Milton Musicians to Perform with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra

Three Milton musicians will perform in the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s one-time staging of Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Christian Ernest, 16, bass, Lily Moerschel, 16, cello, and Rose Moerschel, 16, violin, will participate in the opera on Sunday, January 20, at 3 p.m. at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge.

The performance will be conducted by BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese and feature the Handel and Haydn Society Chorus.

As 2013 marks the bi-centennial of Giuseppe Verdi, the opera performance is a collaboration with The Consulate General of Italy in Boston as part of a yearlong celebration titled: "America Discovers Italy – a year long journey that will communicate and promote Italy engage enthuse Americans, strengthen the bonds that unite and create new ones.”

This is the sixth year that the BYSO has presented a full, semi-staged opera and is the third time a Verdi opera was used.