The popular, free concert "Opera in the Italian Garden" will be presented in the beautiful Italian Renaissance Cultural Garden (Sunday, July 28, 6 - 7:30 p.m).  The concert highlights two of Italy’s greatest cultural arts, opera and ballet, and features music from well-known operas, Broadway musicals and Italian songs with The Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Ballet. The Italian Cultural Garden Foundation with generous support from the Italian Sons & Daughters of America, Ohio District and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture bring the free concert to the public.

Both opera and ballet originated in Italy during the Italian Renaissance. Opera was first presented in 1598 and ballet in 1500 before spreading to the rest of the world. “Opera in the Italian Garden” was first presented in the 1930’s with the San Carlo Opera Company. At that time, the Italian Garden was the center of cultural activities in Cleveland presenting opera, art exhibits and concerts at Severance hall for the general public. The Italian Garden revived this historical concert in 2008 continuing this tradition.