The Amore Opera Company
The Amore Opera Company The Amore Opera Company
- Page 3 and 4: The Amore Opera Company Nathan Hull
- Page 5 and 6: If this beautiful opera has not cur
- Page 7 and 8: Congratulations to Amore Opera! Ade
- Page 9 and 10: her. As if on cue, José’s voice
- Page 11 and 12: Place: In and around Seville, Spain
- Page 13 and 14: Meet the Artists and Staff Richard
- Page 15 and 16: Richard Cassell Zuniga Acclaimed by
- Page 17 and 18: Jay Gould Zuniga Jay celebrates his
- Page 19 and 20: Iris Karlin Micaëla Iris is a nati
- Page 21 and 22: David Owen Ensemble David returns t
- Page 23 and 24: Mia Riker-Norrie Micaëla Amore Ope
- Page 25 and 26: Katie Stevenson Mercédès Katie’
- Page 27 and 28: Cheryl Warfield Micaëla/Children
- Page 29 and 30: Alexander Garfin Alexander is 7 yea
- Page 31: Flamenco Dancers Jorge Navarro Chor
- Page 35: Jorge Navarro Flamenco Vivo Studios
- Page 41: Mary Bowen, Mezzo Soprano (Performi
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong><br />
Nathan Hull ................................................................................ President<br />
Deborah Surdi ............................................................................. Vice President<br />
Barbara Cohen ............................................................................ Secretary<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Alicia Alexander Robert Alpert Mark Bentley Melissa Gerstein Janet Johnson<br />
Simeon Loring Daniel Rothstein, esq. Vincent Titone Allan Vail Cheryl Warfield<br />
Special Thanks To Our Patrons<br />
Seraphin ($10,000 Or More)<br />
Anthony Amato Mary Julia Curtis Georgann Shufflebarger<br />
Cherubin ($1,000 - $9,999)<br />
Alicia Alexander John Behonek<br />
Mark Bentley Barbara Cohen<br />
Joanne & Edward Froelich Keith B. Gianni<br />
Michele Halpern Norman & Denise Keller<br />
Madison St. Productions Neil Mckelvie<br />
Jesse & Rochelle Shereff Lu Ting<br />
Archangel ($500 - $999)<br />
Beth Anderson <strong>The</strong> Dillard Foundation<br />
Elaine Dinitz & Jordan Fishbane D. Gene England<br />
Elizabeth Gambino Carol Kornblau<br />
Estate Of Charles A. Kornblau Donald Lentnek<br />
David Owen Allan Vail<br />
Verizon Foundation<br />
Angel ($200 - $499)<br />
Frances Bauer John Bentley<br />
Deborah Downs Kathy Enders<br />
Mark Franko-Filipasic Mitchell Golden<br />
Barbara Murphy Lois Ottombrino<br />
Rosina & Clement Raiteri Diane Robek<br />
Dominique Rosoff Karyn Slutsky<br />
James Stenborg Martha C. Stine<br />
Natalie C. Tenney Craig Wohl<br />
More Special Thanks:<br />
Alicia Alexander Mark Bentley Barbara Cohen Graham Halky<br />
Ann Hu Ian Meyer Bernie Milan Sandra Pearson<br />
Daniel Rothstein, esq. Victoria Wefer Alea Vorillas Craig Wohl<br />
Anthony Amato Village Light <strong>Opera</strong> Ira Siff & La Gran Scena <strong>Opera</strong><br />
For more information, contact Melissa Gerstein press@amoreopera.org<br />
Please send your tax-deductible contribution to:<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>, Inc.<br />
P.O. Box 231368<br />
New York, NY 10023<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> is a 501(c)(3) company. All contributions are tax-deductible.
<strong>The</strong> New <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> Season<br />
“Carmen” is now one of the world’s most favorite operas. Full of sweeping passion, its<br />
melodies are the source for many an earwurm. But, it wasn’t always so: Its premiere<br />
at the Opéra-Comique of Paris on March 3, 1875 was a disaster. <strong>The</strong> audience was<br />
shocked that such a wanton woman as Carmen should be celebrated on the stage,<br />
and the young Georges Bizet’s masterpiece seemed to be headed for oblivion.<br />
Indeed, Bizet died two months later thinking himself a failure. It was only after “Carmen”<br />
escaped the confines of Parisian bourgeoisie society that it found its audience<br />
and quickly established itself as an international sensation.<br />
Even today when examined closely, it is not an easy story, and it must have been<br />
truly shocking to Victorian audiences. Carmen is made the heroine, but she is from<br />
the lowest caste of European society, the Gypsies. Euphemistically, she is described<br />
as “free with her love,” but it is obvious that it is more than that. Indeed, she uses her<br />
overpowering sexuality as a weapon of first choice, and it is this mismatch that starts<br />
Don José on his downward spiral to ruin and insanity.<br />
However, through modern eyes, she is also a victim. While the original audiences<br />
might have concluded that Carmen “got what she deserves”, today’s viewers are<br />
more likely to be shocked by the evolution of José into a monstrous stalker. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />
other problems that jolt modern sensibilities, too, including the maddening task of<br />
accepting the fact that Carmen is both the prototype of the emancipated woman and<br />
at the same time bound by the predestination foretold by Tarot cards. In short, “Carmen”<br />
is a surprisingly deep work of art that continues to fascinate each succeeding<br />
generation in unsuspected ways.<br />
For us, “Carmen” represents something totally different - the successful conclusion<br />
to <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s second season. Against the odds, veterans of the Amato <strong>Opera</strong> have<br />
established and evolved a new house which has found favor both within the opera<br />
community of artists and from the opera-going public. Next season, we are planning<br />
another series of popular operas and another series of our “<strong>Opera</strong> in Brief” for<br />
children and families, and we invite you to be the first to know about it by getting our<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> Newsletter. Just send an email to newsletter@amoreopera.org, and we’ll keep<br />
you abreast of all our exciting developments!<br />
Finally, producing opera demands great dedication on both sides of the footlights.<br />
Please consider joining us as a volunteer. We need everything from ushers to painters.<br />
Or, if you are an overly busy New Yorker, please think about giving us a donation<br />
to help us with our quest. In addition to writing a check this evening, you can also<br />
conveniently make a donation online at www.amoreopera.org.<br />
Thanks to everybody involved – the singers, the instrumentalists, the artistic staff<br />
and the administrators - for loving and nurturing the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. Now, onto our<br />
third season!<br />
Nathan Hull<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> President<br />
This production is dedicated to the memory of John W. Behonek,<br />
Actor, Singer, Producer, Gentleman, and Supporter and Patron<br />
of the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> and many, many other <strong>Opera</strong> & Operetta companies
If this beautiful opera has not cured your heartburn or<br />
other gastrointestinal ailments, may we emphatically<br />
suggest that you see some of New York‘s most renowned<br />
gastroenterologists for help! Wonderful physicians, humane<br />
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Tel: 212-604 6822<br />
Jerome Siegel, MD William Brown, MD<br />
Seth Cohen, MD Jason Bratcher, MD<br />
Franklin Kasmin, MD Evin McCabe, MD
Production Staff<br />
Conductor/Musical Director............................................................Richard Owen<br />
Stage Director.........................................................................................Nathan Hull<br />
Choreographer....................................................................................Jorge Navarro<br />
Executive Producer..................................................................Marlene E. Williams<br />
Producer......................................................................................................Iris Karlin<br />
Associate Producer................................................................Courtenay Showalter<br />
Artistic Coordinator/Children’s Chorus Master..............................Cheryl Warfield<br />
Chorus Coordinator............................................................................Janet Johnson<br />
Technical Director................................................................................Adam Bishop<br />
Stage Manager............................................................................. Norah Scheinman<br />
Scenic Designer/Production Graphics........................................Richard Cerullo<br />
Lighting Designer..............................................................................Daniel Winters<br />
Costume Designer......................................................................................Iris Karlin<br />
Propmaster........................................................................................Robert Malayev<br />
French Language Coach................................................................Michele Halpern<br />
Program..................................Elizabeth Treat, Stu Whalen, Marlene E. Williams<br />
Publicity/Press...............................................................................Melissa Gerstein<br />
Box Office Manager.................................................................Marlene E. Williams<br />
Development...................................................................................................Hal Lai<br />
Ad Sales............................................................................................Rochelle Shereff<br />
Videographer............................................................William Remmers, Jay Gould<br />
Supertitles......................................................................................................Connie I<br />
Concession.............................................................Vera Asaro, Lorraine Davidson<br />
Orchestra<br />
Pianists: Wei-En Hsu, Judith Schaaf, Regina Yakubtsiner<br />
Flute: Beth Anderson, Jung-Yi Hsieh, Maureen Keenan,<br />
Abbe Krieger, Dorothy Lee, Renee Oakford, Richard Paratley<br />
Oboe: Barbara Cohen, Suzette Jacobs<br />
