August 28, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 23 Verismo Opera announces Open House, auditions Celebrate the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s new fall season of love, comedy, obsession, and murder. Artistic Director and Met Opera luminary Lucine Amara invites singers, actors, children, and people throughout the region to attend a free Open House to learn more about Verismo Opera on Saturday, Sept. 7. This 1 p.m. event will be held at 44 Armory Street in Englewood. The Verismo Opera Chorus will perform Giuseppe Ver- di’s “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” (“Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves”) from the opera “Nabucco.” General Manager Evelyn La Quaif and Oswaldo Iraheta from Edgewater, will perform “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Hackensack resident Edgar Jaramillo, a new member of Verismo Opera, will also perform a solo at the Sept. 7 event. Jaramillo will perform the role of Turriddu in Ver- ismo Opera’s upcoming new production of Pietro Mascag- ni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana.” There will also be a discussion of the organization’s mission and history, and opportunities to perform with Verismo Opera. The company will introduce the grand opera company’s double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” to be performed on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood. Under Chorus Director Mara Waldman, singers will explore grand opera through active performances. The operas will be fully staged and performed in cos- tume accompanied by an orchestra under internationally renowned Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss in a number of performing arts centers. Applications are now being accepted for the Verismo Opera Chorus. Open auditions for the chorus will be held on Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18, and 25 at 7 p.m. at 44 Armory Street in Englewood. Those who audition should bring one or two songs to perform. An accompanist will be provided. An appointment is required to audition. Male choristers representing all vocal ranges and ages are especially needed. Sight-reading ability is a plus, but is not necessary. No prior stage experience is required. An application may be downloaded at http://www.verismop- era.org/vocalcomp.html. To schedule an appointment to audition for the chorus, call (201) 886-0561. Opportunities to perform with the Verismo Opera Chorus, act as an extra in non-speaking and non-singing roles, or volunteer with the company behind the scenes will also be presented. Children who are interested in gaining experience on the stage as extras are invited to attend the Open House and learn more about performing opportuni- ties in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” For information about avail- able roles, call (201) 224-2809. The 2013 season is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Depart- ment of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include the Mary Casella Briggs Memorial Fund, The Gerda Lissner Foun- dation, Inc., Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund, Chil- dren’s Aid Foundation, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, Robert J. Campbell, MD, and Cesare L. Santeramo, KSJ. Verismo Opera has been a part of the New Jersey music scene since 1989. The opera company, a nonprofit, tax- exempt organization, is the only professional opera com- pany in Bergen County and northern New Jersey. The organization provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists and sponsors an annual vocal com- petition held in November with finals generally conducted in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, drawing artists from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company also organizes opera workshops and concerts and offers afford- able, highly professional operatic productions in the Bergen New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera performs Caval- leria Rusticana. (Photo courtesy of Marilyn Monsanto.) County, New Jersey community. Verismo Opera is recognized for providing up and coming performing artists with the training to attain a successful operatic career. Several singers, notably Rich- ard Hobson, Frank Poretta, Emmanuel di Villarosa, James Valenti, and Irina Rindzuner of the Metropolitan Opera, started their road to success by performing in its produc- tions. For more information, visit, www.verismopera.org, or call (201) 886-0561.