New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Brings Masterpiece, Tosca, to Englewood, New Jersey. Meet the Artists Champagne Reception & Verismo Opera Fund Announced.
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera presents Tosca on October 16th followed by the Meet the Artists Champagne Reception. The company announces the launch of the Verismo Opera Fund to support struggling young artists.

FORT LEE, NJ, October 06, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Enjoy the finest in grand opera with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera's (Verismo Opera) production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. and afterward talk one on one with the artists in a special Meet the Artists Champagne Reception. The dramatic performance of one of Puccini's most successful works will be presented at the BergenPAC located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Tickets are still available.

Reception

The Meet the Artists Champagne Reception will be held immediately after the performance at approximately 5:20 p.m. at the BergenPAC's Cabaret Room. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the artists and discuss the company's work. Among the artists scheduled to appear are Verismo Opera's Artistic Director and former Metropolitan Opera star, Lucine Amara; Canadian soprano Evelyn La Quaif appearing as Floria Tosca; prominent Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss; Chorus Director Mara Waldman; members of the cast of Tosca; and other members of Verismo Opera.

Champagne and finger foods will be served. The event is open to the public. A suggested donation of $25 or more is requested. For more information and to RSVP, call (201) 886-0561.

Verismo Opera Fund

The Verismo Opera Fund supports talented young artists, who are experiencing economic hardship, to audition or participate in the company's annual vocal competition and receive free vocal coaching and training. Donors contributing $100 or more to the Verismo Opera Fund will receive a CD set of a historic live performance of Tosca starring Lucine Amara as Floria Tosca, Plácido Domingo as Mario Cavaradossi, Tito Gobbi as Baron Scarpia, and Fernando Corena as the Sacristan under Conductor Francesco Molinari-Pradelli. Donations may also be mailed to the Verismo Opera Fund, NJAVO, P.O. Box 3024, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024-9024.

Dramatic Love Triangle Set in Rome

Under Artistic Director Lucine Amara, one of the Metropolitan Opera's finest performers of Tosca, Verismo Opera, the only professional grand opera company in North Jersey, presents the dramatic love triangle of jealousy, treachery, and death set in Rome. Singers from Canada, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will appear in full costume performing intense, three-dimensional characters on traditional staging. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the opera uses Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa's libretto in four acts based upon Victorien Sardou's drama, La Tosca.

Cast of Characters

•Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer Evelyn La Quaif/Cover Lesley Craigie
•Mario Cavaradossi, a painter Philip Alongi
•Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police Charles Schneider
•Sacristan Ryan Allen
•Spoletta, a police agent Joel Cardona
•Cesare Angelotti Joseph Baunoch
•Sciarrone, a gendarme Alan Gordon Smulen
•Shepherd Allegra Durante
•Jailer Tom Schubert

Evelyn La Quaif also directs the production. A full orchestra under Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss plays Puccini's powerful, beautiful music. Chorus Director Mara Waldman directs the Verismo Opera Chorus.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased at the BergenPAC box office, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays or by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Ticket purchases may be made online at http://www.bergenpac.org/shows-and-events/tickets/.

A special 25% discount on $55, $45, and $35 tickets will be available ONLY from Thursday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8 using the code TOSCA3. Discount tickets may be ordered only through the box office and are not be available online. For special rates for group sales, call (201) 224-2809.

Funding

Tosca 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 Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, Robert J. Campbell, M.D. and Cesare L. Santeramo, KCSJ.

Press Release Contact Information:

Gianni Simone
NJ Association of Verismo Opera
President
P.O. Box 3024
Fort Lee, New Jersey
USA 07024-9024
Voice: 201-886-0561
Website: Visit Our Website