Weekend Preview: Fidelio Comes To Mahwah

If you are looking for a Lincoln Center-esque opera performance that is close to home, head to Berrie Center this Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

The Hawthorne Symphony Orchestra is putting on a concert performance of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, in it’s first complete-show performance at Ramapo.

“We have been performing at the Berrie Center annually for close to ten years now. Generally, we perform sections of operas, but this year we decided to take on the whole thing,” said director John Minkoff.

The Julliard graduate is happy to bring this performance to Mahwah.

“We are a fully professional group of musicians. We like to bring high level performances to New Jersey, so people can see top notch performances at an affordable price,” he said.

Tickets are on sale on the Berrie Center’s website for $15-$20 for adults and $12 for children.

“A child’s tolerance for an operatic performance definitely varies from child to child. But, I think that 12 years old is a good time to expose kids who have never experienced it before to something like this,” said Alison Bolshoi, taking on the lead soprano role Sunday.

Bolshoi, who travels the world performing opera music, explains that this show, about a woman who dresses up as a man working in a prison to protect her wrongfully accused and imprisoned husband, “is actually relatable and very real, as far as operas go.”

“It deals with deep storylines, but it actually ends in a very uplifting way. It really is a user-friendly introduction to German opera, or a good way for opera enthusiasts to enjoy a performance without having to go to New York City,” she said.

Minkoff has high expectations for the performance.

“We love working with the Berrie Center, this is a wonderful piece, and we want people to come and enjoy the show,” he said.