New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Presents "Lucine Amara: My Interpretations of Aida" in Englewood

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ, March 09, 2011

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) announces that opera star Lucine Amara, Artistic Director, will present "Lucine Amara: My Interpretations of Aida" on March 27, 3:00 p.m., at Bergen Family Center, 44 Armory Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Finger foods and light refreshments will be provided. A donation of $20 is suggested. For additional information or to RSVP, call (201) 886-0561.

The presentation will feature photos highlighting Ms. Amara's various performances in the role of Aida over the years and audio samples of her live performances. A question and answer session will follow.

"Opera enthusiasts will be excited by the many backstage stories that have taken place throughout the career of this accomplished singer and unique diva, Lucine Amara. This presentation will benefit young artists, who are interested in pursuing a career in opera. Our Young Artists program trains aspiring young opera singers in stage movement, voice projection, and dramatic coaching. We also offer performance opportunities as covers for the principal roles, as well as actual on-stage opportunities," explains Gianni Simone, President, Verismo Opera.

The company's production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida will be performed on April 17 at 3:00 p.m. at the BergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey. Aida will be fully staged by Evelyn La Quaif and performed in costume accompanied by an orchestra under internationally renowned Principal Conductor/Music Director, Anthony Morss. Tickets may be purchased by calling the BergenPAC box office at (201) 227-1030. A special 10% discount on all tickets will be available ONLY on March 31, April 1, and April 2 using the code AIDA2A.

Lucine Amara and Aida

Ms. Amara first performed in Aida in the role of the High Priestess on November 13, 1951 at the Metropolitan Opera. When she sang Aida for the first time in 1954, she also became the first American soprano invited by the Italian government to sing this lead role at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome at the annual summer festival at the Baths of Caracalla.

Her first performance in the title role of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera took place on November 9, 1959 with Dimitri Uzunov under the direction of the great conductor, Fausto Cleva. She sang this role in opera houses around the world, including 61 times at the Metropolitan Opera.

Throughout her lengthy musical career, she has sung in over 1000 operatic performances in 21 foreign countries, such as China, Japan, Armenia, and Russia. In the United States, she has performed in 33 opera houses and with 25 symphony orchestras.

About New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization based in Fort Lee New Jersey, is the only professional grand opera company in Bergen County and northern New Jersey. The organization provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists and sponsors an annual vocal competition held in November with finals conducted in Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall, drawing artists from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company also organizes opera workshops and offers affordable, highly professional operatic productions in the Bergen County, New Jersey community.

The company is recognized for providing up and coming performing artists with the training to attain a successful operatic career. Several singers, notably Richard Hobson, Frank Poretta, Emmanuel di Villarosa, James Valenti and Irina Rindzuner of the Metropolitan Opera, started their road to success by performing in Verismo Opera productions.

For more information about the NJ Association of Verismo Opera, visit is web site, http://www.njavo.org, view its Facebook page at http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or call (201) 886-0561.