Announcing the passing of Mario E. Leonetti. Founder and General Director of Casa Italiana Opera Company

Mario Leonetti, known to the Italian community as Founder and General Director of Casa Italiana Opera Company, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2010 within a month of his 91st birthday. Mr. Leonetti created the opera program at Casa Italiana in collaboration with Fr. Luigi Donanzan in 1972. Since then four or more productions have pleased audiences each year, and hundreds of professional and developing singers have gained valuable experience performing onstage with orchestra.

The company is the oldest continuously-performing opera company in Southern California. When he was 16 years old, Mr. Leonetti spent a year in intensive study at the Conservatorio di musica “Giuseppe Verdi” di Milano with legendary tenor Aureliano Pertile.

He boasted a performing career that included New York City Opera, San Carlo Opera, and studio work in Hollywood, and was also a masterful voice teacher. Services were held on October 1, 2010 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood and Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. Mario Leonetti is survived by three children and three grandchildren.

His legacy will continue to benefit performers and the public: Casa Italiana Opera Company offers Manon Lescaut on November 14, and has announced four operas for its 2011 season.