Donata Cucinotta to Join Verismo Opera's Carmen

Donata Cucinotta of Howell, New Jersey debuts with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera in the grand opera company’s production Carmen. Verismo Opera will present George Bizet’s iconic opera on April 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Cuinotta, a soprano, will perform the role of the peasant woman Micaëla.

Noted for her “particularly fine” voice by the New York Times, Cucinotta has performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Opera Colorado, Opera New Jersey, Shreveport Opera, Amarillo Opera, Knoxville Opera, Opera Tampa Opera Fort Collins, Ohio Light Opera, Morningside Opera, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. She has assumed diverse roles, including Gilda (Rigoletto), Musetta (La Boheme), Juliette (Roméo & Juliette), and Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte).

Verismo Opera, bergenPAC’s house opera company, presents Carmen in four acts with the libretto written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. Audacious gypsy Carmen seduces Don José who foolishly throws aside his honor and betrothed, Micaëla, to lust after the gypsy siren. Carmen destroys herself and everyone around her.

bergenPAC is handicapped accessible. Hearing assist systems are available upon request to the house manager in the lobby.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased online, at bergenPAC’s box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Senior citizens receive a 10% discount. The company is offering a reduced rate of $10 on all tickets for children, ages 12 and under. The special senior citizen and children’s discount ticket rates are available at the box office only and must be requested before the purchase. For special rates for group sales only, call (201) 224-2809. Discount tickets are not available for purchase online.

Funding

The 2015 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 grand opera company, visit Verismo Opera’s web site; like the company on Facebook; get updates on Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; follow the opera company on Pinterest; or call (201) 886-0561.