New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Announces Charles Schneider to Appear in Tosca at BergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera announces that baritone Charles Schneider will assume the role of Scarpia in the company's production of Tosca on October 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the BergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey.

FORT LEE, NJ, September 29, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) announces that baritone Charles Schneider will appear as Scarpia in the company's upcoming performance of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca on October 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the BergenPAC located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. He replaces Patrick Blackwell, who was originally scheduled to appear in the role.

Schneider, a resident of Highland Park, New Jersey, has performed over 30 roles in more than 15 opera houses, such as The Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, The Princeton Festival, Opera New York, The OK Mozart Festival, Concert Operetta of Philadelphia, among others. In 2009, he performed the role of Scarpia with the Lyric Orchestra in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other notable roles include Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Michele (Il Tabarro), Belcore (L'elisir d'amore), and Hal in the world premiere of Grammy award-winning composer Libby Larsen's, Picnic.

In New Jersey, he currently serves as an adjunct professor of voice at Rider University's Westminster School of the Arts and the Lawrenceville School. He specializes in the vocal pedagogies of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Under Artistic Director Lucine Amara, one of the Metropolitan Opera's finest performers of Tosca, Verismo Opera, the only professional, grand opera company in North Jersey, brings this dark, dramatic love triangle of jealousy, treachery, and death set in Rome. Singers from Canada, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania appear in full costume presenting intense, three-dimensional characters and perform on traditional staging. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the nonprofit company presents Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa's libretto in four acts based upon Victorien Sardou's drama, La Tosca.

A full orchestra under Principal Conductor/Music Director Anthony Morss plays Puccini's powerful, beautiful music. Chorus Director Mara Waldman directs the Verismo Opera Chorus.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased at the BergenPAC box office, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays or by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Ticket purchases may be made online at http://www.bergenpac.org/shows-and-events/tickets/.

A special 25% discount on $55, $45, and $35 tickets will be available ONLY from Thursday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8 using the code TOSCA3. Discount tickets may be ordered only through the box office and are not be available online. For special rates for group sales, call (201) 224-2809.

Funding

Tosca is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include The Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, Robert J. Campbell, MD, KSJ and Cesare L. Santeramo, KCSJ.

Press Release Contact Information:

Gianni Simone
NJ Association of Verismo Opera
President
P.O. Box 3024
Fort Lee, New Jersey
USA 07024-9024
Voice: 201-886-0561
Website: Visit Our Website