Joshua Benevento, Melanie Goerlitz and Liora Michelle Perform at Enrico Caruso Room Tonight

Tenor Joshua Benevento, who joined the Metropolitan Opera Chorus this season, will perform operatic arias with sopranos Melanie Goerlitz and Liora Michelle at the Enrico Caruso Room in Little Italy's famed Grotta Azzurra, 177 Mulberry Street, tonight, May 7, 2013 at 7:30 PM. They will be supported on keyboard by David Maiullo.

For those wishing to enjoy a four course dinner prior to the performance, dinner will be served starting at 6 PM. The special dinner/show cost is $55 per person, plus tax and gratuities. (A $25 music charge is included in the package). For reservations: Call 212-925-8775. Or reserve online at www.bluegrotta.com.

Immediately following the performance, at 9 PM, there will be an impromptu Open MIC with new and up-and-coming opera singers showcasing their talents. There is a $10 music charge and an ala carte food and drinks menu will be available. The Caruso Room at Grotta Azzurra is the perfect place in New York for those who love opera, terrific performers and excellent Italian cuisine in a famous venue in historic Little Italy.

Joshua Benevento most recently made his Metropolitan Opera debut singing in the highly anticipated new production of Wagner's Götterdämmerung. His 2012/2013 Metropolitan Opera season also included performances of Turandot, Les Troyens, and Parsifal. Named "A substantial tenor" by Opera News, Mr. Benevento most recently won a Grammy Award for his involvement in the Metropolitan Opera's new Ring Cycle recording. During the past year, he participated in The Liederkranz Foundation Competition and was a finalist in the Opera Division, as well as a first place winner in the Lieder Division. His participation in the prestigious Mario Lanza Competition also culminated with a successful first place. He has performed leading roles in numerous operas including Pagliacci, Aida, Turandot, Carmen, and Gianni Schicchi at various companies, among them: The Metropolitan Opera, American Classical Orchestra, New Jersey Verismo Opera, New Rochelle Opera, Purchase Opera, Wyckoff Opera, and the State Repertory Opera New Jersey. The New York premiere of Lee Hoiby's brilliant opera, The Tempest, included Mr. Benevento performing the challenging role of Caliban, which he later interpreted on a recording recently released by Albany Records to rave reviews by three of the major reviewers of recorded works. He also created the role of the Uncle in the acclaimed recent world premiere production of Raphaël Lucas's Confession, also recorded with Albany Records. He can be heard this June in his debut role of Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana with the New Rochelle Opera.

Melanie Goerlitz, a lyric soprano based in New York City, recently made her European debut in a concert tour throughout Poland. The concert highlighted the works of contemporary and traditional composers, and she was accompanied by a full symphony orchestra. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in December 2011 as a member of the New York Choral Society. Music has always been the breath of life for Melanie. Growing up in "a one stoplight small town in Pennsylvania," she began her study of music at the age of eight with piano lessons but it wasn't long before Melanie found her "voice." At the age of 10, she auditioned for an exclusive group called Marywood College Children's Choir, competing against all the "city girls" from Scranton, PA. She sang her first solo with this group, and from that moment on, she knew she belonged on a stage. Fast forwarding several years, it was apparent that Melanie was going to have a promising future in music. In high school, she competed statewide at PMEA music festivals and was awarded first place soprano in the entire state--the biggest achievement she'd made up to that point. Soon after, she was admitted into her top choice school, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she performed in many concerts. Highlights included the role of Nancy in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring, Second Lady in scenes from The Magic Flute, soloist in Bach's Magnificat, and an ensemble member in Candide. After graduating with the highest honors, Melanie spent the summer studying opera in Italy, an experience that had a great influence on her. She made her operatic debut in the prize role of Nannetta in Falstaff at the Crested Butte Music Festival. After moving to New York City, she had a series of jobs that took her right back out of the city. Traveling the world while singing was an incredible and life-changing experience for Melanie.

Soprano Liora Michelle has performed classic lyric soprano roles to critical acclaim, including Mimì, Musetta, Micaela, Nedda, Leonora (Il Trovatore) and Desdemona (Otello) among others, receiving praise for "the intensity of her performance and the extraordinary quality of her talent" (Il Globo) and her "heavenly sense of phrasing and timing" (The Herald Sun). Born in New York to a Russian-Italian mother and Australian father, she has dual US and Australian citizenships. Though currently living in the Big Apple, she is a celebrated artist in Melbourne, Australia where she performed in the national premiere of Verdi's Attila in the formidable role of Odabella. Among her many Australian concert appearances, she was featured soprano in an EMI-sponsored tribute to Maria Callas performing excerpts from two of Callas' signature operas, Norma and Medea. She was also given the distinct honor by the Italian Bureau of Cultural Affairs to perform for the globally broadcast Verdi Commemorative "Va Pensiero" Day. She has continued her extension into the Bel Canto works with performances of the title role of Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco in Central Park, Imogene in Il Pirata and Lucrezia Borgia. An active recitalist, Ms. Michelle frequently sings programs of Russian, French, Italian, Spanish and German arias around the NYC metropolitan area. In addition to her singing gifts, she is also an accomplished linguist and dancer.

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