Industry News
NJ Association of Verismo Opera Celebrates 20th Season with 'Rigoletto'
(Bergen County, New Jersey)—September 3, 2010—The NJ Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) celebrates its 20th season with Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, “Rigoletto”, on Sunday, October 24 at 3 p.m. at the BergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt St. in Englewood, New Jersey. Tickets are $55, $45, $35, and $25. Verismo Opera is a nonprofit organization based in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Verismo Opera is saying “thank you” to opera lovers and patrons with a special “2 for 1” sale on tickets priced at $55 and $45 ONLY on September 9, 10, and 11. The code for this special offer is “Rigoletto”.
Tickets may be ordered by calling 201-227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888PACSHOW or purchased online at www.bergenpac.org. They may also be purchased in person at the BergenPAC Box Office. For group rates, contact Mary Ellen Rohon at 201-886-0561.
Verismo Opera, under the direction of Artistic Director and former Metropolitan Opera diva Lucine Amara, brings to the stage Verdi’s famous masterpiece, “Rigoletto”, following the libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Based on Victor Hugo’s play, " Le Roi s'amuse", the opera weaves the story of a court jester, the royal seduction of an innocent girl and the curse that leads to her tragic end.
International soprano and Verismo Opera Director Evelyn La Quaif says her new production of “Rigoletto” focuses on realism. “People go to the opera to escape their daily struggles for awhile. Verismo Opera’s production remains true to the original with the grand sets, beautiful costumes, and the splendor. Each person on the stage, including the chorus, has an individual personality that emotes unique, complex human emotions,” she explained.
The production includes the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Orchestra & Chorus; Anthony Morss, Conductor; and Mara Waldman, Chorus Mistress, with Catherine Mirabella heading the costume department.
New Jersey Residents Featured
New Jersey residents comprise a large part of the cast, with 90 per cent of the chorus from the Garden State. Cast from the state are Joo Won Kang (Rigoletto) of Fort Lee, Steven Fredericks (Sparafucile) of Tenafly, Richard Bozic (Count Ceprano) from Highland Park and Alan Smulen (Marullo) of Bayonne.
Kang is no stranger to Verismo Opera. In 2010, he won second prize in the company’s annual Opera Vocal Competition and performed in its concert, Operatic Highlights of New Jersey. Opera News called him “a firebrand baritone...He is definitely a singer to watch.” He is also a 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition New York District winner, a 2010 Career Bridge Competition winner, and a Puccini Foundation grant award recipient. Currently, Kang is pursuing a Master’s of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he is studying under the tutelage of Mark Oswald.
Cast
• Rigoletto, the jester - Joo Won Kang • Gilda, Rigoletto’s daugher - Jennifer Gliere • Duke of Mantua - Benjamin Sloman • Sparafucile, an assassin - Steven Fredericks • Maddelena, Sparafucile’s sister - Jessica Grigg • Giovanna, Gilda’s nurse - Maro Partamian • Count Ceprano - Richard Bozic • Count Monterone - Nathan Resika • Marullo - Alan Smulen • Matteo Borsa - To be announced • Countess Ceprano - To be announced
NJAVO is recognized for providing up and coming performing artists with the training to enter a career in opera. Several notable singers, who are performing internationally, such as Richard Hobson, Frank Poretta, Emmanuel di Villarose, James Valenti and Irina Rindzuner started their careers by performing in the company’s productions.
Maestro Morss, who was appointed NJAVO’s Music Director and Principal Conductor in 1995, has served as the Chorus Master of the American Opera Center at Juilliard, Music Director of the Majorca and Saragossa Symphonies in Spain and the Norwalk Symphony. He has also guest conducted the Madrid, Barcelona, Marseille and Cape Town Symphonies, and Tampa Bay Opera, New York Lyric Opera, NGO.
Funding has been made possible by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and from private donations.
About the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (NJAVO) has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists, sponsors an annual vocal competition held in November with finals conducted in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, which draws artists from all over the United States, Canada, and sometimes Europe. The company organizes opera workshops and offers affordable, highly professional operatic productions to the Bergen County, New Jersey community.
In January 1990, NJAVO featured the winners of its first vocal competition along with internationally renowned artists. In 1991, the organization began performing in Bergen County at the Fort Lee Historic Park. Two years later, Metropolitan Opera star Lucine Amara joined the association as Artistic Director and with a full orchestra, began performing at the Orrie de Nooyer Auditorium. Presently, Verismo Opera’s home base is the Bergen PAC in Englewood, New Jersey.
