Verismo Opera Brings Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore’ to Stage

The Fort Lee-based New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera is bringing back to the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) stage one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most mysterious and melodramatic operas, Il Trovatore. An international cast of stars from throughout the world has been selected to perform in the company’s suspense-filled production.

First performed at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on January 19, 1853, and two years later at the Academy of Music in New York, Il Trovatore is a favorite among opera fans and a standard in the operatic repertoire. Verismo Opera will continue this tradition and present Antonio Garcia Gutierrez’ powerful tragedy, El Trovador, filled with mystery, vengeance and love on Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. at the bergenPAC located at 30 North Van Brunt St. in Englewood. 

Sung in Italian with English supertitles, Salvatore Cammarano’s libretto will be performed by Verismo Opera’s stars and the Verismo Opera Chorus dressed in full period costumes in four acts with beautiful sets and a full orchestra.

“Having sung in Il Trovatore many times at the Metropolitan Opera, I know this opera, its difficulties, and the outstanding talent required to even attempt it,” said artistic director Lucine Amara. “I am delighted to announce that we have selected an outstanding international cast for this production.  We have Manrico from Mexico City, Leonora a Canadian from Montreal, Conte di Luna from Argentina, Ruiz from Puerto Rico, Azucena from the Ukraine, along with a Ferrando filled by a New Jerseyite and a New Yorker performing Inez.  This is truly an international cast.”

The talented cast of singers selected to perform this difficult opera include Mexican tenor Roberto Esquivelzeta, who is making his debut with the company in the lead role as Manrico. Canadian soprano Sharon Azrieli Perez returns to Verismo Opera to debut in the role of Leonora, making her second performance with the company after her triumphant appearance as Aida last year. Baritone Gustavo Ahualli from Argentina, who previously appeared as Silvio in the company’s production of Pagliacci, will perform the part of Conte Di Luna, a role he recently performed with Argentina’s Teatro San Martin.

Other singers returning to Verismo Opera are mezzo-soprano Galina Ivannikova as Azucena, a role she previously performed in her native Ukraine. Bass-baritone Steven Fredericks from Tenafly plays Ferrando, a role he performed with Maestro Anton Coppola.  In 2010, Fredericks appeared as Sparafucile in Verismo Opera’s well received production of Rigoletto. The company also welcomes back tenor Joel Cardona performing the role of Ruiz and New York soprano Jasmine Thomas in the role of Inez. Cardona debuted with Verismo Opera as Spoletta in the 2011 production of Tosca, and Thomas appeared with the company last year as the Priestess in Aida.

“Someone once said, ‘Trovatore isn't a difficult opera to put on. It just requires four or five of the best singers in the world,’” Amara said. “This production is going to be a stunner, and I can't wait to see it myself.”

Verismo Opera president and technical director Giovanni Simone concurred. 

“As a youngster, I befriended an older gentlemen, a fanatical opera lover and a friend of my father,” he said. “He used to tell me that in his younger days he and his opera friends used to time how long the Manrico, a tenor, held the high C in the famous aria, Di quella pira.  Today, unfortunately, I have heard international stars at the Met, Covent Garden, La Scala not capable of singing a high C, most of the time transposing it to an embarrassing B flat or G.”

Simone added, “In our production, we have a tenor who not only can sing a high C, but he can hold it for seconds.”

He said such a voice “belongs to the golden age of opera.”

Set in old Spain, the intense stage direction will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. 

"The difficulty directing Il Trovatore is to project the historic, heroic nature of that era’s people,” said director and general manager Evelyn La Quaif. “Verdi brilliantly understood and conveyed each character's almost stoic dedication to respect, loyalty and heroism."

But, she said, such qualities "often appear bigger than life by today's standards, making the period's true Spanish nature difficult to project correctly on the stage."

"This is why we often see the traditional stand-and-deliver type of direction," La Quaif said. "Of course, there are moments in this opera where this is necessary, but these are few and far between and are just not my style. My interpretation presents real, three-dimensional characters. I will also have a surprise ending, never seen before on stage.”

Principal conductor and music director Anthony Morss conducts the full opera orchestra and chorus. Chorus director Mara Waldman will lead the Verismo Opera Chorus. 

Verismo Opera is known for researching thoroughly the era in which its operatic productions take place. Bergen County residents Catherine Mirabella and Barbara Konig designed the period costumes. Gerald Cassese created the true-to-form period sets.

Special Ticket Offers for Children and Fans

Introducing a new generation to the wonders of opera is an integral part of Verismo Opera’s work. 

“We need to educate and introduce our youth to the joy of fine music,” Amara said. “Verismo Opera is delighted to offer for children, ages 12 and under, a special $10 ticket rate. This ticket offer is only available through the bergenPAC box office.”

Verismo Opera is also offering a special two-for-one sale on tickets priced at $55 and $45 only on February 23, 24 and 25. The code for this special offer is TROV1. Discount tickets may be ordered only through the box office and are not available online. Tickets may be purchased in person at the bergenPAC box office, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays or by calling 201-227-1030. 

Full-priced tickets can be purchased online at www.bergenpac.org, in person at the bergenPAC box office or by calling 201-227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. For special rates or group sales, call 201-224-2809.

Meet the Artists

“We invite people to stay after each performance and talk one-on-one with the singers, artists and other members of Verismo Opera in two special ‘Meet the Artists Champagne Receptions’ to be held at the bergenPAC Cabaret Room,” Simone said.

The receptions will be held on April 20 from 11 p.m. to midnight and April 22 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the international cast of stars, take photos of the artists, get autographs and discuss the company’s work. 

Champagne and hors d'oeuvres will be served. A suggested donation of $15 or more is requested. For more information or to RSVP, call 201-886-0561.

Verismo Opera Fund

Donors who contribute $100 or more to the Verismo Opera Fund will receive a CD set of a historic live performance of Il Trovatore starring Lucine Amara as Leonora, Carlo Bergonzi as Manrico, Robert Merrill as Conti De Luna and Jean Madeira as Azucena under conductor Fausto Cleva. Donations may also be mailed to the Verismo Opera Fund, NJAVO, P.O. Box 3024, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024-9024. The Verismo Opera Fund supports talented young artists, who are experiencing economic hardship, to audition or participate in the company’s annual vocal competition and receive free vocal coaching and training.

Learn more about Verismo Opera on its website, join its Facebook page or call 201-886-0561.