Clarinet: Aaron Abramovitz, Laurence Beckhardt, Deborah<br />
Cardona, Janet Johnson, Edward Klein<br />
Bassoon: Timothy Emerson, Daniel Liao, Sandra Pearson,<br />
Matthew Rosenberg, Richard Vrotney<br />
Trumpet: Anthony Bavota, Larry Malin, Tom McGee<br />
Donna Rossi, Joseph Schufle, Harry Wise<br />
Horn: Susan Allard, Lynn Caron, Roy Femenella , Peter Huitzacua,<br />
Charissa Smith, Nancy J. Vizza, Marc Wager<br />
Trombone: Jeremy Kempton, John Lieto, Carl Reinlib<br />
Violin: Joyce Balint, Marc Bastuscheck, Jane Buckwalter, Kristine<br />
Cangceusta, Victor Dvortsov, Elliott Neibch, Dave Obelkivich,<br />
Andrew Pak, Juliana Pereira, Sylvia Rubin, Tomoko Samei,<br />
Yelena Savranskaya, Abigail Wilensky, Antje Wilmer<br />
Viola: Haw-Bin Chai, Thomas Leff, Andrea Maire, Yumi Oikawa,<br />
Rachel Teplow, Ryan Teynor<br />
Cello: Tim Carter, Carl Courant, Steve Flanders, Toshi Kono,<br />
Marty Steinberg, Judy Tobey<br />
Bass: Jim Boyd, Ben Fox, David Wiener<br />
Percussion: Ashley Baier, Minhye Ju, Charles Kiger,<br />
ChiChing Lin, Scott Still<br />
Harp: Kathleen McAuliffe, Violetta Norrie<br />
Orchestra Librarians: Beth Anderson, Sandra Pearson<br />
Music Coordinator: Barbara Cohen
Congratulations to <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>!<br />
Adele Bond<br />
Christopher F. van Elk<br />
Bruce Greengart<br />
Carolyn Kornblau<br />
Ann Lipson<br />
Paul and Mike Riezenman<br />
Evelyn and Marvin Rich<br />
Anna Shereff<br />
Shirley Singer
Carmen<br />
Composed by Geoges Bizet<br />
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy<br />
Based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée<br />
Synopsis<br />
Act I. On a square in Seville next to the Cigarette Factory, Corporal Moralès and<br />
his soldiers spend a hot afternoon lazily looking at the passers-by and the pretty<br />
girls. Suddenly, their monotony is broken by the arrival of Micaëla, a simple<br />
country girl, who is looking for her beau, Don José, who is also a solider. Moralès<br />
tells her that José will arrive later and tries to pick her up himself, but Micaëla<br />
escapes his advances. A bugle call announces the changing of the guard which<br />
is merrily mimicked by a chorus of street urchins. When Don José and his men<br />
relieve the soldiers on duty, Moralès tells him that a girl has been looking for<br />
him. Zuniga, the new lieutenant of the guard, is concerned about smugglers. He<br />
questions José about the building on the square, and is thankful to find out that<br />
it is the famous cigarette factory. <strong>The</strong> factory bell sounds, and the cigarette girls<br />
emerge much to the pleasure of the men waiting to catch a glance. Finally, Carmen<br />
herself appears and sings her sensual Habañera, but is annoyed that alone<br />
amongst men, José is ignoring her. She throws a flower at him in an attempt to<br />
inflame his passion, but leaves without seeing its effect. Micaëla returns bringing<br />
a letter from José’s mother. <strong>The</strong>y sing of their innocent love, and when Micaëla<br />
leaves, José determines to follow his mother’s wishes by marrying her. A fight in<br />
the cigarette factory between Carmen and Manuela interrupts him, and he is<br />
forced by Zuniga to arrest Carmen. As he ties her wrists, Carmen tempts José to<br />
let her escape and rendezvous with her at Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Mesmerized by<br />
the siren call of her Séguedille, José loosens Carmen’s bonds, and she runs away.<br />
José is arrested.<br />
ACT II. A month has passed. At Pastia’s seedy bar on the edge of<br />
Seville, Carmen with her friends Frasquita and Mercédès sing and dance a Gypsy<br />
Song for Zuniga and some soldiers. <strong>The</strong> drunken but still lustful Zuniga lets it<br />
slip that José has been released from prison just as the bar is invaded by revelers<br />
hailing the arrival of Escamillo, the celebrated bullfighter. He sings of his exploits<br />
in the famously tuneful “Votre Toast”, the Toreador song. When Escamillo propositions<br />
Carmen, she tells him to wait for another day. Pastia throws everybody<br />
out of the bar except for Carmen and her two friends in preparation for the<br />
arrival of the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado. <strong>The</strong>y have a big operation for<br />
which they need female assistance. (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”). Carmen<br />
refuses to join them until later since she is convinced Don José will shortly join
her. As if on cue, José’s voice is heard, and the smugglers and their girlfriends<br />
leave Carmen alone with José with the instructions that she must convince her<br />
soldier friend to join them on the operation. José proclaims his love for Carmen<br />
as she dances seductively for him. (“Je vais danser en votre honneur”). Just as<br />
their love is finally to be consummated, the company bugle is heard, and José<br />
tries to return to base. Furious, Carmen says he doesn’t love her at all, and he<br />
demonstrates his devotion by showing her the flower which he has treasured<br />
throughout his imprisonment. (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). Carmen says that<br />
the only way to prove his love is by deserting the army and joining her in the<br />
mountains with the smugglers. He resists and is starting to leave when Zuniga<br />
bursts in, and José attacks him in a jealous rage. <strong>The</strong> smugglers return and hold<br />
Zuniga prisoner. Don José now has no choice but to join them.<br />
Act III. In a dark, cold mountain pass, the smuggling operation is underway.<br />
While Dancaïre and Remendado reconnoiter the path ahead, it becomes<br />
obvious that Carmen’s passion for the overly insistent José has cooled considerably.<br />
He gazes longingly at the valley where his mother lives; Carmen tells him<br />
to join her. To amuse themselves, Frasquita and Mercédès read their Tarot cards,<br />
but Carmen takes it much more seriously. When she draws the Death Card, she<br />
is convinced that Fate has determined that José will kill her and that there is no<br />
escape. Dancaïre returns and moves the crew forward, appealing to Carmen,<br />
Frasquita and Mercédès to use their feminine charms on the border guards to let<br />
them pass. A jealous José is left behind to guard the rear. Unexpectedly, Micaëla<br />
appears. She has followed José in order to rescue him from his life of crime.<br />
From a distance, José mistakes her for a poacher and fires at her, almost hitting<br />
Escamillo instead. While Micaëla hides, Escamillo reveals to José that he loves a<br />
gypsy girl who has tired of her lover. José realizes that he is that soldier, and he<br />
and Escamillo fight. <strong>The</strong> band of smugglers runs back in time to separate the two<br />
of them, and while José is being restrained, Escamillo courts Carmen in front of<br />
him before leaving. Micaëla is discovered, and begs José to return with her. He<br />
only relents when Micaëla tell him that his Mother is dying. As he reluctantly<br />
abandons the gypsy smugglers, Escamillo voice is heard in the distance, and it is<br />
obvious that Carmen has found her new lover.<br />
Act IV. Time has passed, and it is now the day of the big bullfight in<br />
Seville. With rising excitement, the crowd watches the procession which culminates<br />
with the arrival of Escamillo who now has Carmen on his arm. As everyone<br />
goes into the stadium, Frasquita and Mercédès pull Carmen aside to warn her<br />
that Don José has been sighted. She tries to calm their fears, but knows it is true.<br />
Alone, she turns to find herself trapped by Don José. He frantically appeals to<br />
Carmen and begs her to flee with him. His life has been ruined by her and only<br />
her love will redeem him. She coldly says she does not love him any more, and<br />
that ‘free she was born, and free she will die.” Carmen tries to enter the bull-ring,<br />
but José stabs her and she dies, leaving José alone with his guilt.
Carmen Characters:<br />
CARMEN, a Gypsy-Girl<br />
Mary Bowen, Pavlina Horáková, Elena McEntire,<br />
Elizabeth Mondragon, Margaret O’Connell, Joan Peitscher<br />
DON JOSÉ, Corporal of the Dragoons<br />
Maurizio Casa, Mark Franko-Filipasic, Adam Juran,<br />
Benjamin Sloman, Mauricio Trejo<br />
ESCAMILLO, a Famous Toreador<br />
Raymond Diaz, Isaac Grier, Thomas Gunther,<br />
Djoré Nance, Charles Sanford<br />
MICAËLA, Don Jose’s village sweetheart<br />
Maryam Amatullah-Wali, Iris Karlin, Michelle Pretto,<br />
Mia Riker-Norrie, Alea Vorillas, Cheryl Warfield, Victoria Wefer<br />
ZUNIGA, New Captain of the Dragoons in Seville<br />
Richard Cassell, Jay Gould, Jonathan Kahn, Dominique Rosoff<br />
MORALÈS, Corporal of the Dragoons in Seville<br />
Ari Amir, Rashard Deleston, Gene Howard,<br />
Jonathan Powers, Matthew Walters-Bowens (MWB)<br />
FRASQUITA, Gypsy-Girl and friend of Carmen<br />
Samantha Guevrekian, Laura Puzio, Sheena Ramirez,<br />
Courtenay Schowalter, Elizabeth Treat<br />
MERCÉDÈS, Gypsy-Girl and friend of Carmen<br />
Alison Cheeseman, Emily Geller, Melissa Gerstein,<br />
Sarah Nordin, Anna Petrie, Katie Stevenson<br />
DANCAÏRO, <strong>The</strong> Smuggler Chief<br />
Jonathan Powers, Alan Smulen,<br />
William Remmers, David Tillistrand<br />
REMENDADO, a Smuggler<br />
Georgios Argyratos, Mark Bentley, Chad Kranak, Victor Ziccardi<br />
LILLAS PASTIA, Innkeeper & Smuggler Collaborator<br />
William Remmers, Trey Sanduski, Stu Whalen, Nyah Williams<br />
MANUELA, a Cigarette Girl<br />
Allegra Durante, Megan Marod, Marissa Pepple, Loralee Tyson<br />
MOUNTAIN GUIDE<br />
William Remmers, Trey Sanduski, Alan Smulen, Stu Whalen<br />
DRAGOONS, GYPSIES, SMUGGLERS, CIGARETTE GIRLS,<br />
STREET URCHINS AND TOWNSPEOPLE
Place: In and around Seville, Spain<br />
Time: Early 1840s<br />
Act I - Square in Seville by the Cigarette Factory<br />
-- Intermission --<br />
Act II - Lillias Pastia’s Inn outside of Seville<br />
-- Intermission --<br />
Act III - A Wild and Deserted Rocky Place at Night<br />
-- A Pause --<br />
Act IV - A Square Outside the Bullfight Arena in Seville<br />
At intermission, try our homemade treats at the refreshment stand!
