New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera to Present Puccini's Madama Butterfly at Bergen Performing Arts Center

FORT LEE, NJ, September 11, 2012

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) continues the season, A Year of Love, Tragedy, and Suicide, with a grand performance of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Verismo Opera will present this touching, tragic love story of a young geisha and an American sailor set in Japan on Sunday, October 7, 3:00 p.m., at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), 30 North Van Brunt Street, in Englewood, New Jersey.

Under Artistic Director Lucine Amara, one of the Metropolitan Opera's luminary performers, Verismo Opera will perform this tragic love story in three acts with a full orchestra. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, Il Lilica and G. Giacosa's libretto will be performed with beautiful Sormani sets and a full orchestra.

Stage Director and Canadian soprano Evelyn la Quaif directs the new production. Principal Conductor and Music Director, Anthony Morss, conducts the full opera orchestra and chorus. Mara Waldman, Chorus Director, returns to lead the Verismo Opera Chorus. Costumes designed by Catherine Mirabella and Barbara Konig.

Tickets may be purchased online at the bergenPAC's web site, at the bergenPAC box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. For special rates for group sales, call (201) 224-2809.

Cast of Stars

Soprano StacyLyn Bennett debuts with Verismo Opera in the role of Cio-Cio-San. Recently, she received rave reviews performing the principal role of Susan in Garden State Opera's production of Santelli's II Consulente Matrimoniale. Bennett has appeared in a range of roles, including Mozart's Elvira in Don Giovanni, Pamina in Die Zauberflote, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro.

Philip Alongi, tenor, returns to Verismo Opera to play J.F. Pinkerton. Alongi performed last the role of the revolutionary painter Cavaradossi in Verismo Opera's fall 2011 highly successful production of Tosca.

Earlier this year, he played Pinkerton in New Rochelle Opera's Madama Butterfly. He has performed over a dozen operatic roles, including Luigi in Il Tabarro with the Lyric Orchestra, Alfredo in La Traviata with Pineda Lyric Opera Company, and Canio in Pagliacci with the Center City Opera Theater of Philadelphia.

"The sheer beauty and power of Philip Alongi's remarkable voice will impress all who hear him in this production," said Amara.

Verismo Opera welcomes mezzo-soprano Silvana Chu in her first appearance with the company as Suzuki, Cio-Cio San's maid. Originally from Hong Kong, Chu has appeared on both operatic and concert stages in New York City, performing The Boy in Indian Queen, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pollinesso in Ariodante, and Irene in Atalanta.

The 2011 New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Annual International Vocal Competition first prize winner, baritone Brian B. Carter debuts with the company as Sharpless. Other vocalists debuting with the company are Fred Frabotta as Goro and Kevin Grace as Prince Yamadori.

Frabotta has performed a range of roles, including the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Goro in Madam Butterfly, and Spoletta in Tosca. Grace began performing with the New York City Opera in 2005 and has sung the roles of Happy in La fanciulla del West and The Guardsman in Anthony and Cleopatra. He has also performed as a principal singer with the New York Grand Opera, Boheme Opera, and Bronx Opera.

Bass-baritone Steven Fredericks has appeared in several Verismo Opera productions and returns to the company to play Bonze, Cio-Cio San's uncle. In April 2011, he performed the role of Ferrando in Verismo Opera's production of Il Trovatore and the previous year, he appeared as Sparafucile in the company's well received production of Rigoletto.

Soprano Marie Anello debuts in Madama Butterfly as Kate Pinkerton. Anello performed previously with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Chorus in the company's productions of Aida (2011), Tosca (2011), and Il Trovatore (2012).

A family doctor by day, Dr. James Moy will perform the role of Commissioner. He made his solo opera debut as the Gypsy in the company's production of Il Trovatore earlier this year. Dr. Moy has sung with the Verismo Opera Chorus for over six years in all of the company's productions, including Tosca, Aida, Rigoletto, and many others.

Howard Gruber will perform the role of Registrar. He has sung in the Verismo Opera Chorus for three years. For 32 years, he taught vocal music with the Hillsdale Public Schools.

Funding

Madama Butterfly is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include the Mary Casella Briggs Memorial Fund, The Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund, Children's Aid Foundation, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, Robert J. Campbell, MD and Cesare L. Santeramo, KSJ.

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit organization based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists. Verismo Opera sponsors an annual vocal competition held in November with finals generally conducted in Carnegie's Weill Hall, drawing artists from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company organizes opera workshops and offers affordable, highly professional operatic productions in northern New Jersey. For further information, contact 201-886-0561.