Amore Opera Opens its Gypsy Season this Month

Amore Opera opens its "Gypsy Season" on May 26th with George Bizet's Carmen at its new home, the Riverside Theatre on Manhattan's Upper West Side. This exciting production of Carmen will be presented in full production with a full orchestra conducted by Richard Cordova, with stage direction by Amore Opera's Artistic Director Nathan Hull.

There will be six (6) performances of Carmen:

Fri May 26 (7:30); Sat May 27 (7:30); Sun matinee May 28 (2:30);

Thurs June 1 (7:30); Fri June 2 (7:30); and Sat June 3 (7:30).

Amore Opera will also be presenting the American premiere of Donizetti's La Zingara in full production with full orchestra conducted by Douglas Martin, with stage direction by Amore Opera's Artistic Director Nathan Hull.

There will be two performances of La Zingara:

Tues. May 30th (7:30); and Wed. May 31st (7:30)

Tickets for both shows may be purchased from Amore Opera's website, www.amoreopera.org, or by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111.

About Amore Opera

Now in its ninth season, the Amore Opera is continuing in its mission to entertain, educate and nurture music appreciation in youth, seniors and community members through affordable live performances of classical and overlooked operas, and provide a venue for a diversity of singers and musicians to perform in fully staged and orchestrated productions.

About Carmen

Carmen is one of the most celebrated operas of all time, and Georges Bizet's melodies are beloved not only by opera fans, but by the general populace at large. Since it's debut in 1875 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris and subsequent first presentation in America at the Metropolitan Opera in 1884, Carmen has been produced on stage, screen and television in innumerable formats ranging from ballet to musical comedy to cartoons to ice shows and even to hip hop.

After Bizet's death, composer Ernest Guiraud replaced the original spoken dialogue with sung recitative. It is this version with which we are most familiar. Amore Opera has elected to reinterpret the Opéra-Comique version and take the original French dialogue and translate it into English, thus making the story more immediate for a contemporary audience while retaining the essence of the original. This traditional yet imaginative production features some of the best young singers in the country, accompanied by a full orchestra under the baton of Richard Cordova and directed by Nathan Hull.

About La Zingara

La Zingara has, strangely enough, never before been performed in the United States even though it was one of Gaetano Donizetti's earliest successes. Written in 1822, it was the first opera he wrote for Naples at the start of his long residency there and was an immediate and enormous hit. This extremely tuneful romp anticipates many of Donizetti's more famous operas but stands by itself for its inventiveness. The story concerns the exploits of the title character, Argilla, the Gypsy girl, who on a single day manages to straighten out the affairs of an entire castle through cunning and wile. Out-Figaroing Figaro, she frees a wrongly imprisoned prisoner, unites a pair of lovely lovers, and topples a tyrannous tyrant. La Zingara is a buffo comedy that owes much to Commedia dell'arte, but it also has many touching moments. Its second act Septet has been critically acclaimed for its innovations and was much admired and studied by Bellini.

Originally, La Zingara had a spoken book written in both standard Italian and Neapolitan. For this production, director Nathan Hull has created a charming and funny English adaptation for the dialogue, but the sparkling score will be sung in the original languages. La Zingara will be conducted by Amore veteran Douglas Martin leading a full orchestra and starring a brilliant cast of some of Amore Opera's favorite singers.

"The Real Gypsies: The Romani People"- Pre-Show Talk

In addition to the two operas, Amore Opera's "Gypsy Season" will also feature a free pre-show lecture and presentation, "The Real Gypsies: The Romani People" with noted Romani Scholar Cristiana Grigore on Friday, June 2nd at 6:00. This talk will put into perspective the 18th Century romantic view of Gyspy life in opera, music and literature, and the real people who inspired it.

Carmen Performances

Friday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 27 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 28 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 1 7:30 p.m.

Friday, June 2 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 3 7:30 p.m.

La Zingara Performances

Tuesday, May 30, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 31 7:30 p.m.

"The Real Gypsies: The Romani People"

Friday, June 2 6:00 - free lecture

Admission

Tickets for Carmen and La Zingara are $45 for adults and $35 seniors, students & children. (Partial view tickets available from $30-$25). Tickets can be purchased directly through the Amore Opera Website at www.amoreopera.org or by calling 886-811-4111.

Riverside Theatre

The beautiful Riverside Theatre is conveniently situated in Manhattan's Upper West Side at the corner of West 120th St. and Claremont Ave (91 Claremont Avenue). Located in Riverside Church, it is a fully equipped opera house which offers full handicapped accessibility including an elevator to the theatre level. There is also garage parking available.