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Meet the Artists and Staff<br />
Richard Owen Conductor<br />
Richard is celebrating his 10th season as Music Director of Camerata<br />
New York Orchestra. For the past three seasons, Maestro Owen was a<br />
cover conductor at the New York Philharmonic. From 2005-7, Maestro<br />
Owen was a staff conductor at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Mr. Owen<br />
was also a visiting conducting associate at the San Francisco <strong>Opera</strong>. He<br />
has conducted the Duisburg Symphony, the Duesseldorf Symphony,<br />
the Staatskapelle Symphony Weimar, the Europa Symphony, the<br />
Monterrey Symphony, the Rzeszow Philharmonic, the Silesian Philharmonic,<br />
the Baltic <strong>Opera</strong>, the New York Philharmonic, the Jacksonville<br />
Symphony and the Belgrade Philharmonic. Owen graduated from<br />
Dartmouth College, the Manhattan School of Music and studied at the<br />
University for Music in Vienna, Austria. An accomplished pianist, Mr.<br />
Owen gives recitals with his wife, a professional cellist, and resides in<br />
Brewster, New York with their three sons. In the Fall, 2009, Mr Owen<br />
conducted the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s debut production, La Boheme.<br />
Nathan Hull Director<br />
Nathan has directed shows for many companies including Amato<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, Village Light <strong>Opera</strong>, and Actors <strong>Opera</strong>, and was the director for<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s inaugural season, La Bohéme, Merry Widow and <strong>The</strong><br />
Magic Flute. His production of A Sullivan Trilogy was recently presented<br />
at the International G&S Festival in England to great acclaim.<br />
Nathan has also sung a wide repertoire including Dr. Bartolo in <strong>The</strong><br />
Barber of Seville at the Bronx <strong>Opera</strong>, Barnaby in Babes in Toyland at<br />
Avery Fisher Hall with the Little Orchestra Society, and Marcello, both<br />
Figaros, Papageno and many others with the Amato <strong>Opera</strong>. Nathan<br />
has also directed and sung in most of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire,<br />
and regularly lectures on opera and operetta.<br />
Maryam Amatullah-Wali Micaëla<br />
Maryam has performed in Faust and Don Giovanni with Regina<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong>. In the spring of 2010, she played Micaëla in Regina<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong>’s production of Carmen. In June 2010, Maryam was<br />
chosen to be 1 of 30 people across the United States to participate in the<br />
Advanced Artists Program at <strong>Opera</strong> Works in Los Angeles, California.<br />
Just recently she covered the role of Yum-Yum in <strong>The</strong> Mikado (Regina<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong>), and in the spring of 2011 she will play Antonia in<br />
Les contes d’Hoffmann (Regina <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong>). This is Maryam’s<br />
first production with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>; she is thrilled to play Micaëla<br />
again!<br />
Ari Amir Moralès<br />
Ari is excited to make his debut performance with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>! An<br />
avid New Yorker, Ari has performed around town as Count Almaviva<br />
in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Dr. Falke in J. Strauss’s Die Fledermaus,<br />
Mercutio in Gounod’s Romeo et Julliet, Silvio in Leoncavallo’s<br />
Pagliacci, and El Dancaïro in Bizet’s Carmen. This is his NYC debut<br />
as Morales. During the week you can find Ari at the NYU Nordoff-<br />
Robbins Center for Music <strong>The</strong>rapy.
Georgios Argyratos Remendado<br />
Georgios is a Greek tenor whose voice was called “rich and colorful”<br />
by the Athens News. After acquiring his BA in opera performance from<br />
the Hellenic conservatory of Athens, he moved to NYC to continue his<br />
operatic career. Georgios has performed in the NY area as a SEP member<br />
of <strong>Opera</strong> Manhattan and he also sings with Regina <strong>Opera</strong>, Dell’Arte<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> Ensemble and <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. He has also held many leading<br />
roles throughout his career. Gastone in La Traviata, El Remendado in<br />
Carmen, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Nemorino in L’Elisir D’amore, Rodolfo<br />
in La Boheme, Faust in Gounod’s Faust, Duke of Mandua in Rigoletto,<br />
Macheath in <strong>The</strong> Beggar’s <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Mark W. Bentley Remendado<br />
Mark performed many roles at <strong>The</strong> Amato <strong>Opera</strong> and frequently<br />
served as Maestro Amato’s assistant director and stage manager. Prior<br />
to <strong>The</strong> Amato <strong>Opera</strong>, Mark performed with <strong>The</strong> Metro-Lyric <strong>Opera</strong> and<br />
<strong>The</strong> Monmouth Civic Chorus, both in New Jersey, as well as for <strong>The</strong><br />
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, for which he performed the tenor<br />
solo in the NY premiere of Daniel Pinkham’s Fanfares at Carnegie Hall.<br />
Mark is an enthusiastic supporter of <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> and serves on its<br />
board of directors.<br />
Adam Bishop Technical Director<br />
Adam is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown,<br />
Pennsylvania with a BA in <strong>The</strong>ater. He currently hold positions as a<br />
freelance technician and lives on Long Island.<br />
Mary Bowen Carmen<br />
Mary is a Mezzo Soprano with <strong>Opera</strong> Ireland – Dorabella, Così fan<br />
tutte; New York City <strong>Opera</strong> – <strong>The</strong> Second Lady, <strong>The</strong> Magic Flute; Flora,<br />
La Traviata; Sister Mathilde, Dialogues of the Carmelites; <strong>Opera</strong> di<br />
Zapopan (Guadalajara, Mexico) – Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni; Dayton<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> – Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus; Venice Baroque Orchestra<br />
at BAM – Siroe (Cover), Siroe; Des Moines Metro <strong>Opera</strong> – L’Enfant,<br />
L’Enfant et les Sortilèges; <strong>Opera</strong> Southwest – Flora, La Traviata; Other<br />
roles: Der Komponist, Ariadne auf Naxos; Carmen, Carmen; Cherubino,<br />
Le Nozze di Figaro; Concert Soloist: Carnegie Hall – Beethoven’s<br />
Mass in C; Trinity Church, NYC – Concerts at One series; Lima Symphony<br />
Orchestra – Mahler’s 2nd Symphony.<br />
Maurizio Casa Don Jose<br />
Maurizio, a tenor, attended the Mannes School of Music in New York.<br />
He has performed Rodolfo (La Boheme) in <strong>The</strong>ater Nordhausen in<br />
Germany, Alfredo (La Traviata) with Teatro Capranica in Rome as well<br />
as the Duke (Rigoletto). Also in Germany, he performed the Duke with<br />
the Orpheus Ensemble, Tamino (Die Zauberflöute) with the Frankfurt<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, Contino (Crispino and Contino) in Maxlrain, Germany. He has<br />
also performed Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte) in Tel Aviv at the IVAI festival.<br />
Oratorio soloist credits include Mozart ‘s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah<br />
(Amadeus Orchestra in Italy) and the tenor solo in the Messe von<br />
Cimerosa with the Vatican Chorus.
Richard Cassell Zuniga<br />
Acclaimed by the New York Times as “vocally robust, with ample<br />
charisma and self-possession,” a Dramatic Baritone, Richard created<br />
the role of the Magician in Francis Thorne’s Mario and the Magician, in<br />
NYC. <strong>The</strong> award-winning recording was released on Albany Records.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Juilliard-trained baritone has a repertoire of over 50 roles, from<br />
Amonasro to Baron Zeta. He has appeared with many major US companies,<br />
including New York City <strong>Opera</strong>, Cleveland <strong>Opera</strong>, San Antonio<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, Los Angeles Lyric <strong>Opera</strong>, San Francisco Lyric <strong>Opera</strong>, Aspen<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre and the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, and<br />
<strong>Amore</strong>. Additionally, he has extensive professional credits in Europe<br />
and Asia.<br />
Richard Cerullo Scenic Designer<br />
Richard was scenic designer for the Amato <strong>Opera</strong> for over 38 years<br />
and it is his collective work of over thirty productions which have<br />
been presented to the <strong>Amore</strong> by the Amato <strong>Opera</strong>. For this current<br />
production, Richard has redesigned his original conception. Richard<br />
got his early training at the Manhattan School of Art and Design, but<br />
first became interested in designing for the stage at the Jean Cocteau<br />
Repertory <strong>Company</strong> on the Bowery. His designs for the Amato <strong>Opera</strong><br />
were regularly greeted with high praise by the press.<br />
Alison Taylor Cheeseman Mercédès<br />
Alison has sung in opera, theater, orchestral and dance performances<br />
in NYC and points north, with organizations including Pocket <strong>Opera</strong><br />
of New York, Amato <strong>Opera</strong>, Liederkranz <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre, dell’Arte <strong>Opera</strong>,<br />
Yard Arts! <strong>Opera</strong>, Human <strong>Company</strong>, New York State Early Music<br />
Association, and the Christopher Caines Dance <strong>Company</strong>. Favorite<br />
roles include Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), alto soloist in Pergolesi’s<br />
Stabat Mater, and the Voice of Orpheus in Human <strong>Company</strong>’s Orpheus<br />
and Eurydice. She is delighted to perform with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> again<br />
after having such a grand time as Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus)<br />
this past winter.<br />
Allen Cooper Ensemble<br />
Allen has sung in the Amato <strong>Opera</strong> and then with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong><br />
for the last 17 years. He graduated from NYU with an M.A. in Music<br />
Education. He also plays chamber music (piano) with a group at the<br />
92nd st Y. He sings with the St. Ceeilia Chorus. He is glad to be back<br />
once again, singing with <strong>Amore</strong>.<br />
Rashard Deleston Moralès<br />
Rashard, baritone, has sung roles including, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte,<br />
Peter (Father) in Hansel and Gretel, Escamillo and Morales<br />
in Carmen, Figaro in Barber of Seville, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas,<br />
Marullo in Rigoletto, Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, Yamadori in<br />
Madame Butterfly, Idomeneo as Idomeneo, and Fenton in Falstaff. He<br />
earned his BM from DePaul University. He graduated with a MM from<br />
the Manhattan School of Music. Since graduating he has performed<br />
with Bleeker Street <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong> of Brooklyn,<br />
and New York Lyric <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater. He currently studies with the<br />
legendary Mignon Dunn.
Raymond Diaz Escamillo<br />
Raymond studied at S.U.N.Y. Purchase College. He sang the title<br />
role in their production of Don Giovanni, for which he received rave<br />
reviews from <strong>Opera</strong> News. <strong>The</strong> same publication found him, again,<br />
worthy of praise for his portrayal of Bottom in Pittsburgh <strong>Opera</strong>’s<br />
production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mr. Diaz has been<br />
selected as an award winner of the Heinz Rehfuss Competition, the<br />
Mario Lanza Competition, the Sullivan Foundation, the Licia Albanese<br />
Puccini Foundation, and was selected as a regional finalist of the Met<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> competition. Mr. Diaz has performed with NYC <strong>Opera</strong>, and<br />
many other companies throughout the US.<br />
Allegra Durante Manuela<br />
Allegra first performed with <strong>Amore</strong> in this season’s Die Fledermaus.<br />
Experience includes work with New Jersey Verismo <strong>Opera</strong> (the Page,<br />
Rigoletto; chorus, Aida); concerts of Lucia di Lammermoor, Linda de<br />
Chamounix, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah; acting in the 2010 NY Fringe<br />
Festival; and seven years with home-school theatre groups in New<br />
York. In addition to ongoing voice training with Evelyn LaQuaif, Allegra<br />
is a student at the Lucy Moses School, a dancer, and an alumna of<br />
HB Studio.<br />
Mark Franko-Filipasic Don Jose<br />
Mark is delighted to perform in another production at the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>,<br />
this time as Don Jose in Carmen. He has performed a wide range<br />
of lyric and dramatic tenor roles with companies including Amato<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, Island Lyric <strong>Opera</strong>, Family <strong>Opera</strong> of New Jersey, <strong>Opera</strong> Music<br />
<strong>The</strong>ater Institute, Suncoast <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Lyric <strong>The</strong>atre, Houston Grand<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, St. Petersburg Grand <strong>Opera</strong>, Tampa Bay <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>Opera</strong> North<br />
and Connecticut Grand <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Emily Geller Mercédès<br />
Emily is happily returning to <strong>Amore</strong> after performing 3rd Lady in <strong>The</strong><br />
Magic Flute. Recent roles: Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites),<br />
Katisha (<strong>The</strong> Mikado), La maestra delle novizie (Suor Angelica), Miss.<br />
Todd (Old Maid and the Thief) and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring). She<br />
has performed with One World Symphony, NY Lyric <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater,<br />
VLOG, Intermezzo <strong>Opera</strong>, CLOC, Harvard-Radcliffe G&S Players, and<br />
BU’s Tanglewood Vocal Program. Ms. Geller graduated with a B.M.<br />
in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. This June she<br />
will be singing Voice of Antonia’s Mother in Les Contes d’Hoffmann<br />
with Regina <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Melissa Gerstein Mercédès<br />
A New York Sun review of her performance from Cosi fan tutte from<br />
the famed Amato <strong>Opera</strong> stated: “Melissa Gerstein was a versatile<br />
Dorabella, putting her all into “Smanie implacabili,” an aria just a little<br />
too tragic for us not to hear the cackle of Mozart in the background.”<br />
She trained and performed with the American Singers’ <strong>Opera</strong> Project<br />
in NYC, Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, University of Miami’s<br />
Summer in Salzburg and the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium in Italy.<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>tic credits include, Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier),<br />
Siebel (Romeo et Juliette), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro),<br />
Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel) and Auntie<br />
(Peter Grimes).
