Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • February 25, 2009 José Carreras, one of contemporary opera’s most celebrated figures, will be performing at BergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, Wednesday, March 18 at 8 p.m. Carreras is perhaps best known for his association with the Three Tenors, a distinction he shared with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Born on Dec. 5, 1943 in Barcelona, Spain, Carreras loved to sing early in life. He started voice and piano lessons with Magda Prunera at age six. Two years later, he started attending the local music conservatory after school. At eight, he also gave his first public performance, singing “La Donna e Mobile” on Spanish National Radio. At 11, he was on the stage of Barcelona’s opera house, the Gran Teatro del Liceo, singing the boy soprano role of the narrator in de Falla’s “El Retablo de Maese Pedro.” A few months later, he sang for the last time at the Liceo before his voice started to change. At 18, he studied with Francisco Puig and later with Juan Ruax. Ruax encouraged him to audition for what José Carerras, to perform locally was to become his first tenor role at the Liceo, Flavio in “Norma.” This minor role had major consequences for his career. The beauty of the few phrases he sang as Flavio was noticed not only by the critics but also by the great soprano in the title role, Montserrat Caballe. She asked that he sing Gennaro with her in Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia,” his first principal adult role, and the one he considers his debut as a tenor. What is perhaps quite unusual about Carreras’ career is that by the age of 28, he had already sung the tenor lead in 24 different operas in both Europe and North America, and had made his debut at the world’s four great opera houses. Carreras now concentrates more on concerts and recitals and restricts his opera performances to one or two productions a year. Now in his fifties, he still has the vital, vivid presence of the born communicator. Tickets are priced at $150, $98, $88, $58, and $38. To purchase tickets, call (201) 227-1030 or go to www.bergenpac.org. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 With birthday wishes soon heading With birthday wishes soon heading your way, you may be planning mayour way, you may be planning a a major bash. Don’t be so extravagant with jor bash. Don’t be so extravagant with your spending, however. Finances are your spending, however. Finances are tight. tight. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You’ve had a short temper, Taurus, and You’ve had a short temper, Taurus, and close friends and family are starting close friends and family are starting toto feel the brunt your tongue lashes. feel the brunt ofof your tongue lashes. Calm down and start mending fences Calm down and start mending fences before it’s too late. before it’s too late. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 An important decision due the end An important decision due atat the end the week has you pulled two ofofthe week has you pulled inintwo directions. You must make decision directions. You must make a a decision soon, else the opportunity might soon, ororelse the opportunity might pass you by. pass you by. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 You’ve been waiting hear big news, You’ve been waiting toto hear big news, Cancer, and it’s finally headed your Cancer, and it’s finally headed your way. Expect complete turnaround way. Expect a acomplete turnaround with situation that has been plaguing with a a situation that has been plaguing you lately. you lately. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 AA business trip, a vacation or somebusiness trip, a vacation or something that involves your going out thing that involves your going out ofof town on the horizon, Leo. Pack your town isis on the horizon, Leo. Pack your bags now because you’ll be store for bags now because you’ll be inin store for an adventure. an adventure. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Someone from your past has made Someone from your past has made an appearance lately, Virgo. You’re an appearance lately, Virgo. You’re not happy run into this individual. not happy toto run into this individual. Graciously smile and be on your way Graciously smile and be on your way ---- in the opposite direction. in the opposite direction. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 large responsibility has been put AAlarge responsibility has been put into your hands, Libra. Don’t worry, into your hands, Libra. Don’t worry, you have the means get it done. You you have the means toto get it done. You can always enlist the help a friend if can always enlist the help ofof a friend if you feel overwhelmed. you feel overwhelmed. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Your life in an upheaval, Scorpio, Your life isis in an upheaval, Scorpio, but is a happy change to your but it it is a happy change to your normal orderly schedule. Friends and normal orderly schedule. Friends and family love be near you in the days family love toto be near you in the days toto come. Enjoy the company. come. Enjoy the company. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 you’ve been feeling down the IfIfyou’ve been feeling down ininthe dumps, Sagittarius, all that is godumps, Sagittarius, all ofof that is going change. A stranger brings good ing toto change. A stranger brings good news, and you’re the first line to acnews, and you’re the first inin line to accept his offering. cept his offering. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 You’ve been juggling too many reYou’ve been juggling too many responsibilities, Capricorn. Pretty soon sponsibilities, Capricorn. Pretty soon one the balls is going to drop. Reone ofof the balls is going to drop. Realize that you need scale back your alize that you need toto scale back your projects. projects. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Someone will rely on your help heavSomeone will rely on your help heavily the days come, Aquarius. ily ininthe days totocome, Aquarius. You don’t mind because you love You don’t mind because you love toto feel needed and central part of the feel needed and a a central part of the action. action. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar20 PISCES - Feb 19/Mar20 Advice offered to you, but you’re Advice isis offered to you, but you’re not inclined take it. Reconsider, benot inclined toto take it. Reconsider, because this person really speaks words cause this person really speaks words ofof wisdom. wisdom. DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) direction the league should take, disenchanted skaters pull together and collectively bring their grievances to management. Two leagues emerge from the clash, the Lonestar Rollergirls and the Texas Rollergirls, and in four years overcome all obstacles to enjoy huge success. This documentary captures the grittiness of the retro sport, a combination of true athleticism, show biz pizzazz, exhibitionism, egos, and business. “Breaking Bad: The Complete First Season” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is the story of a desperate man who turns to a life of crime for his family’s financial security. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) and a teenage son who has cerebral palsy, discovers a new passion in life after he is diagnosed with cancer and told he has two years to live. Walter teaches apathetic high school students and works a second job at a car wash, while his wife earns a modest income buying and selling items on eBay. Realizing he has only his family left to live for, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime to provide for the ones he loves. Extras include deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and screen tests. “Canterbury’s Law: The Complete Series” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) focuses on Elizabeth Canterbury (Julianna Margulies), a rising attorney with a passion for justice who puts her career on the line to take risky, unpopular cases. Elizabeth and law professor husband Matt Furey (Aidan Quinn) are haunted by the unsolved disappearance of their young son and struggling to get over the tragedy which has put their relationship in jeopardy. The line between home and work often falls victim to Elizabeth’s obsession for the truth as she pursues cases with the assistance of her independent-minded associates. The show does not have the glamour of “LA Law” or the zaniness of “Boston Legal.” It is a rather somber drama, and Margulies, who was once part of an excellent ensemble cast on “ER,” provides a compelling portrait of an intelligent lawyer. There are no bonuses. Answer Last Week’s Puzzle Answer toto Last Week’s Puzzle