Central High School Students Attend Philadelphia Opera's 'Don Carlo' Starring A Central Alumnus
By Marcy Norton
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Central High School students studying music and the Italian language attended the final dress rehearsal of Verdi's grand opera, Don Carlo, at the Philadelphia Academy of Music Wednesday.
The production stars Central alumnus and West Mount Airy native, Eric Owens.
The Opera Philadelphia production features Eric Owens playing King Phillip II, who saw his first opera as a student. Central High School 10th grader Kevin Agolli was impressed.
"I think it's an amazing production...the set, the design, the voices, all the actors, everything is perfect about it, the music," said Agolli.
Sitting in the audience gave 11th grader Catherine Schweingruber a chance to test her skills.
"As an Italian student, I'm trying to figure out what they're saying. Also, I don't always want to look up at the subtitles, and that's working for me this time, which is exciting," said Schweingruber.
Some of the kids will get an even more intimate experience with Owens next week, when he's inducted into Central High School's hall of fame, and sings with the school's orchestra.