Jay Gould Zuniga<br />
Jay celebrates his tenth role with <strong>Amore</strong>: Baron Zeta in Merry Widow,<br />
Sarastro and Speaker in Magic Flute, Scarpia and Sacristan in Tosca<br />
Frank and Falke in Die Fledermaus, Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinaforwand<br />
Peter in Hänsel und Gretel. He has played Music Master in Ariadne<br />
with Brooklyn Repertory <strong>Opera</strong>, with whom he has also played<br />
Rocco (Fidelio), Alfio (Cavalleria), Renato (Balla) and Bartolo (Marriage<br />
of Figaro). Jay has been soloist in Messiah at Avery Fisher Hall with<br />
Masterwork Chorus, and bass soloist in Beethoven’s 9TH Symphony in<br />
Carnegie Hall.<br />
Isaac Grier Escamillo<br />
Isaac, a Bass-Baritone, is native of Flint, Michigan, has sung with <strong>Opera</strong><br />
North (New Hampshire), New Orleans <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Martina Arroyo<br />
Foundation, dell’Arte <strong>Opera</strong> Ensemble (NYC) and recently with Regina<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>. In 2010, Grier was the featured soloist with the Flint Symphony<br />
Orchestra. He also appeared as Rochefort in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena,<br />
in Lucia di Lammermoor with dell’Arte <strong>Opera</strong> Ensemble and Angelotti<br />
in Tosca with Regina <strong>Opera</strong>. Grier received his Bachelor of Music<br />
from Xavier University in New Orleans and his Master of Music at the<br />
Manhattan School of Music.<br />
Samantha Guevrekian Frasquita<br />
Versatile American Soprano, a 2011 Resident Artist of <strong>The</strong> Martha Cardona<br />
<strong>The</strong>ater, the recipient of several prestigious awards, most recently<br />
receiving an Encouragement Prize from the Gerda Lissner International<br />
Voice Competition. Her roles have included Belinda in Dido & Aeneas,<br />
Despina in Così Fan Tutte, Nedda in Pagliacci, Norina in Don Pasquale,<br />
Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Yum-Yum in <strong>The</strong> Mikado, and Blanche<br />
in Dialogues of the Carmelites. Ms. Guevrekian holds a B.M. in Vocal<br />
Performance and Music Business from Northwestern University and a<br />
M.M. in Vocal Performance from Stony Brook University.<br />
Thomas Gunther Escamillo<br />
This is Thomas’ second show with <strong>Amore</strong> having sung the role of Dr.<br />
Falke in Die Fledermaus. Recently he performed Figaro in Il Barbierie<br />
di Sivilgla and Le Marie in Poulenc’s Mammelles de Tiresias. Other<br />
performances have been, Marcello in La Bohème, Joseph DeRocher<br />
in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosí an<br />
Tutte, King Melchior in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night<br />
Visitors, Dr. Falke in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Thomas Putnam in<br />
Robert Ward’s <strong>The</strong> Crucible, and Shamrayeff in Thomas Pasatieri’s <strong>The</strong><br />
Seagull. As Starveling in Britten’s “A Midsummer Nights Dream” for<br />
Des Moines Metro <strong>Opera</strong> he was he was mentioned in <strong>Opera</strong> News as<br />
one of the summer’s “standout performers.” A winner of the Nebraska<br />
District Met Auditions and finalist in the Upper Midwest Region twice.<br />
Michèle Halpern French Language Coach<br />
Michèle was born and raised in Lausanne, Switzerland. A native<br />
French speaker, she also had thorough education in German, English<br />
and Latin. She graduated from the Université de Lausanne with an<br />
MD, and pursued post-graduate training in Boston and New York<br />
where she currently practices and lives with her husband and two<br />
daughters. She studied voice privately in Geneva, Boston and New<br />
York, and sang for about 10 years with the Amato <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong><br />
where she performed roles such as Dorabella, Carmen, Meg, Suzuki,<br />
Thérèse, Madalena, Giulietta, Hansel, Cherubino, Siebel and Prince Orlofsky.<br />
She also has given several recitals in New York and Switzerland.
Pavlina Horáková Carmen<br />
Pavlína most recently performed two solo concerts in New York City<br />
and appeared as Eurynome at Manhattan School of Music in the<br />
production of Penelope by G. Faure. She won the Czech National Vocal<br />
Competition and a Czech televised Competition “Caruso Show”.<br />
As a teaching artist in the outreach program at MSM she wrote and<br />
performed her solo one woman show Why do I love <strong>Opera</strong>? for public<br />
schools students in NYC. In addition to a classical repertoire Pavlína<br />
sang with the Czech rock band Checkpoint and appeared on a CD<br />
release Ruzný světy.<br />
Gene Howard Moralès<br />
Gene is a native New Yorker from Harlem has performed the roles<br />
of Nicholas in Vanessa, Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, Bartley in Riders<br />
to the Sea, Der Pfleger in Electra, Usher in Trial by Jury, Le Goelier in<br />
Dialogues des Carmilites, Lawyer Frazier and <strong>The</strong> Undertaker in Porgy<br />
& Bess, with One World Symphony Orchestra, Utah festival <strong>Opera</strong><br />
and Harlem <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater. Other roles in his repertoire are Fleville<br />
in Andrea Chenier, Silvano in Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Commissario<br />
Imperiale in Madama Butterfly and Amantio in Gianni Schicchi.<br />
Janet Johnson Associate Producer, Ensemble<br />
Janet played clarinet with Amato <strong>Opera</strong> for twenty years. After Amato’s<br />
closing, she became involved with forming <strong>Amore</strong>. She has been<br />
one of the producers for three main stage productions and the Family<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>’s in Brief. She developed a passion for opera as a clarinet<br />
student and at Manhattan School of Music, studied with the principal<br />
clarinetist of the Metropolitan <strong>Opera</strong>. She has performed with many<br />
local opera companies. She is excited to make her debut as a chorister,<br />
as well as playing clarinet<br />
Adam Juran Don Jose<br />
Adam’s musical training began at Cornell University where he initially<br />
studied physics and engineering. He recently sang Alfred in the <strong>Amore</strong><br />
<strong>Opera</strong> production of Fledermaus. Other recent engagements include<br />
the roles of Raoul St. Brioche with <strong>Opera</strong> Camerata of Washington and<br />
Lenski in Eugene Onegin with <strong>Opera</strong> Manhattan. In 2009, he debuted<br />
as a tenor singing First Armored Man with Anne Arundel Community<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>. As the Tamino cover he stepped in for his ailing colleague for<br />
the fourth performance and saved the day. Upcoming plans include a<br />
summer with Watershed <strong>Opera</strong> in Seattle, WA and an audition tour in<br />
Germany next fall.<br />
Jonathan Kahn Zuniga<br />
Jonathan (originally from Washington DC) is making his debut with<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>.- Mr. Kahn. Having appeared on radio and television,<br />
He has performed with New York <strong>Opera</strong>, Amato <strong>Opera</strong>, One World<br />
Symphony, and Regina <strong>Opera</strong>. Formerly a Young Artist with DiCapo<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, Mr. Kahn has been featured in many well-known roles such as:<br />
Sparafucile (Rigoletto) Sarastro (Magic Flute), Commendatore (Don<br />
Giovanni) Ramfis(AIDA). Having appeared in <strong>Opera</strong> Summer festival<br />
in both Eastern and Western Europe, Jonathan has trained with the late<br />
great Wesley Balk.
Iris Karlin Micaëla<br />
Iris is a native Israeli internationally acclaimed soprano singer, musician<br />
& actress, who is also an IDF officer in reserve. Her personal<br />
charm & sensational voice made her one of the leading singers in<br />
Israel, and after singing with the Israeli <strong>Opera</strong> and the International Vocal<br />
Arts Institute, she moved to the states to follow her career. Singing<br />
opera, operetta & musical theater, she performed with NY Lyric <strong>Opera</strong>,<br />
Light <strong>Opera</strong> of NY, Metropolis <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>, Williamsburg<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>, NJ Baroque Orchestra, Cleveland Pop Orchestra, and debuted<br />
in Carnegie Hall with Pacific <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Chad Kranak Remendado<br />
Chad has performed with <strong>Opera</strong> Colorado, Central City <strong>Opera</strong>, and<br />
Colorado Light <strong>Opera</strong>. He holds a Master’s in Music from the University<br />
of Colorado Boulder. He has performed such roles as Albert Herring<br />
(Albert Herring), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Sam Kaplan (Street<br />
Scene), and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni). He was most recently seen in<br />
Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges with Pocket <strong>Opera</strong> New York and will<br />
be performing the role of Nathanael in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with<br />
Regina <strong>Opera</strong> in June.<br />
Hai Ly Assistant Conductor<br />
Hai is excited to make his conducting debut with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. He<br />
has performed with <strong>Amore</strong> in past productions of Tosca and Die Fledermaus<br />
as a cellist. In addition, he has extensive orchestral experience<br />
as an oboist and has performed with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic,<br />
Bronx Arts Ensemble, Fort Worth Symphony, American Sinfonietta,<br />
and Baton Rouge Symphony. Ly currently studies conducting with<br />
Gregory Buchalter.<br />
Megan Marod Manuela, Ensemble<br />
Megan is thrilled to be making her opera debut with <strong>Amore</strong> opera!<br />
She has performed with the Village Light <strong>Opera</strong> Group in Iolanthe<br />
(Iolanthe) Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel) and HMS Pinafore. She has<br />
a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan, an undying love of<br />
Shakespeare, and is a firm believer in happily ever after!<br />
Elena McEntire Carmen<br />
Elena’s opera engagements include the title role of Bizet’s Carmen in<br />
New York, Houston, and Bulgaria, Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito, Der<br />
Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Erika in Vanessa, Adalgisa in Norma,<br />
Siebel in Faust, Sesto and Cesare in Giulio Cesare, the title role of Xerxes,<br />
Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus, Charlotte in Werther, and Madame<br />
de la Haltiere in Cendrillon with companies including One World<br />
Symphony, the New York City <strong>Opera</strong> and the Aspen Music Festival,<br />
as well as Madame Chow in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway Production of<br />
Puccini’s La Boheme.
