Restaurant patrons get a real treat

The words Strip District and culture are supposed to be permanent strangers. Sure, the city's warehouse district contains dozens of bars and clubs, but the kind of entertainment offered by most of them — guzzling lite beer until one either faints or flirts — isn't what you'd call culture.

A rumor had spread concerning free Sunday evening opera concerts in the Strip, but like rumors of free wine, it seemed too good to be true. But it is true, said Mark Hayes, manager of Lidia's restaurant on Penn Avenue.

Twice in recent months, Hayes said, a professional opera singer has shown up unannounced and, between courses, filled the room with her booming arias.

We'd waited in vain for her arrival once before, but sometime during the middle of a dinner the unmistakable sound of Italian opera brought the room to a halt.

The voice, at once commanding and gentle, belonged to mezzo-soprano (that's opera talk for loud and lovely voice ) Marianne Cornetti. Between engagements at the opera houses of Rome and Venice, she likes to practice at her favorite Italian restaurant.

"I didn't know what to expect when she first started singing, but we know a lot of the same songs and it's worked out fine," said Al Marsico, Lidia's resident accordion player.

Cornetti, of Mt. Washington, clearly was enjoying the spontaneity of the moment, dancing with other diners, transforming the quiet dinner crowd into a European-style cabaret. "I didn't plan any of this, these are just songs I've learned from singing opera for decades," she said with a laugh.

Movements from Italian operas, classic romantic ballads and even Dean Martin's hit, "That's Amore," all were given a spirited once over. While startled diners looked on in disbelief, Cornetti was joined at her table by most of the cast from the opera "Madam Butterfly," fresh from a performance at Downtown's Benedum Center.

Soon, Butterfly's lead, Uniontown native Paula Delligatti, and Pittsburgh Opera regular Matt Morgan were lending their voices to the mix, as couples entering the restaurant giggled at their unexpected luck. Among them was Brian Duffy of Bethel Park, who had the good fortune to be on a first date with Monica Wilde of Cranberry and found a romantic concert, free of charge.

"We're not real big opera fans, but this is great," he said.

Even luckier was Lidia Bastianich, the restaurant's owner. Visiting from her home in Italy, the chef, book author and PBS television show host said the impromptu concert was "a wonderful, beautiful experience" reminiscent of late nights in restaurants back home.

"In Italy, it's common for people to enjoy themselves after dinner by singing. I've never seen this in the States before," she said excitedly.

Bastianich, who is known for providing her own musical accompaniment during her show, "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen," eventually joined the crew in song, even singing "Happy Birthday" to Robert Byer, a very surprised diner.

As the instant opera wrapped itself up over several bottles of wine, staffers were deluged with questions: When can we hear this again• What time does she start singing?

Unfortunately, Cornetti tends to sing only when she feels like it, staffers said, and anyone interested in catching one of her unrehearsed performances can only go to Lidia's and hope for the best. Trust me — it's worth the wait.