Images from Florentine’s Bella Notte Gala

The Florentine Opera Company turns 80 this year and celebrated on November 1 with the Bella Notte Gala , held at the Wisconsin Club. The event honored their founder, John David Anello Sr., and the Florentine’s legacy as the sixth oldest opera company in America and its roots in the Italian Opera Chorus, founded in 1933.

Special honorees included John David Anello Jr. and John D. Anello, III – the son and grandson of the founder of the Italian Opera Chorus. John David Anello Sr. (1907-1990) was the leading forefather of Milwaukee’s arts and culture scene. In addition to founding the Italian Opera Chorus, he was the founder and first conductor of the Milwaukee Pops Orchestra, the forerunner to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and he founded the popular Music Under the Stars series, which he led for more than 30 years.

Click on any photo thumbnail below to enlarge. Photos by Mark Frohna and Jeff Zmania.