Maria Michaels Ensemble<br />
Maria is excited to be making her debut with <strong>Amore</strong>! This season<br />
she also appears in New Rochelle <strong>Opera</strong>’s Die Fledermaus chorus.<br />
Recently, Maria was chosen by the Metropolitan <strong>Opera</strong> to learn the solo<br />
roles of Vision Dancer and Oriental Dancer in Thais. She studies voice<br />
privately with Ira Siff and holds a B.A. in Musical <strong>The</strong>ater/Dance from<br />
Rhode Island College and an M.F.A. in Dance Performance/Choreography<br />
from N.Y.U.’s Tisch School. Maria has many film, theater and<br />
dance credits, most recently appearing as a featured performer in Sex<br />
and the City 2.<br />
Elizabeth Mondragon Carmen<br />
Elizabeth’s operatic roles include Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Dido<br />
(Dido and Aeneas), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mercedes (Carmen),<br />
Maddalena (Rigoletto), Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare in Egitto),<br />
Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Pitti-Sing (<strong>The</strong> Mikado).<br />
At home in concert and recital, as well as on the operatic stage, she has<br />
been a featured soloist in performances of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor,<br />
Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Rossini’s Petite<br />
Messe Solenelle, and has performed and premiered new works by local<br />
composers, including Erin Rogers, Lawrence Rush and David Sisco.<br />
Djoré Nance Escamillo<br />
Bass-Baritone Djoré is a prolific competitior and has been an award<br />
winner from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, <strong>The</strong> Giulio Gari Foundation,<br />
the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, a finalist in the Young<br />
Artist competitions at the Palm Beach and Florida Grand <strong>Opera</strong> companies,<br />
and a national winner of the Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition.<br />
He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the <strong>Opera</strong> Orchestra of<br />
New York as Malyuta in <strong>The</strong> Tsar’s Bride. Subsequently he performed<br />
with OONY as the Grand Inquisitor in L’Africaine. Djoré studied at the<br />
esteemed Juilliard School.<br />
Sarah Nordin Mercédès<br />
Hailed for a voice with “clear beauty that resounds effortlessly,” Sarah<br />
is a fine mezzo-soprano who was praised in <strong>Opera</strong> News, for her<br />
performance of Lola in Cavalleria Rusticanna, for her ability to “hold<br />
her own with the big guns.” Most recently, Sarah was seen in <strong>The</strong><br />
Metropolitan <strong>Opera</strong>’s production of Boris Godunov. Sarah’s recent role<br />
debuts include Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Inez in Il Trovatore, Dorabella<br />
in Cosi fan tutte and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Sarah earned her<br />
Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee.<br />
Margaret O’Connell Carmen<br />
Margaret was called a “superb mezzo” by Fanfare Magazine for Traveling<br />
West w/North-South Records (Max Lifchitz). Upcoming: Nicklausse<br />
(Hoffmann) - Regina <strong>Opera</strong>. Premieres: Judgment of Midas<br />
(American <strong>Opera</strong> Projects); Agamemnon (La Mama); Ashley (Best<br />
Friends - w/Lauren Flanigan) Wendy Wasserstein’s libretto. Maddalena;<br />
Adalgisa; Dido; Mercedes; Dorabella; Florence (Albert Herring);<br />
Maman (L’Enfant); Cathleen (Riders to the Sea); Berta (Il Barbiere di<br />
Siviglia). <strong>The</strong>ater: Young Jennie (Portrait of Jennie – w/Brent Barrett);<br />
Fiddler Jones (Spoon River). Recordings: Lady Thiang, Aldonza<br />
(Stage-Stars); Mermaid (Bernstein’s Peter Pan) - Koch International.<br />
MM Voice, McGill University; BM Violin, Oberlin Conservatory.
David Owen Ensemble<br />
David returns to opera after a 25 years break. As a boy in the 1980’s,<br />
David performed featured roles for children with numerous companies,<br />
including the Metropolitan <strong>Opera</strong> and the Santa Fe <strong>Opera</strong>. After<br />
retiring from singing, he attended Dartmouth College and Fordham<br />
Law School and is now a partner with the law firm Cahill, Gordon and<br />
Reindel. He lives with his family on the Upper West Side. He hopes<br />
to pass on his love of opera to his boys and his son James is making his<br />
stage debut in this production of Carmen.<br />
Eva Parr Ensemble<br />
Originally from East Texas, Eva moved to New York City in 2008 to further<br />
her vocal studies after receiving a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance<br />
from Oklahoma City University. She most recently appeared in “Le<br />
Nozze di Figaro” as “Barbarina” with the Romefestival <strong>Opera</strong> in Italy,<br />
as well as in a debut performance of Mascagni’s “Il Piccolo Marat” as<br />
an ensemble member at Avery Fisher Hall. Eva is continuing to study<br />
voice privately in Manhattan, and is excited to be making her first appearance<br />
with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>!<br />
Marissa Pepple Manuela, Ensemble<br />
Marissa is making her third appearance with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong>.<br />
She is making her second go around as a Nibelung in the Metropolitan<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>’s production Das Rheingold. She has a B.F.A. in musical<br />
theatre from Elon University. She is a proud member of AFTRA and<br />
SAG. She has appeared in several NYC based television shows including<br />
Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods, All Law and Orders. She enjoys<br />
traveling up and down the east coast for work. Love and thanks to her<br />
family and friends for their support.<br />
Anna Petrie Mercédès<br />
A Wisconsin native Mezzo-Soprano, Anna studies with Lenora Eve, a<br />
disciple of the revolutionary pedagogue Cornelius Reid. <strong>Opera</strong> credits<br />
include: Meg Page (Falstaff), Hansel (Hansel & Gretel), Juno (Semele),<br />
Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), A Lay Sister, Novice, Prima Sorella<br />
Cercatrice (Suor Angelica). Upcoming engagements include: Olga (Eugene<br />
Onegin) with the Delaware Valley <strong>Opera</strong> (DVO) as part of their<br />
Professional Artist Development Program and an appearance with the<br />
Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. She has been a Studio Artist with <strong>Opera</strong><br />
New Jersey and is thrilled to be working with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Joan Peitscher Carmen<br />
An American born mezzo soprano, Joan has been heard on stages in<br />
NYC as well as abroad. She was recently acclaimed for singing a “rich<br />
and moving” portrayal as Suzuki in Bleeker St <strong>Opera</strong>’s production of<br />
Madama Butterfly. Notable highlights and repertoire include; Suzuki,<br />
Gertrude in Hänsel und Gretel, Alma March in Little Women (Tel Aviv,<br />
Israel), Hansel (Chiari Italy), Third Lady in Magic Flute, among others.<br />
This June, Joan will sing the title role in Carmen at the Arbor <strong>Opera</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>ater in Ann Arbor MI. This Fall, she will once again portray Suzuki<br />
at the Mississippi <strong>Opera</strong>. This performance marks her debut with the<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>.
Jonathan Powers Moralès, Dancaïro<br />
Jonathan is in his third season with the <strong>Amore</strong> having previously sung<br />
Papageno in Magic Flute, St. Brioche/Montague in Merry Widow, and<br />
with the ensemble in La Boheme. At his alma mater of SUNY Oswego<br />
he performed as a chorus member in La Traviata, Carousel, and <strong>The</strong><br />
Fairy Queen. He has also sung Corporal Morales (Carmen) and Cinderella’s<br />
Prince/Wolf (Into the Woods). He has had great fun singing<br />
with the <strong>Amore</strong> and plans on participating in future productions.<br />
Michelle Pretto Micaëla<br />
Michelle, a soprano, is from New York City. Most recently she<br />
performed the title role in Tosca and the role of Rosalinda from Die<br />
Fledermaus with <strong>Amore</strong> opera. This summer she will be performing in<br />
Austria with the AIMS music program based out of Graz. Some roles<br />
performed my Ms. Pretto: Turandot with Lowell House <strong>Opera</strong> at Harvard,<br />
Violetta (La Traviata) with Prelude to Performance in NYC. She<br />
won 3rd Place in the Meistersingerkonzert vocal competition and was<br />
a finalist in the Lakes Region <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong> Vocal Competition. She<br />
has sung everywhere from the White House to the subway to a sushi<br />
restaurant in between.<br />
Laura Puzio Frasquita<br />
Laura is thrilled to make her <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> debut as Frasquita this season.<br />
She has performed as a mainstage artist with the New York Lyric<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre, <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong> of Brooklyn, and the International<br />
Vocal Arts Institute, and as a Young Artist with the Saint Louis <strong>Opera</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>atre, and the New Israeli <strong>Opera</strong> Studio. <strong>Opera</strong>tic roles include:<br />
Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), Polissena (Radamisto),<br />
Chocholka (Cunning Little Vixen), Papagena (Magic Flute),<br />
Nightingale (<strong>The</strong> Nightingale). She will make her debut with <strong>The</strong><br />
Martina Arroyo Foundation this summer, as Yvette in La Rondine.<br />
Sheena Ramirez Frasquita<br />
Sheena has appeared in numerous operas and song recitals. A graduate<br />
of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Sheena was assistant to voice<br />
pedagogue Richard Miller at the Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center.<br />
She did graduate study at New England Conservatory where she<br />
performed in a master class for Renée Fleming. Other operatic credits<br />
include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Blanche (Dialogues of the Carmelites),<br />
Frau Fluth (<strong>The</strong> Merry Wives of Windsor), Fanny (La Cambiale<br />
di Matrimonio), Casilda (<strong>The</strong> Gondolierers), Patience (Patience). This<br />
April she made her New York City debut in the role of Josephine (HMS<br />
Pinafore) with the Blue Hill Troupe. Frasquita marks her first role with<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
William Remmers Dancaïro<br />
William has had roles in every <strong>Amore</strong> show since their first production<br />
including Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah (<strong>The</strong> Mikado), Niejus (<strong>The</strong> Merry<br />
Widow), Frosch (Die Fledermaus), and Sciarrone/Jailer (Tosca). He codirected<br />
the brief version of <strong>The</strong> Magic Flute this past October. Other<br />
group affiliations include Regina <strong>Opera</strong>, G&S Society of NY, and <strong>Opera</strong><br />
Performance Series (recently appearing as Hortensius in La Fille du<br />
Régiment). He has created and directed a G&S revue performed here<br />
in NY, and to be performed again at the Gettysburg G&S Festival this<br />
summer. William also serves as <strong>Amore</strong>’s videographer.
