Verismo Opera to Host Open House this Week, 9/7

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera launches its 24th season with Love, Comedy, Obsession & Murder at its open house in celebration of the year of Italian culture in America. Artistic Director and Met Opera luminary Lucine Amara invites the public, singers, actors, and people interested in volunteering with the organization to attend a free open house to learn more about Verismo Opera on Saturday, September 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m., at 44 Armory Street in Englewood, New Jersey.

The Verismo Opera Chorus will perform Giuseppe Verdi's Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from the opera Nabucco. General Manager Evelyn La Quaif and Oswaldo Iraheta from Edgewater, New Jersey will perform Libiamo ne' lieti calici from Verdi's La Traviata. Iraheta recently performed the role of Rinuccio in the company's production of Gianni Schicchi at the Bergen Performing Arts Center.

Hackensack, New Jersey resident Edgar Jaramillo, a new member of Verismo Opera, will sing Addio alla madre from Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. Jaramillo will perform the role of Turriddu in Verismo Opera's upcoming new production of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.

Ms. Amara, Music Director/Principal Conductor Anthony Morss, General Manager Evelyn La Quaif, Chorus Director Mara Waldman, and President Dr. James Garvin, MD will discuss the organization's mission, history, and opportunities to perform with Verismo Opera. They will introduce the grand opera company's double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana and Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica to be performed on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey.

Opportunities to perform with the Verismo Opera Chorus will be discussed. Vocalists, amateurs and professionals of all ages, are invited to attend the open house and learn more about the work of the chorus and the free professional coaching available.

Under Chorus Director Mara Waldman, singers will explore grand opera through active performances. The operas will be fully staged and performed in costume accompanied by an orchestra under internationally renowned Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss in a number of performing arts centers.

Applications are now being accepted for the Verismo Opera Chorus. Auditions for the chorus will be held on Wednesdays, September 11, 18 and 25 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at 44 Armory Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Applicants should bring one or two songs to perform. An accompanist will be provided. An appointment is required to audition.

Male choristers, representing all vocal ranges and ages, are especially needed. Sight-reading ability is definitely a plus, but not necessary. No prior stage experience is required. An application may be downloaded at http://www.verismopera.org/vocalcomp.html . For information or to schedule an appointment to audition for the chorus, call (201) 886-0561.

Opportunities to perform with the Verismo Opera Chorus, act as a supernumerary (extra) in non-speaking and non-singing roles or volunteer with the company behind the scenes will also be presented. Children, who are interested in gaining experience on the stage as supernumeraries, are invited to attend the open house and learn more about performing opportunities in Cavalleria Rusticana. For information about supernumerary roles available, call (201)-224-2809.

The 2013 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.

Verismo Opera has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, is the only professional 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 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 in the Bergen County, New Jersey community.

Verismo Opera 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 its productions.

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

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