Overview:
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera has been part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. It began by sponsoring a vocal competition and an opera workshop. In January 1990, the association engaged Maestro Gregory Ortega for its first Gala Operatic Orchestra Concert held at the Park Theatre in Union City. NJAVO featured the winners of its first vocal competition along with internationally renowned artists. In 1991 the NJAVO orchestra began performing in Bergen County at the Fort Lee Historic Park. In 1993, Metropolitan Opera star Lucine Amara joined the association as Artistic Director. Since then the association has become famous in and outside the state of New Jersey for its revivals of rarely performed works such as Amica, Guglielmo Ratcliff, Il Voto, I Ranzau, Mese Mariano, Madame San Gene, Pinotta, Silvano, etc. The roster of great singers who have appeared with the association includes Licia Albanese, Lucine Amara, Barbara Conrad, Russell Christopher, Eugenio Fernandi, Franco Bonanome, Jerome Hines, Roberta Knie, Elaine Malbin, Lynn Owen, Abe Polakoff, Elinor Ross, and many others. In the summer of 1995 international conductor Anthony Morss became NJAVO's new Music Director and Principal Conductor leading NJAVO's centennial celebration of Puccini's La Boheme. November 4, 1995, Armenian composer, Vazgen Muradian's music was featured for the first time in New Jersey. It was also NJAVO's first time at the Orrie de Nooyer auditorium. It was to become home base... |