Mia Riker-Norrie Micaëla<br />
<strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s NY Times review of La Bohème said “Mia Riker-<br />
Norrie played Musetta with sterling control and brassiness worthy of<br />
Ethel Merman.” In Amato <strong>Opera</strong>’s La Traviata, <strong>The</strong> Villager said she<br />
“inspired confidence from the moment she took the stage. Her Violetta<br />
was exciting…with artfully spontaneous diminuendos and descending<br />
phrases that draped themselves with silken fluidity.” About her Gilda<br />
(Rigoletto), <strong>The</strong> Sun said she “consistently hit the high notes in the<br />
score (not something that happens on a regular basis uptown).” Mia is<br />
Director of Montclair Voice Studio in New Jersey.<br />
Dominique Rosoff<br />
Zuniga<br />
Dominique has performed with Amato, <strong>Amore</strong>, PORT <strong>Opera</strong>, <strong>Opera</strong><br />
New Hampshire, <strong>Opera</strong> Manhattan, and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> Project, among<br />
others. Roles include Colline, Benoit, Alcindoro and Sergeant in La Boheme,<br />
Sarastro, Speaker, Second Armored Man and First Priest in <strong>The</strong><br />
Magic Flute, Bartolo and Antonio in <strong>The</strong> Marriage of Figaro, Tom in Un<br />
Ballo in Maschera, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Collatinus in <strong>The</strong> Rape of<br />
Lucretia, Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors and Truffeldino in<br />
Ariadne auf Naxos, among others. Dominique also performs as a bass<br />
soloist for concerts and oratorio.<br />
Pedro Sanchez Ensemble<br />
Pedro was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and was interested in classical<br />
music since he was a kid. but it’s not until 2002, when he came to <strong>The</strong><br />
United States when started to get more deeply involved with music,<br />
taking private guitar lessons and music theory. Although singing was a<br />
number one passion, what motivated him to take “bel canto lessons”in<br />
the summer of 2008. Participated in the recital “the songs we love to<br />
sing” at St Joseph church in November 2010.<br />
Trey Sandusky Lillas Pastia, Ensemble<br />
Joining <strong>Amore</strong> last May as the Bosun in HMS Pinafore, Trey returned<br />
for this fall’s production of Tosca (Sciarrone/Jailer), and again for the<br />
papa of Hänsel und Gretel in December. In November, Trey appeared<br />
in the Village Light <strong>Opera</strong> Group’s production of Iolanthe. As a Bronx<br />
prosecutor for the past 14 years, Trey has handled all kinds of crimes at<br />
every conceivable phase of prosecution. An avid roller derby fan, Trey<br />
frequently travels great distances to see top-ranked teams bout, and<br />
occasionally to sing the national anthem. Love to Mom.<br />
Charles Sanford Escamillo<br />
Charles made his debut with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> in the inaugural season as<br />
Marcello in La Boheme. He has performed with the New Jersey <strong>Opera</strong><br />
Festival, the Sarasota <strong>Opera</strong>, Orlando <strong>Opera</strong>, Lyric <strong>Opera</strong> Cleveland,<br />
and Central City <strong>Opera</strong> among others and has sung many of the great<br />
baritone roles for New York audiences including Scarpia in Tosca,<br />
Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Germont in La Traviata and Il Conte<br />
di Luna in Il Trovatore. Other recent highlights have included Count<br />
Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale and the<br />
title roles in Rigoletto and Gianni Schicchi.
Norah Scheinman Stage Manager<br />
Norah is from Weston, Connecticut. Norah will receive her MFA in Stage<br />
Management from Rutgers University next spring. As a member of the<br />
Rutgers <strong>The</strong>ater <strong>Company</strong> she has worked on: <strong>The</strong> Last Days of Judas<br />
Iscariot, Dying City, Laundry and Bourbon, Egyptology, and Triumph of<br />
Love. Her thesis production will be Spring Awakening directed by Anders<br />
Cato. In the past, she has had the honor of working with FringeNYC,<br />
13th St. Repertory <strong>Company</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Atlantic <strong>The</strong>ater <strong>Company</strong> and <strong>The</strong><br />
Santa Fe <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Courtenay Schowalter Frasquita, Associate Producer<br />
Courtenay, a soprano, has performed with <strong>The</strong> Voices of Women, <strong>The</strong><br />
Musica Bella Orchestra of New York, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> Project, Bacchanalia<br />
Baroque Ensemble, Brooklyn Repertory <strong>Opera</strong>, the Hillyer Festival<br />
Orchestra and <strong>Opera</strong> Boston. Ms. Schowalter is part of the Art Song Preservation<br />
Society of New York, the Voices of Women recital group, and she<br />
is delighted to join <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> this year. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, and<br />
studies voice with Margaret Lattimore.<br />
Petr Shikin Ensemble<br />
Baritone Petr made his debut in 2002 as Paris in “Romeo et Juliette”. A<br />
complete artist, Petr has a huge repertoire that includes opera arias in different<br />
languages, art songs, russian folk songs, popular songs, duets etc.<br />
Since 2009 Mr.Shikin has been a member of Inna Leytush’s studio in NYC<br />
where he has been coached on operatic standard repertoire. His recent<br />
appearances include King Melchior in <strong>The</strong> Amahl and the night visitors<br />
and Lockit in <strong>The</strong> Beggar’s opera. He performs with “Allegro singers” on<br />
a regular basis bringing the beauty of music to people<br />
Benjamin Sloman Don Jose<br />
An Australian tenor, Benjamin has performed internationally on opera<br />
stages and as soloist in recitals and concerts. Hailed as “a voice of staggering<br />
power and technical excellence ... sophisticated and stylish” and<br />
“a first rate tenor with a golden sound”. He recently sang Cavarodossi<br />
(Tosca) with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. Other recent performances include, Riccardo<br />
(Un Ballo), Pollione (Norma), Duca (Rigoletto), Pinkerton (Madama<br />
Butterfly), Don Jose (Carmen), Avito (L’<strong>Amore</strong> dei Tre Re), Siegmund (Die<br />
Walküre), Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), and Canio (Pagliacci) for companies<br />
such as the NJ Verismo <strong>Opera</strong>, Sydney Lyric <strong>Opera</strong>, Verdi Society<br />
of America and Regina <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Alan Smulen Dancaïro<br />
Alan is a baritone from Bayonne, New Jersey and has been seen performing<br />
in the New York Metro area for many years. Locally, he has performed<br />
with New Jersey State Repertory <strong>Opera</strong>, Amato <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater,<br />
Hudson <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater, Verismo <strong>Opera</strong> of Northern Jersey and <strong>The</strong> Little<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>Company</strong> of New Jersey. As a original member of <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>,<br />
he appeared in all the six productions appearing in the roles of Schaunard<br />
in La Boheme, Baron Zeta in <strong>The</strong> Merry Widow and Papageno in<br />
<strong>The</strong> Magic Flute, the Sacristan in Tosca and Frosch in Die Fledermaus.
Katie Stevenson Mercédès<br />
Katie’s performance experience includes the role of Dorabella in Cosi<br />
fan tutte with American Singers <strong>Opera</strong> Project, 2nd Touriere in Suor<br />
Angelica with Anchorage <strong>Opera</strong>, Mercedes (cover) in Carmen with<br />
Anchorage <strong>Opera</strong>, and <strong>The</strong> Secretary in <strong>The</strong> Consul with Halifax<br />
Summer <strong>Opera</strong> Workshop. Ms. Stevenson performed in Anchorage<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>’s Dark Night Series, and was a Studio Artist with the company<br />
for the 2009 season. She has performed concerts with Bel Canto Singers<br />
of Alaska, appeared as soloist in the Messiah with Anchorage Concert<br />
Chorus, and has performed solo recitals in Alaska and Oregon.<br />
Linda Tagliaferro Ensemble<br />
Linda is a coloratura soprano who has taken classes at <strong>The</strong> Juilliard<br />
School and many opera workshops at Mannes College. She has studied<br />
with Joyce McLean, Marion Thompson, Debra Surdi, Katya Kortny,<br />
Linda Larson, Rebecca Hinkle and others. She has performed scenes as<br />
the Queen of the Night, Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta, Gilda and others.<br />
She sang and danced in the Footlight Players production of Verdi’s<br />
La Traviata in Rockville Centre. She is performing for the first time<br />
with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> in the chorus of Carmen<br />
David Tillistrand Dancaïro<br />
A singer, actor and musician, David frequently sings with Regina <strong>Opera</strong>:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mikado (Koko); Carmen (Dancaïro), Tosca (Sacristan), Gianni<br />
Schicchi (Betto); Faust (Valentin-cover). In theatre, nominated for Best<br />
Actor by the IT Awards - Singapore Mikado (Pooh-Bah) at <strong>The</strong>ater<br />
1010, received an OOBR Award for best production - Medea (Jason)<br />
and had a beer bottle thrown at him in King Lear (Edmund) - Shakespeare<br />
In A Parking Lot. A saxophonist and bassist, he writes, arranges<br />
and collaborates with his wife, Lisa, on traditional eastern music with a<br />
twist and raising Anya Rose, 3.<br />
Elizabeth Treat Frasquita<br />
Elizabeth returns to <strong>Amore</strong> as Frasquita, having performed Queen<br />
of the Night in <strong>The</strong> Magic Flute and Adele in Die Fledermaus in the<br />
previous two seasons. Elizabeth has appeared with New York Lyric<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre, Intermezzo Festivals in Belgium and Connecticut,<br />
V.O.I.C.Experience at Disneyworld and the Players Club in NYC, New<br />
York <strong>Opera</strong> Studio, AIMS in Austria, and <strong>Opera</strong> New York. Elizabeth<br />
earned a BA cum laude in piano and voice from Augustana College<br />
and an MM summa cum laude in voice from Westminster Choir College.<br />
Mauricio Trejo Don Jose<br />
Mauricio has sung dozens of principal tenor roles in the US and abroad<br />
in venues including Sarasota <strong>Opera</strong>, New York Grand <strong>Opera</strong>, Teatro<br />
Lirico d’Europa, and Milan’s International Vocal Arts Institute. Recently<br />
he sang the role of Carvaradossi in the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> production of<br />
Tosca. Favorite roles include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don José<br />
in Carmen, Rodolfo in La Bohème and Ricardo Martin in the zarazuela<br />
El Barbero De Sevilla. Recodings include <strong>The</strong> American Tenors with<br />
Sony Classical (aired nationwide on PBS); and his solo CD, La Voz Del<br />
Amor, a compilation of Mexican songs in tribute to his beloved country.
