Verismo Opera to Celebrate 25th Season with Open House, Silent Auction on 9/6

The Bergen Performing Arts Center's house opera company, New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera), will celebrate its 25th anniversary season at an Open House and a silent auction fundraiser at The Performing Arts School of bergenPAC. Artistic Director and Met Opera luminary Lucine Amara invites the public to attend the free event and learn more about Verismo Opera on Saturday, September 6, 2014, 1 p.m., at The Performing Arts School of bergenPAC, located at 1 Depot Square in Englewood, New Jersey.

Ms. Amara, Verismo Opera Music Director/Principal Conductor Anthony Morss, General Manager/Stage Director Evelyn La Quaif, Chorus Director/Associate Conductor Mara Waldman, and President Dr. James Garvin, MD will discuss Verismo Opera's mission, vision, and history. They will introduce the grand opera company's new production of Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème, as well as the 2015 season performances of George Bizet's Carmen and Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Set in Paris, France, La Bohème will be performed on Sunday October 19 and 26 at bergenPAC, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. The 2015 season will open with Carmen on April 26, followed by Lucia di Lammermoor on October 18, with all performances presented at bergenPAC.

The open house program will present vocalists performing solos from La Bohème. Exhibits will display memorabilia and photos from Verismo Opera's 25 years of producing grand operas, sponsoring an annual international vocal competition, presenting concerts, holding master classes, giving operalogues, and training the stars of tomorrow. Opportunities to perform in the chorus, act as a supernumerary in non-speaking and non-singing roles or volunteer behind-the-scenes with the company will be presented. Verismo Opera representatives in costume will be available to answer questions.

To continue the grand opera company's work, a silent auction will feature a range of fine items available for purchase. Among the operatic products available to bid upon will be CDs with Lucine Amara; ivory, alabaster collectible opera plates by Italian master Franco Ingargiola; and others.

The site is handicapped accessible. A parking lot has a designated handicapped parking space.

For further information about the program or Verismo Opera, call (201) 886-0561.

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