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Sacramento to dedicate day for late restaurateur Biba Caggiano

The Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra will perform Giuseppe Verdi's "Requiem" to honor Biba Caggiano, declaring March 21 "Biba Day" for the City of Sacramento.

SACRAMENTO, California — She was known as an icon in Sacramento, a culinary influence and someone with a big heart. Soon, Sacramento will dedicate a day to Biba Caggiano, the late restaurateur who died last summer.

This dedication will happen after a concert March 21 by the Sacramento Choral Society.

"She was more than just a cook. She was a real figure in this town," said Donald Kendrick, the Music Director for Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. 

Caggiano died after a two-year battle with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. She was 82.

Many of the same voices that filled the cathedral for her funeral will be singing even louder to celebrate her later this month. The Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra will perform Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem to honor Caggiano and declare March 21 "Biba Day" for the City of Sacramento.

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It mirrors Caggiano's story. She's from Bologna, Italy and the piece is Italian. Giuseppe lost his dear friend too soon, so he composed the Requim to remember him.

Kendrick will direct the concert that day. He knew Caggiano well. He said this piece is bold, dramatic and something to remember — just like Caggiano

"It's exhilarating, and it's really an amazing project," Kendrick said. "You know, to mount the piece, it takes a choir of large skill at least 200 singers."

It was an idea that just made sense. Why not celebrate and keep celebrating such an influential figure in our city?

"She's such an icon," said James McCormick, President and CEO of Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. "She left us in late August, and it hit me that she has done so much for this city and it should be remembered annually."

The concert will take place Saturday, March 21 at 8 p.m. in the recently remodeled Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Click here for tickets.

Follow the conversation on Facebook with Madison Wade.

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WATCH MORE: Remembering Biba Caggiano, Sacramento restaurant icon | From the ABC10 Vault

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