New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera's New Season Features La Gioconda and Rigoletto

Love, seduction, jealousy, vengeance, and death all come together in the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s 2016 season presentations of grand, traditional opera at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC). This year, Verismo Opera, the house opera company of bergenPAC, will present Amilcare Ponchielli’s La Gioconda and Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Verismo Opera begins the season in seventeenth century Venice, Italy with its premiere of the plot-filled opera La Gioconda on Sunday, April 17. Based on Angelo, Tyrant of Padua by Victor Hugo, the story, replete with twists and turns, takes place during the rule of the doges. On October 23, the company presents Rigoletto, one of Verdi’s greatest dramas of modern times.

Principal Conductor Lucy Arner to Debut

The fully staged operas will be performed with the complete cast attired in period costume under the direction of General Manager and Stage Director Evelyn La Quaif. Principal Conductor Lucy Arner will debut with the company in La Gioconda leading the Verismo Opera Orchestra. The Verismo Opera Chorus under Chorus Director and Associate Conductor Mara Waldman will sing in Italian in La Gioconda. In October, the Verismo Opera Chorus will join the company again to perform in Rigoletto.

“These traditional operas present realism and remain true to the original with the music, grand sets, and beautiful costumes. Both operas will introduce another generation to the splendors of complete, professional productions,” said Lucine Amara, Artistic Director, Verismo Opera.

Purchase Tickets

Tickets are now on sale for La Gioconda and may be purchased online or in person at bergenPAC’s box office, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, New Jersey. For ticket information, call (201) 227-1030 or toll-free 1-888-PACSHOW.

The theatre is handicapped accessible. Designated handicapped parking spaces are available.

The 2016 season is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include Children’s Aid Foundation, Robert J. Campbell, MD, Cesare L. Santeramo, KSJ, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, The Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund.

For more information about the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, contact info@verismopera.org. Get ongoing news and follow the grand opera company on Facebook and Twitter @NJVerismoOpera. Sign up for Verismo Opera’s monthly, free electronic newsletter to receive the latest news about events, activities, auditions, productions, the international vocal competition, and more.