New Rochelle Opera Company ushers in its 29th season with its first production of Gaetano Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE (The Elixir of Love) from June 19-22, 2014 in the Frank J. Auriana Theatre at the Ursuline School, 1345 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY. The production will be staged by Company co-founder and artistic director Camille Coppola, with orchestra and chorus conducted by Gregory Ortega. As in previous years, the production will feature the use of English super titles to translate the Italian text.
“We usually revive a previous production every decade or so,” said Coppola. “However, this year we decided to introduce a new production into the company’s repertoire. Not only is it a new production to the Company, but it’s also a comedic opera, and those are always fun for the audience.”
Mrs. Coppola has directed all of the productions for the past 28 seasons and has been instrumental in assisting young opera singers in their careers, several of who are currently performing leading and comprimario roles at the Metropolitan Opera. Mrs. Coppola has been a judge for vocal competitions: Puccini Foundation, New York Vocal Artists, Inc. and Career Bridges Association and lectures on opera throughout the county. She also directed for the Altamura Center for the Performing Arts under the renowned Maestro Anton Coppola. As a soloist she has performed with the New Rochelle Opera, Westchester County Opera Association and the Performing Arts Society. She is the founder of the New Rochelle singers and received the Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Award for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Ortega is celebrating his 18th year with New Rochelle Opera. He has studied music at Hunter College, Harmony and Ear Training with Louise Talma (Hunter College, the American Institute at Fontainbleau, Academy of Arts and Letters) Piano with Herbert Stessin (Juilliard School), and has conducted for most of the small major opera houses in New York City and Boston, including the Bel Canto Opera, for which he conducted two U.S. premieres: Rossini’s La Pietra del Paragone and Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar.
The cast on Thursday (6/19) and Saturday (6/21) evenings are: Megan Pachecano (Adina), Blake Friedman (Nemorino), Jason Plourde (Dulcamara), Kevin Grace (Belcore), and Jeanai LaVita (Gianetta). The Friday evening (6/20) and Sunday matinee (6/22) cast includes: Megan Mashburn (Adina), Sean Fallen (Nemorino), Neven Palecek (Dulcamara), Jonathan Estabrooks (Belcore), and Allison Pohl (Gianetta).
Performances on June 19-21 are at 8:00 pm, and June 22 is at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $35 general admission, and $32 for seniors and students. A discounted ticket price of $25 is being offered for the Thursday, June 19th performance only, if reserved and paid for in advance. Tickets purchased at the door on Thursday will be full price. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.nropera.org, or send a check payable to New Rochelle Opera, Inc., to P.O. Box 55, New Rochelle, New York 10804. To receive tickets by mail, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Group rates are available for 10 or more. For further information, call (914) 576-1617.
New Rochelle Opera’s programs are made possible by Arts Westchester with support from Westchester County Government, as well as by grants from The City of New Rochelle, Jewish Communal Fund, and State Farm Companies Foundation.
The New Rochelle Opera was formed for the purpose of presenting imaginative and appealing operatic productions to the Westchester community. It serves to create a deeper understanding and appreciation of live opera, and make it accessible and affordable to a diverse audience. The company presents the art form in its various aspects (e.g. fully staged performances, opera in concert, school programs, opera workshops and demonstrations), engaging aspiring young artists as well as experienced professionals. www.nropera.org
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