INFORMATION FOR
Scenes from operas by Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi and Bellini will be performed by members of William Paterson University’s Opera Workshop on Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15, 2010.
The performances, which will be staged, costumed and performed in the original languages, will take place in Room 101 of Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus in Wayne. Tickets are $6 standard and $5 for the William Paterson community, senior citizens and students.
Under the direction of Stephen Bryant, professor of music and director of choral activities at William Paterson, vocalists will present portions of “La Boheme” and “Madama Butterfly” by Puccini, “L’Elixir d’amore” by Donizetti, “Cenerentola” by Rossini, and “Manon” and “Rigoletto” by Verdi, and “Norma” by Bellini.
Vocalists include Brenda Belohoubek of Wyckoff, Ezra Charles, Christine Ermenville and Elizabeth Kane of Clifton, Christa Cook of Butler, Theron Cromer of Leonia, Iliya Roitman of Weehawken, Lauren Pearson of Glen Rock, and Steven Zimmerman of Ridgewood.
Bryant’s distinguished career in concert and opera has taken him around the world, with acclaimed performances in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. A bass-baritone, he has received numerous oratorios and opera credits. He created the major role of Dante for the world premiere of Tan Dun’s “Marco Polo” in 1996, and was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award in the Best Opera Recording category for a recording of a new production of the opera staged for De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam in 2008. Bryant has performed the opera at the Munich Biennale, the Holland Festival in Amsterdam, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, New York City Opera, and with the Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo. He has sung with the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the Indianapolis Opera, and other companies of renown, and performed with major orchestras from The New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra, to the Israel Philharmonic and Japan Philharmonic.
Bryant received his bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and his master’s degree in voice and choral conducting from the University of Michigan. He resides in Upper Montclair.
For additional information on the concert, please call the Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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