Giuseppe Verdi is known for gripping stories and dramatic finales that touch the soul. He composed one of the world's most played operas, La traviata, as well as Rigoletto and The Troubadour.

At DNS this evening you will hear highlights from both the familiar and the beloved - as well as rarer opera gems.

Five of the six young singers on stage have participated in Bergen National Opera's summer academy, Opera by the Fjord. They will be accompanied by the pianist Stephen Higgins, who will spice up the concert with stories from Verdi's colourful life. This versatile British artist has visited Bergen a number of times, and has also coached singing students at the Grieg Academy.

You can also look forward to hearing cellist Frida Tharaldsen Skaftun from the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra play - both in the lovely solo from the opera I masnadieri (The robbers) - and together with the singers in the second part of the concert, which is devoted to excerpts from La traviata.

Verdi (1813-1901) wrote a total of 28 operas over 54 years, in what is considered a golden age for classical music. He was a contemporary of greats such as Tchaikovsky and Wagner, and drew early inspiration from Rossini and the bel canto style, which he also mastered. His operas took on an increasingly large format, partly influenced by Grand opéra - but he eventually developed his personal style where the music was even closer to the drama than before.

Verdi left behind a long line of immortal hits. At DNS, there will be both moving scenes and great fun when we celebrate Giuseppe Verdi with the best of his fabulous career.

Hear soprano Melissa Baug and tenor Endre Aaberge Dahl sing “Libiamo, ne’ lieti calici” from La traviata - which will be on the program at DNS in September:

Poster: Collage based on drawings by James Jacques Tissot (1836 - 1902) and Giovanni Boldini (1842 - 1931), pluss edited photo by Timothy Wolff