9, 2027. Tickets and information are available at cincinnatiopera.org

Founded in 1920, Cincinnati Opera is the second-oldest opera company in the U.S.