The Rock Opera Orchestra Plays NJ & NY Aug - Sept

Alexander Kariotis and The Rock Opera Orchestra will be in concert in New Jersey and at New York's Laurie Beechman Theatre and Triad, August 10 - November 27.

Kariotis, born and raised in Chicago in an "extreme extremely musical family… received multiple degrees in music and won several international vocal awards," states press notes, "He toured the world starring in operas as well as Terrence McNally's operatic homage, Master Class, co-starring with Elizabeth Ashley.  But it is New Jersey where he decided to live, work, write music, bring up his family and build an orchestra that just might change the music industry as we know it. Combining the grand arias, recitatives, choruses, duets, trios and the elaborately emotional subject matter of the great operatic composers with his own wizardry on the electric guitar, vocal pyrotechnics and highly imaginative compositions; he has created a new genre of music. After spending three years orchestrating and arranging a cannon of work, he found nine of New Jersey's finest musicians, the best drummer in New York and went to work."

Concert venues and schedule:

Burgdorff Cultural Center
10 Durand Road, Maplewood, New Jersey
Fridays August 10, 17 & 24 at 8PM
Tickets: $18, $15  (seniors/students)
www.undergroundconcerts.com

Laurie Beechman Theatre
West Bank Cafe
407  West  42nd Street, New York
Saturday, September 22 at 8PM
Fridays September 28, and October 5 & 19 at 8PM
Tickets: $15 (plus two drink minimum)
www.westbankcafe.com

Triad Theatre
158 West  72nd Street, New York
Thursday, November 8 at 7:30PM
Tuesday, November 27 at 7:30PM
Tickets: $15 (plus two drink minimum)
www.triadnyc.com

The composers include Alexander Kariotis, Giacomo Puccini, Jules Massenet, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Alessandro Stradella, Vincenzo de Crescenzo and Ruggero Leoncavallo.  The orchestra features Alexander Kariotis (lead singer / composer / lyricist / arranger), Diana Charos Reilly (flute), John Conte (keyboards), Julia Fisahn (background singer), Keith Beck (rhythm guitar), Peter Seckel (lead guitar), Ruth Zumstein (violin), Dana Blase Fortunato (background singer), Aimee Willis (background singer), Nate White (double bass), Paul Davis (drums) and David Snyder (musical director)