Their rich, lyrical voices can be heard around the world.
But Victor Benedetti and Juliana Rambaldi seldom perform together, at least on the same stage.
The couple often are separated by great distances, different assignments and staggered schedules, yet they manage to spend precious time together as they raise their two young boys in Lakeland Hills.
Despite the demands of their worldwide work, Auburn’s internationally-renowned operatic husband and wife duo perform in harmony – juggling family life and a demanding profession.
“Generally, one of us is home with the kids,” said Rambaldi, an accomplished soprano and actress who steps away from leading roles to be a mom. She takes care of her sons, Gianearlo and Marcello, while her husband is away. Dad naturally reciprocates. “If we are gone longer, we take the kids with us.”
That means occasional trips to opera-rich Europe and other faraway destinations. Just last week, Benedetti was in Germany, cast in the role of Alfonso in the Gaetano Donizetti opera “La Favorita.” Going wherever work takes him, Benedetti estimates he has been on the road four of the last six months.
“Even though we can be gone for weeks at a time, there are times when we are all together (as a family). My thinking is it will all even out,” said Benedetti, a pleasantly smooth baritone who imparts an innate stage presence to the many characters he brings to life.
“It’s been difficult being on the West Coast,” he said. “There’s opera all around the country, but New York is really the mecca of it all. … Being here, it’s been challenging for both of us career wise and having the kids.”
But Auburn is home. Away from the bright lights, it is a comfortable hamlet. And it is where the couple will come together for a rare concert appearance in “An Afternoon of Song” with the Auburn Symphony Orchestra. The 4 p.m. Sunday concert, which will be held at the St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church, will feature a wide-ranging program that includes the music of Schubert, Puccini, Mozart, Copland, Gershwin and others.
The sanctuary provides an appropriate venue for an engaging couple to blend their versatile and distinctly riveting voices – all to the tune of classical composers and musical theater.
“This is kind of exciting,” Benedetti said. “It’s an intimate setting with the orchestra … and I think there’s more immediacy between the performer and the audience.”
The couple enjoy the spotlight. Their work has been praised.
Benedetti, who grew up in Los Angeles, is well known for his wide-performing works with companies around the United States, including the New York City Opera, Washington National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he met Rambaldi.
Benedetti made his debut with New York City Opera in the title role of Don Giovanni, a performance that awarded him NYCO’s Debut Artist of the Year. His many appearances with NYCO have included the Count in “Le Nozze di Figaro”, Papageno in “The Magic Flute”, Peter in “Hansel und Gretel”, Slim in “Of Mice and Men,” and Escamillo in “Carmen” – a role that has taken him both to the Singapore Lyric Opera and to his European Debut with Oper der Stadt Bonn.
“When it goes well, it’s a great feeling,” Benedetti said of his craft. “It’s really quite tremendous because you spend so much time working on this, whether you’re working just on your voice, working on languages, or you’re working on a specific production. There’s so much that goes into it every time you do step onto the stage.”
Rambaldi, meanwhile, has been hailed as “a major talent” in Opera Now’s “Who’s Hot” listing of the best talents. She’s also been a national finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She also has won the prestigious George London and ARIA awards.
Of the many favorable New York Times’ reviews, one mentioned: “Juliana Rambaldi sang with stamina and soaring sound.”
Like her husband, Rambaldi is revered for her work.
“When it comes together well for you as a performer, the moments on stage, it can feel truly transcending,” said Rambaldi, who grew up in Walla Walla and graduated from the University of Washington. “There is this incredible energy with the audience.”
While the couple share the same management, they wind up hearing from different companies needing different voices. Thus, Rambaldi and Benedetti often work on separate projects at separate places. Such a reality can be hard on a family, but they take it all in stride. The family travels. They adjust.
And then there are times when they are together, like this week, back home.
Whenever they do share the stage, it is a special moment.
“We know each other so well,” Rambaldi said. “We work well together. It’s really a pleasure.”
====
In concert
• Program:
• When: 4 p.m. Sunday
• Where: St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church, located at 123 L St. NE, Auburn.
• Tickets: General seating is $15 for adults $15, $10 for students. To purchase tickets, call 253-887-7777 or visit auburnsymphony.org.
