By HANNAH WING-BONICA
Apparently, it’s a rare occurrence to see a concert featuring three tenors. The most famous concert took place thirty-six years ago in Rome, during the World Cup, and was acclaimed for bringing together three iconic tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras. Pittsburgh Festival Opera brought the magic of three world-class tenors, Victor Cardamone, Gregory Kunde, and John Osborn, to Pittsburgh–just for one afternoon in June at Carnegie Music Hall. The Three Tenors Concert, conducted by Christopher Franklin, opened with an energetic overture, “Un giorno di Regno,” which set the pace for a wondrous musical journey through renowned tenor songs like “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot to Broadway hits like Bernstein’s “Maria” from West Side Story.
The majority of the songs in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s The Three Tenors Concert were love songs about a man pining for the affection of a woman, lamenting about romance and the pain it causes, or the passionate admiration for one’s hometown. Cardamone, Kunde, and Osborn could have just focused on projecting their warm, resonant voices in Carnegie Music Hall and called it a day. Still, all three go beyond typical concert expectations, bringing out the characters in each song.
Early on in the program, Osborn sings the only German opera song featured in the concert, “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz,” from the 1929 operetta, The Land of Smiles by Franz Lehár. Osborn uses his lyrical voice to convey the euphoric state of falling in love. This captivating energy continues into Osborn’s solos of “Granada” and “Avete Torto”, love songs to Granada, Spain, and Florence, Italy, respectively. Cardamone’s voice is passionate and clear as he sings Tosti’s “Ideale,” and he channels his inner Tony with a sweet rendition of Bernstein’s “Maria.” Kunde approaches Leoncavallo’s “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci with pain and sorrow resonating through his rich voice. While Kunde’s solos are all fantastic, he brings something extra special to Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma.” There’s a sense of urgency and confidence in Kunde’s voice, which elevates Calaf’s determination to win over Princess Turandot.
Of course, a three tenors concert won’t be complete without the trio coming together for a few songs. Kunde, Cardamone, and Osborn’s dynamic voices powerfully meld together during songs such as di Capua’s “O sole mio” and Verdi’s “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto. A rousing “Funiculì, Funiculà” by Denza, sung by Kunde, Cardamone, and Osborn, created a joyous atmosphere, as the audience really enjoyed hearing this popular traditional Neapolitan song. All three tenors sang a heartwarming “My Way” in tribute to the late James Agras, himself a tenor who was very involved in the Pittsburgh Opera community. With The Three Tenors Concert being so close to the 4th of July, the program appropriately closed out with a celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial. Cardamone, Kunde, and Osborn gathered center stage to sing “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” and “American Service Songs,” a tribute to all branches of the U.S. military.
Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s The Three Tenors Concert was a one-of-a-kind concert experience for both opera lovers and those who are new to the vast world of opera. Backed by a superb orchestra conducted by Christopher Franklin, Gregory Kunde, John Osborn, and Victor Cardamone are three of Pittsburgh’s (and the world’s) best tenors.
The Three Tenors Concert kicked off Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s 2026 Season, “It’s All About the Voice,” on June 28, 2026, at Carnegie Music Hall. For more about Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s upcoming season, visit https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/.
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