For more information about the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, visit www.njavo.org, its Facebook page at http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or call (201) 886-0561.
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Photo available upon request.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Verismo Opera is saying “thank you” to opera lovers and patrons with a special “2 for 1” sale on tickets priced at $55 and $45 ONLY on September 9, 10, and 11. The code for this special offer is “Rigoletto”.
Tickets may be ordered by calling 201-227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888PACSHOW or purchased online at www.bergenpac.org. They may also be purchased in person at the BergenPAC Box Office. For group rates, contact Mary Ellen Rohon at 201-886-0561.
Verismo Opera, under the direction of Artistic Director and former Metropolitan Opera diva Lucine Amara, brings to the stage Verdi’s famous masterpiece, “Rigoletto”, following the libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Based on Victor Hugo’s play, " Le Roi s'amuse", the opera weaves the story of a court jester, the royal seduction of an innocent girl and the curse that leads to her tragic end.
International soprano and Verismo Opera Director Evelyn La Quaif says her new production of “Rigoletto” focuses on realism. “People go to the opera to escape their daily struggles for awhile. Verismo Opera’s production remains true to the original with the grand sets, beautiful costumes, and the splendor. Each person on the stage, including the chorus, has an individual personality that emotes unique, complex human emotions,” she explained.
The production includes the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Orchestra & Chorus; Anthony Morss, Conductor; and Mara Waldman, Chorus Mistress, with Catherine Mirabella heading the costume department.
New Jersey Residents Featured
New Jersey residents comprise a large part of the cast, with 90 per cent of the chorus from the Garden State. Cast from the state are Joo Won Kang (Rigoletto) of Fort Lee, Steven Fredericks (Sparafucile) of Tenafly, Richard Bozic (Count Ceprano) from Highland Park and Alan Smulen (Marullo) of Bayonne.
Kang is no stranger to Verismo Opera. In 2010, he won second prize in the company’s annual Opera Vocal Competition and performed in its concert, Operatic Highlights of New Jersey. Opera News called him “a firebrand baritone...He is definitely a singer to watch.” He is also a 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition New York District winner, a 2010 Career Bridge Competition winner, and a Puccini Foundation grant award recipient. Currently, Kang is pursuing a Master’s of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he is studying under the tutelage of Mark Oswald.
Cast
• Rigoletto, the jester - Joo Won Kang • Gilda, Rigoletto’s daugher - Jennifer Gliere • Duke of Mantua - Benjamin Sloman • Sparafucile, an assassin - Steven Fredericks • Maddelena, Sparafucile’s sister - Jessica Grigg • Giovanna, Gilda’s nurse - Maro Partamian • Count Ceprano - Richard Bozic • Count Monterone - Nathan Resika • Marullo - Alan Smulen • Matteo Borsa - To be announced • Countess Ceprano - To be announced
NJAVO is recognized for providing up and coming performing artists with the training to enter a career in opera. Several notable singers, who are performing internationally, such as Richard Hobson, Frank Poretta, Emmanuel di Villarose, James Valenti and Irina Rindzuner started their careers by performing in the company’s productions.
Maestro Morss, who was appointed NJAVO’s Music Director and Principal Conductor in 1995, has served as the Chorus Master of the American Opera Center at Juilliard, Music Director of the Majorca and Saragossa Symphonies in Spain and the Norwalk Symphony. He has also guest conducted the Madrid, Barcelona, Marseille and Cape Town Symphonies, and Tampa Bay Opera, New York Lyric Opera, NGO.
Funding has been made possible by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and from private donations.
About the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (NJAVO) has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists, sponsors an annual vocal competition held in November with finals conducted in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, which draws artists from all over the United States, Canada, and sometimes Europe. The company organizes opera workshops and offers affordable, highly professional operatic productions to the Bergen County, New Jersey community.
In January 1990, NJAVO featured the winners of its first vocal competition along with internationally renowned artists. In 1991, the organization began performing in Bergen County at the Fort Lee Historic Park. Two years later, Metropolitan Opera star Lucine Amara joined the association as Artistic Director and with a full orchestra, began performing at the Orrie de Nooyer Auditorium. Presently, Verismo Opera’s home base is the Bergen PAC in Englewood, New Jersey.
For more information about the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, visit www.njavo.org, its Facebook page at http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or call (201) 886-0561.
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Photo available upon request.
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