Verismo Opera Presents Verdi's LA TRAVIATA, 4/6

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera), the only grand opera company in Bergen County, will present Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata on Sunday, April 6, 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 observe its 25th season, Vive la France, with the beautiful production La Traviata in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Verdi's birth. Set in the backdrop of Paris, France, this love story, shrouded in sacrifice and misunderstanding, will unfold on the stage under the direction of Stage Director and Canadian soprano Evelyn La Quaif. The fully staged production will be presented with the cast singing in Italian. English supertitles will be provided.

A live orchestra will perform under the baton of Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss. Chorus Director Mara Waldman will direct the Verismo Opera Chorus. The cast will perform in period costumes designed by Catherine Mirabella and Barbara Konig.

The bergenPAC is handicapped accessible. Hearing assist systems are available upon request at the bergenPAC to the house manager in the lobby.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.bergenpac.org, at the bergenPAC box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Senior citizens, ages 65 and over, purchasing regular-priced tickets on non-sale dates receive a 10% discount. The company is offering a reduced rate of $10 on all tickets for children, ages 12 and under, when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

The special senior citizen and children's discount tickets are available at the box office only and must be requested before the purchase. For special rates for group sales, call (201) 224-2809. Discount tickets are not available for purchase online.

The 2014 season 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 (Verismo Opera) has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. Verismo Opera, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, is a grand, professional opera company led by Artistic Director and Met Opera luminary Lucine Amara.

The organization provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists and sponsors an annual vocal competition held in November with finals generally 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 concerts and offers affordable, highly professional operatic productions.

For more information about Verismo Opera, visit its web site, www.verismopera.org; follow the company on Facebook, http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; or call (201) 886-0561.