Loralee Tyson Manuela/Ensemble<br />
Loralee, a Mezzo-Soprano, is excited to participate in her second opera<br />
with <strong>Amore</strong>. NYC credits include <strong>The</strong> Voice in Where Did All the Bees Go<br />
(American Globe Short Play Festival), <strong>The</strong> Queen in Rumplewho? and<br />
Nowhere Near Broadway (13th Street Repertory). Other favorite roles<br />
include Diaphanta in <strong>The</strong> Changeling, Anna in <strong>The</strong> King and I and Aphrodite<br />
in Metamorphoses. Loralee is a proud graduate of Drew University<br />
and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Shakespeare<br />
intensive. Huge thanks to her family and friends for their support!<br />
Allan Vail Ensemble<br />
Allan has performed in many operas over the years, mainly at Amato<br />
<strong>Opera</strong> and recently at the <strong>Amore</strong>. He is proud to boast over 43 years with<br />
the Amato <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre! His favorite roles performed were Papageno in<br />
<strong>The</strong> Magic Flute; Marcello, Schaunard & Alcindoro in La Boheme.He has<br />
also performed in some stage plays, most notably in Murry Schisgall’s<br />
two-character play, <strong>The</strong> Tiger and as Arnie in Herb Gardner’s A Thousand<br />
Clowns. He performed the role of Alcindoro in <strong>Amore</strong>’s inaugural<br />
production of La Boheme and Lars Gustaffson in <strong>The</strong> Merry Widow.<br />
Angel Vail Ensemble<br />
Angel is happy to once again be a part of Carmen, one of her favorite<br />
operas. <strong>The</strong> first time she performed in Carmen she was five years old<br />
singing through a toy trumpet in the children’s chorus at Amato <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
You last saw Angel with many more feathers as Papagena in <strong>The</strong> Magic<br />
Flute last season. Some of her favorite experiences have been flying to<br />
Australia to sing the role of Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, and singing<br />
Barbarina opposite her father’s Antonio in <strong>The</strong> Marriage of Figaro.<br />
Angel has also performed in Carnegie Hall, Cami Hall, Avery Fisher Hall,<br />
and the Metropolitan <strong>Opera</strong> children’s chorus.<br />
Alea Vorillas Micaëla<br />
Alea has been performing with <strong>Amore</strong> since its 2009/2010 inaugural<br />
season, with performances as Mimi, Valencienne, Pamina and Adele.<br />
She was also featured as Yum-Yum and Gretel in the “<strong>Opera</strong>-in-Brief”<br />
productions of <strong>The</strong> Mikado and Hänsel und Gretel. She is delighted to<br />
return as Micaela in Carmen. She would like to thank her wonderful<br />
parents and husband for all their support. WINNING!<br />
Matthew Walters-Bowens (MWB) Moralès<br />
Matthew, Baritone, is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, and<br />
student of Thomas Faracco has sung operatically for the Bronx <strong>Opera</strong><br />
<strong>Company</strong>, and the Westminster <strong>Opera</strong> <strong>The</strong>ater: doing productions of<br />
Auber’s “Fra Diavolo”, Debussy’s “Pelleas et Meslisande” and Mozart’s<br />
“Don Giovanni.” This is MWB first performance with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
MWB has toured with the Westminster Jubilee Singers, opening concert<br />
for esteemed gospel artist CeCe Winans. Also, MWB is proud to have<br />
sung for the Missionaries of the Poor as well in order to raise money for<br />
an orphanage built in Uganda April of 2010.
Cheryl Warfield Micaëla/Children’s Chorus Master<br />
Cheryl has performed in opera and concert throughout the US and<br />
Europe. She opened <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s 2010-2011 season as Tosca. Last<br />
season, Cheryl debuted with One World Symphony as Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s<br />
Pique Dame and sang for the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame<br />
Induction Ceremonies. She received critical approbation as Strawberry<br />
Woman in Chicago Lyric’s “Porgy and Bess” in 2008. Cheryl performed<br />
in Hal Prince’s SHOWBOAT on Broadway and appeared on CBS’ <strong>The</strong><br />
Good Wife and the Live from Lincoln Center broadcast DVDs of the<br />
MET’s productions Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Fidelio.<br />
Victoria Wefer Micaëla<br />
Victoria is delighted to return to the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> stage to sing “Micaëla”<br />
in Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Following her successful string of<br />
performances with the company as “Pamina” in W.A. Mozart’s <strong>The</strong><br />
Magic Flute, Miss Wefer has been invited to sing in a multitude of<br />
concerts along the eastern seaboard culminating with her most recent<br />
invitation by the Deputy General of the Philippine Consulate (NYC) to<br />
sing “Raya” in Carmela Sinco’s Raya & Sag-In (a role she created and<br />
premiered in NYC, June 2009).<br />
Stuart Whalen Mountain Guide, Program Editor<br />
Stu is thrilled to be part of this production. He recently sang Angelotti<br />
in the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> production of Tosca and Lord Montague in Die<br />
Fledermaus. Currently he singing the role of Captain in the <strong>Amore</strong><br />
<strong>Opera</strong> production of HMS Pinafore. Shout outs to the choir of the<br />
Episcopal church in Rockville Centre, and special thanks to Dr. Zoe<br />
Goldberg, Nancy Kemeny, Chris McCarthy, and the staff of MSK who<br />
made this time possible.<br />
Daniel Winters Lighting Designer<br />
Daniel graduated from the Masters lighting design program at Ohio<br />
University, where he designed Knock Me a Kiss and Tempest. As an<br />
exchange student with the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing<br />
Arts he designed 2 pieces in a dance concert called Topology. In NYC<br />
he has designed four world premieres including <strong>The</strong> Brokenhearteds,<br />
<strong>The</strong> New Guignol, and Adaptations for the Stage. He has designed for<br />
the Burning Coal <strong>The</strong>ater <strong>Company</strong> in Raleigh NC, Xavier University<br />
and the Falcon <strong>The</strong>ater in Cincinnati Ohio, Ohio Valley Summer <strong>The</strong>ater,<br />
and assisted at the Cincinnati <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
Marlene E. Williams Executive Producer, Box Office Manager<br />
Marlene is an accomplished actress and has been active in the New<br />
York theatre scene, most recently she was seen at Symphony Space’s<br />
Thalia <strong>The</strong>atre in Lisa Morgan’s Black Mother Funny, and in the award-<br />
winning short film, Tanisha’s Choice. She was also seen recently in<br />
commercials for Mediacom, the 2010 Census, the New York Times,<br />
NatGEO and Johnson & Johnson; and in print, for Merck pharmaceuticals.<br />
Marlene is glad to be back in her producer’s hat, after successfully<br />
producing <strong>The</strong> Merry Widow, <strong>The</strong> Magic Flute, Tosca and Die<br />
Fledermaus.
Victor Ziccardi Remendado<br />
Victor is a New York City native and eleven-year veteran of the Amato<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>. This is his second year with <strong>Amore</strong>. Roles performed include<br />
Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Camille (Merry Widow), Eisenstein (Die<br />
Fledermaus), Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Fenton/ Dr. Caius/ Bardolfo<br />
(Falstaff), Nanki-Poo (Mikado), Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore), Beppe<br />
/ Harlequin (Pagliacci), Goro (Madama Butterfly), Basilio/ Curzio<br />
(Marriage of Figaro), Monostatos (Magic Flute), Spoletta (Tosca), Ruiz<br />
(Trovatore) Borsa (Rigoletto), Trabuco (La Forza del Destino), and Frantz/<br />
Cochenille/Spalanzani (Hoffman). Victor is a graduate of the University<br />
of Pennsylvania, where he sang with the Penn Glee Club.<br />
Children’s Chorus<br />
Ekaterina Balsan<br />
This is Ekaterina’s second performance with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> company.<br />
She is very excited to have been invited to participate in Carmen.<br />
George Brilliant<br />
George is 8 years old and enjoys singing, playing guitar and soccer. Love<br />
to Mom, Dad family and friends<br />
Peter Brilliant<br />
Peter is 8 years old and appeared in <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s performance of<br />
Hänsel und Gretel at his school earlier this year. He thanks Mr. Argyratos<br />
for the opportunity to participate in Carmen. Love to Mom, Dad family<br />
and friends<br />
Raina Cagiao<br />
Raina is a 14 year old actress, singer, comedian and guitarist. She has<br />
been in three off- Broadway plays, as well as <strong>The</strong> Merry Widow, La Boheme,<br />
Hänsel und Gretel all with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. She wants to pursue<br />
her singing and acting career in the future and possibly become a successful<br />
performer. She also enjoys dancing, reading, writing and being with<br />
good friends & people.<br />
Evangeline Cassidy<br />
Evangeline is 8 years old, an avid reader and enjoys Greek dancing and<br />
playing Irish traditional music on the fiddle. She is proud to be a member<br />
of the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir and is grateful for the opportunity<br />
to participate in <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s production of Carmen.<br />
Gino Diminich<br />
Gino is in a dual-language 2nd Grade program in NYC, an avid Andrea<br />
Bocelli fan, as well as a Lego enthusiast.<br />
IsabelLa Diminich<br />
Isabella is in a dual-language 2nd Grade program in NYC, made her<br />
professional debut in a non speaking role as a ballerina in Morning Glory,<br />
she is an amateur at-home performer of <strong>The</strong> Phantom of the <strong>Opera</strong>, as<br />
well as a voracious book reader.<br />
Gabrielle Brittany Flores<br />
Gabrielle is a bubbly talented eight-year-old, who loves singing and<br />
dancing. She lives in Haledon, NJ, where she is a honor roll student at the<br />
Haledon Public School. “Carmen” is Gabrielle’s very first performance<br />
professionally. She did her first appearance in public in December of<br />
2010, making an impressive mark by singing the song “Tomorrow” from<br />
the very famous play and movie “Annie”.
