Eastern Opera of New Jersey Reminder: Verdi's Otello Opens August 11
Warren, NJ (PRWEB) July 23, 2013 -- Eastern Opera is fortunate to have a General Director, Karole Lewis, who provides visionary leadership to the fledgling new opera company located in North-Central New Jersey. As the founder of the company as well as leading soprano artist, stage director, costume designer and set designer, Ms. Lewis has much on her plate as she busily prepares the singers through intensive staging and musical rehearsals. Karole Lewis and her husband, Peter Lewis, soprano and tenor, met on stage singing the Act II “love duet” from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut almost 25 years ago. The duet transfixed not only the Opera San Jose, California audience at that time, but also kindled in the couple an abiding affection and respect for one another that remains today with yet another opera vision and passion to create top-quality and affordable operatic productions in their local area. Indeed, after that magical performance in San Jose nearly a quarter of a century ago, Karole and Peter Lewis combined vocal and organizational forces to launch the highly successful Santa Cruz Bay City Opera in Central California.
Madama Butterfly was the inaugural Eastern Opera production that took place at the Brook Theatre in Bound Brook, New Jersey, in May of this year. Almost immediately upon the striking of the massive Butterfly set, Karole Lewis had the schedule and the casting worked out for the company’s next and first Verdi production—and what a production it will be! Many consider Verdi’s Otello one of the master’s finest and most elaborate operas. Singers consider it a joy and a challenge while orchestra members relish the pacing and the excitement that comes from the music. In fact, one of Karole Lewis’s abiding visions is that the orchestra for her productions can enjoy the presence of a true orchestra pit. It is fortuitous, then, that the historic Brook Theatre has such a functioning orchestra pit on its premises.
Ms. Lewis has also founded the company with the support and guidance of Dr. Robert Butts, who for nearly two decades has established an extraordinary reputation in the New Jersey area for his conducting and composing skills. Indeed, through Robert Butts, Eastern Opera has developed a working relationship with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey—for which Dr. Butts is the Music Director and Conductor. Previously, Dr. Butts and Ms. Lewis have collaborated as conductor and stage director on several productions that include Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and La Traviata.
Another aspect of the Karole Lewis vision for Eastern Opera is to involve a plethora of talented and committed singers in each of the productions. For Otello, the opera is double cast in its principal roles—thus insuring a larger presence of singers in the company’s productions. In addition, highly talented and eager singers are joining the chorus of Eastern Opera as stepping stones to taking on, over time, principal and supporting roles in future productions.
Peter and Karole Lewis are taking on the principal roles of Otello and Desdemona respectively in the upcoming production of Otello (Sunday afternoon, August 11 at Dolan Hall, College of St. Elizabeth; and Saturday evening, August 17 at the Brook Theatre). In addition, two experienced and versatile artists, John Tedeschi and Victoria Wefer, will be making their Eastern Opera debuts in the roles of Otello and Desdemona respectively in two of the four shows being presented. On Friday night, August 16 and Sunday afternoon, August 18, these two talented singers will be performing at the Brook Theatre alongside the full Eastern Opera ensemble and orchestra.
John Tedeschi, tenor, has already captivated audiences regionally and across the country with his winning stage presence, endearing acting and ringing tenor instrument. He has performed leading roles with: Opera Theatre of Connecticut, Osh Opera, New Britain Symphony, Witchita Grand Opera, New Orleans Opera, Center City Opera and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. John Tedeschi is a native of Hartford, Connecticut where he has taught in the theatre division of The Hartt School of Music and where he received his Master’s degree in Voice. John received his B.A. in Music, Vocal Performance, from Boston University. John lives in Brooklyn, New York and is dedicating his time to his New York City vocal studio and to his surging opera career. John comments on his role as Otello in the upcoming Eastern Opera production: “The opera Otello and the title role are the perfect balance of true Italian opera and great theatre…Verdi, Boito (the librettist) and Shakespeare had a full understanding of human nature. This opera has something for everyone to enjoy and well, actually learn from. I look forward to working with all involved and can’t wait to bring this great work to life.”
Victoria Wefer, soprano, is a resident of Union City, New Jersey. Victoria has an extensive resume of operatic performances in New Jersey and New York City with: Amore Opera, Principe Opera, Golden Fleece Ltd., and Amato Opera. An experienced recitalist and soloist with symphony orchestras, as well as a distinguished vocalist award winner in numerous competitions, Victoria is well prepared and superbly poised to take on the role of Desdemona in Eastern Opera’s production. Her previous leading roles come from the following operas: La Traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Tales of Hoffman, La Boheme, and Don Giovanni. Victoria currently studies with the renowned operatic soprano, Diana Soviero.
Under the guiding musical baton of Dr. Robert Butts, and the inspired and elegant staging direction of General Director, Karole Lewis, as well as Karole’s masterful and bold sets and personally designed and sewn costumes, Otello is a show that is not to be missed—and will be a terrific late summer highlight to one’s theatrical and musical experiences in New Jersey.
Eastern Opera Corp. is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. Specifically, Eastern Opera has been formed to encourage and instruct individuals for the purpose of improving and developing their capabilities, to educate the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community, and to promote the arts and culture to the local communities. The first opera performance, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (May, 2013) was met with standing ovations. For more information contact Lou Kersey at loukersey(at)easternopera(dot)org or visit http://www.easternopera.org.
Lou Kersey, Eastern Opera Inc, http://www.easternopera.org, 908-566-5708, [email protected]
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