Fort Lee's Verismo Opera Celebrates 25 Years

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera will celebrate its 25th anniversary season, Vive la France, at the grand opera company’s annual open house on Saturday.

Artistic Director and Met Opera luminary Lucine Amara invites the public to the free event to learn more about Verismo Opera, a Fort Lee non-profit organization. The event starts at 2 p.m. at 44 Armory St. in Englewood. The snow date is Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at the same location.

Amara, Verismo Opera Music Director/Principal Conductor Anthony Morss, General Manager/Stage Director Evelyn La Quaif, Chorus Director Mara Waldman and President Dr. James Garvin will discuss Verismo Opera’s mission, vision and history.

They will introduce the grand opera company’s new season, Vive la France, and the productions of Giuseppe Verdi’s lavish opera La Traviata and Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, both set in Paris, France.

La Traviata will be performed on Sunday, April 6 and La Bohème on Sunday Oct. 19 and 26 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center.

The program will feature vocalists performing solos from the upcoming 2014 operas and past productions.  Exhibits will display memorabilia and photos from Verismo Opera’s 25 years of producing grand operas, sponsoring an annual international vocal competition, presenting concerts, holding master classes, giving operalogues, and training the stars of tomorrow.

Opportunities to perform in the chorus, act as a supernumerary in non-speaking and non-singing roles or volunteer behind-the-scenes with the company will be presented.  Verismo Opera representatives in costume will be available to answer questions.

For more information, call 201-886-0561.