Alexander Garfin<br />
Alexander is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade at Manhattan New<br />
School, PS 290 on New York’s Upper Eastside. Alex has been acting<br />
since he was 3 and has done several commercials, an episode of Law<br />
and Order, and several on air demonstrations for Nick Jr. He also<br />
played a principal role in the movie “Salt,” starring Angelina Jolie.<br />
Alex loves to sing, dance, act and play the piano.<br />
Maximilian Garfin<br />
Maximilian is 9 years old and in the 4th grade at Manhattan New<br />
School, PS 290 on New York’s Upper Eastside. Max has been acting<br />
since he was 3 and has worked on several movies including “Salt,”<br />
starring Angelina Jolie and “<strong>The</strong> Nanny Diaries,” starring Scarlet<br />
Johansson. Max is an actor and music lover who plays the trumpet,<br />
drums and the piano. He also loved basketball and baseball.<br />
Ariana Gibb<br />
Ariana has enjoyed performing in several <strong>Amore</strong> productions including<br />
Merry Widow and <strong>The</strong> Magic Flute, performed with the NYC<br />
<strong>Opera</strong>’s children chorus in Where the Wild Things Are, and recently<br />
toured with the Broadway production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.<br />
Thank you to Nathan and Cheryl!<br />
Grace Goldstein<br />
Grace has appeared in La Boheme and <strong>The</strong> Saint of Bleecker St. at<br />
DiCapo <strong>Opera</strong>, Annie at Marymount Drama Camp, and Britten’s<br />
Noye’s Fludde at Church of the Transfiguration, where she is in the<br />
Girls’ Choir. Grace is in 3rd grade at P.S. 4O, and loves animals and the<br />
outdoors.<br />
Violet Lu<br />
Violet loves to be on stage. She is 6 years old and is taking gymnastics<br />
and flamenco classes. She likes singing, dancing, swimming, movies,<br />
computer games (unfortunately), and everything that is fun! She has<br />
been in <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>’s Tosca, Die Fledermaus, and Hänsel und Gretel.<br />
Lily Lu-Lerner<br />
Lily performed at Amato when she was 8 years old, she is now 13.<br />
She likes reading, drawing/painting, singing, travelling, and acting.<br />
She loves Broadway musicals, especially Wicked and Mama Mia.<br />
Iona Neritani<br />
Iona is a 5th grader at PS158. She loves singing, acting, dancing and<br />
laughing. She is enjoying being around people of the Carmen cast and<br />
already is making plans for the future.<br />
Christopher Owen<br />
Christopher made his operatic debut with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> in La<br />
Boheme (Puccini) and Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdink) in 2009. He<br />
played ‘Trouble’ in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with the Bleecker<br />
Street <strong>Opera</strong> in NY in 2010. He loves to sing and he is a member of the<br />
third grade chorus at Garden Street School in Brewster, NY. Christopher<br />
also plays soccer with the Brewster United Soccer Club. He comes<br />
from a musical background. His father is a conductor and his mother<br />
is a cellist. Christopher plays the piano and also speaks Polish. He likes<br />
reading, jogging, basketball, swimming and tennis.
James Owen<br />
James, 8, lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his parents<br />
and younger brother. When he is not practicing piano or violin, or tormenting<br />
his brother, he loves to play soccer and tennis and go sailing.<br />
This production of Carmen marks his stage debut.<br />
Richard Owen III<br />
Richard was born into a musical family. His father is a conductor and<br />
his mother is a cellist. He made his operatic debut in La Boheme (Puccini)<br />
and Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdink) with the <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> in<br />
2009. He plays the piano and trumpet. Richard is a member of the fifth<br />
grade brass band at CVStarr School in Brewster, NY. He plays soccer<br />
with the Brewster United Soccer Club. He likes swimming, skiing and<br />
tennis. In his free time he enjoys drawing and playing DS games. Richard<br />
speaks Polish and is very interested in foreign affairs.<br />
Brendon Samide<br />
Age 12, is thrilled to return to <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. Last spring he made his<br />
debut performance at <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> with the role of Sprit III in <strong>The</strong><br />
Magic Flute. He recently played Tinman in Journey to Oz at Dream<br />
Makers Performing Arts. This year, he has also performed in school<br />
shows Oliver and <strong>The</strong> Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners. Brendon<br />
performs in his school’s Vocal Jazz and Chorus groups. He would<br />
like to thank Cheryl and Nathan for this opportunity and his family for<br />
their constant support and encouragement!<br />
Jillian Smith<br />
Jillian is so excited to perform again with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong>. Jillian’s<br />
passion is to sing and to be on the stage. In addition to her love of<br />
performing opera, Jillian also enjoys musical theater. Favorite roles<br />
include Annie (Annie), Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), Sour Kangaroo (Seusical)<br />
Sebastian (Little Mermaid) Thank you to Cheryl and to Nathan for<br />
this fantastic opportunity.<br />
Marina Tsimisiris<br />
Marina is a second grader currently living and attending school in<br />
Queens. In addition to singing, Marina loves dancing, playing the violin,<br />
drawing, and reading. Her debut performance was one of the gingerbread<br />
children in <strong>Amore</strong>opera’s production of Hänsel und Gretel.<br />
Nina Worley<br />
Nina is 7 years old. She is in first grade and lives in Manhattan with<br />
her family. She has performed in school plays and concerts. Carmen is<br />
her first <strong>Opera</strong>.<br />
SCHWALBE AND PARTNERS<br />
170 EAST 61 STREET #5N<br />
NEW YORK, NY 10021<br />
212.935.5650<br />
212.935.4754 FAX<br />
doug@schwalbeandpartners.com<br />
DOUGLAS SCHWALBE
Flamenco Dancers<br />
Jorge Navarro<br />
Choreographer<br />
Jorge has toured worldwide as a principal dancer and director of<br />
Flamenco companies and has appeared on the great stages of Carnegie<br />
Hall, Jacob’s Pillow and <strong>The</strong> Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.<br />
His film credits include”Take Me Out Tonight,” “Death of My Past,”<br />
and “Devil’s Advocate.” In addition to his role in Devil’s Advocate, Mr.<br />
Navarro was the dance and choreography consultant to the director<br />
of the film and taught choreography to Al Pacino. Mr. Navarro has<br />
been teaching Flamenco dance for more than twenty years, conducting<br />
workshops across the United States, and as distantly as South Korea<br />
Patricia Bruno<br />
Patricia has been studying Flamenco dance for the past thirteen years. She has trained with<br />
many teachers, most in New York City, and is experienced in the various flamenco styles.<br />
Patricia has performed in many recitals as well as appeared on stage. And currently is a<br />
principal student and assistance of Jorge Navarro beginners class.<br />
Anna da Silva<br />
Anna has studied with some of the top flamenco figures in New York, Florida and Spain.<br />
She has performed in several theatrical productions as well as smaller venues with Ballet<br />
Flamenco La Rosa. She continues her training under the direction of Jorge Navarro. She is<br />
also an avid painter, often reproducing vintage flamenco photographs into drawings and<br />
paintings.<br />
Mane Larraguibel<br />
Mane Larraguibel has been trained in ballet, modern dance and jazz at the City College of<br />
New York. She has studied flamenco in NYC with Jose Molina, Dionisia Garcia, Victorio K.,<br />
Magdalena, and most recently with Jorge Navarro and Auxi Fernandez from Cadiz, Spain.<br />
She has a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Dance from CCNY and a MA in Clinical Social<br />
Work from NYU.<br />
Vera Navratilova<br />
Vera has been nurturing her passion for Flamenco since 2002 after seeing bailaora Maria<br />
Pages, whom she greatly admires. While in Europe, she studied with bailaora Jana Drdacka<br />
and later taught Flamenco basics in Eastern Europe. Since she has been in the U.S., Vera has<br />
looked to further polish her skills, studying with notable flamenco performers as Jorge Navarro,<br />
Antonia Messina, JoDe Romano, Dionisia Garcia, La Magdalena and Jesus Munoz.<br />
Ryan Rockmore<br />
Ryan Rockmore just graduated from the Steinhardt School of NYU, earning a Bachelor of<br />
Science in Spanish Education. He began training as a flamenco dancer in June 2009 and<br />
has studied in both Spain and NYC. His flamenco training follows over ten years of training<br />
as a classical percussionist. Ryan has since designed a classroom unit on Spanish and<br />
Flamenco culture and recently conducted a study on the value of Flamenco for improving<br />
male perceptions of dance. He is also a dancer in NYC-based companies JuxtapOlé and<br />
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana II.<br />
Freddie Ruiz<br />
Freddy Ruiz was born and raised Brooklyn NY of Puerto Rican heritage. Freddy Ruiz<br />
began dancing in the early 80s to hip hop in the streets of Brooklyn. In the 90s he adapted<br />
to the new styles of house and freestyle club music. In 2002 Freddy Ruiz began formal<br />
training in mambo partnerwork with Eddie Torres the Mambo King. He has also trained<br />
and performed Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Argentine Tango and other styles. In 2008 Freddy began<br />
training in Flamenco with Jose Molina and Gorge Navarro of the Alegrias dance company.<br />
He is currently performing Afro-Latin fusion.
42 A v e n u e B<br />
New York, NY 10009<br />
Tel: 646-602-7050<br />
Fax: 646-602-7051
Jorge Navarro<br />
Flamenco Vivo Studios<br />
tel: (212) 625-8369 Ext.284<br />
info@artsFlamenco.org<br />
http://www.artsflamenco.org<br />
PASTA • WINGS • SALAD • HERO<br />
27 Ave B, Between 2nd St. & 3rd St., NYC<br />
Tel: 212-420-SOLO (7656)
RICHARD OWEN<br />
Music Director<br />
Camerata New York Orchestra<br />
845-278-4104<br />
www.CamerataNY.org<br />
EAST SIDE<br />
GOURMET DELI<br />
53 Avenue B<br />
New York, NY 10009<br />
Tel: (212) 475-3217<br />
Open 24 Hours<br />
Jean Russak<br />
Piano Teacher<br />
646-233-6543<br />
jrussak@earthlink.net<br />
www.russakstudio.com
Mary Bowen, Mezzo Soprano<br />
(Performing the Role of Carmen with <strong>Amore</strong> <strong>Opera</strong> on May 13, 21, &<br />
27!)<br />
Private Voice Teacher, Drama/Acting Coach<br />
• Healthy Vocal and Breath Support Technique<br />
• Detailed Audition & Performance Preparation<br />
• Build Confidence and Ease as You Develop Your Artistic Expression<br />
• Ear Training and Sight Reading<br />
All Music Genres - Solo and Choral…from Beginners to Professionals (Ages 16 & Up)<br />
Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, & Sunnyside Queens<br />
(551) 655-2740 | mary@mary-bowen.com