Homecoming

The Curtis Institute of Music's opera symposium on Saturday will welcome back five graduates who made indelible marks in the profession: Frank Guarrera, Anna Moffo, Benita Valente, Jean Kraft and Marlena Malas.

Ranking member of the panel is Guarrera, age 78. "I'm flattered to be the only guy among those glamorous women," he says. He'll share stories about his 30 years as a leading baritone. "Imagine, I was a 24-year-old kid and I made debuts at La Scala under Toscanini and the Met as the toreador in Carmen. I had a fire in my belly and was full of talent in those days."

Curtis was known primarily for training instrumentalists in the '40s, and its opera department was small. "We just did workshops of scenes, with no costumes," recalls Guarrera. Now Curtis produces fully staged operas at the Prince Theater, and its graduates regularly place high in international competitions. Just last week soprano Carolyn Betty, who will graduate from Curtis on May 4, was one of four winners in the Met's national auditions.

“A Celebration of Opera” panel discussion, Sat., May 4, 3 p.m., free, Field Concert Hall, Curtis Institute, 1726 Locust St., 215-893-7902.

—Steve Cohen

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