The Amore Opera Company

The Amore Opera Company 

Nathan Hull ................................................................................ President 

Deborah Surdi ............................................................................. Vice President 

Barbara Cohen ............................................................................ Secretary 

Board of Directors 

Alicia Alexander Robert Alpert Mark Bentley Melissa Gerstein Janet Johnson 

Simeon Loring Daniel Rothstein, esq. Vincent Titone Allan Vail Cheryl Warfield 

Special Thanks To Our Patrons 

Seraphin ($10,000 Or More) 

Anthony Amato Mary Julia Curtis Georgann Shufflebarger 

Cherubin ($1,000 - $9,999) 

Alicia Alexander John Behonek 

Mark Bentley Barbara Cohen 

Joanne & Edward Froelich Keith B. Gianni 

Michele Halpern Norman & Denise Keller 

Madison St. Productions Neil Mckelvie 

Jesse & Rochelle Shereff Lu Ting 

Archangel ($500 - $999) 

Beth Anderson The Dillard Foundation 

Elaine Dinitz & Jordan Fishbane D. Gene England 

Elizabeth Gambino Carol Kornblau 

Estate Of Charles A. Kornblau Donald Lentnek 

David Owen Allan Vail 

Verizon Foundation 

Angel ($200 - $499) 

Frances Bauer John Bentley 

Deborah Downs Kathy Enders 

Mark Franko-Filipasic Mitchell Golden 

Barbara Murphy Lois Ottombrino 

Rosina & Clement Raiteri Diane Robek 

Dominique Rosoff Karyn Slutsky 

James Stenborg Martha C. Stine 

Natalie C. Tenney Craig Wohl 

More Special Thanks: 

Alicia Alexander Mark Bentley Barbara Cohen Graham Halky 

Ann Hu Ian Meyer Bernie Milan Sandra Pearson 

Daniel Rothstein, esq. Victoria Wefer Alea Vorillas Craig Wohl 

Anthony Amato Village Light Opera Ira Siff & La Gran Scena Opera 

For more information, contact Melissa Gerstein press@amoreopera.org 

Please send your tax-deductible contribution to: 

Amore Opera, Inc. 

P.O. Box 231368 

New York, NY 10023 

Amore Opera is a 501(c)(3) company. All contributions are tax-deductible.

The New Amore Opera Season 

“Carmen” is now one of the world’s most favorite operas. Full of sweeping passion, its 

melodies are the source for many an earwurm. But, it wasn’t always so: Its premiere 

at the Opéra-Comique of Paris on March 3, 1875 was a disaster. The audience was 

shocked that such a wanton woman as Carmen should be celebrated on the stage, 

and the young Georges Bizet’s masterpiece seemed to be headed for oblivion. 

Indeed, Bizet died two months later thinking himself a failure. It was only after “Carmen” 

escaped the confines of Parisian bourgeoisie society that it found its audience 

and quickly established itself as an international sensation. 

Even today when examined closely, it is not an easy story, and it must have been 

truly shocking to Victorian audiences. Carmen is made the heroine, but she is from 

the lowest caste of European society, the Gypsies. Euphemistically, she is described 

as “free with her love,” but it is obvious that it is more than that. Indeed, she uses her 

overpowering sexuality as a weapon of first choice, and it is this mismatch that starts 

Don José on his downward spiral to ruin and insanity. 

However, through modern eyes, she is also a victim. While the original audiences 

might have concluded that Carmen “got what she deserves”, today’s viewers are 

more likely to be shocked by the evolution of José into a monstrous stalker. There are 

other problems that jolt modern sensibilities, too, including the maddening task of 

accepting the fact that Carmen is both the prototype of the emancipated woman and 

at the same time bound by the predestination foretold by Tarot cards. In short, “Carmen” 

is a surprisingly deep work of art that continues to fascinate each succeeding 

generation in unsuspected ways. 

For us, “Carmen” represents something totally different - the successful conclusion 

to Amore Opera’s second season. Against the odds, veterans of the Amato Opera have 

established and evolved a new house which has found favor both within the opera 

community of artists and from the opera-going public. Next season, we are planning 

another series of popular operas and another series of our “Opera in Brief” for 

children and families, and we invite you to be the first to know about it by getting our 

Amore Newsletter. Just send an email to newsletter@amoreopera.org, and we’ll keep 

you abreast of all our exciting developments! 

Finally, producing opera demands great dedication on both sides of the footlights. 

Please consider joining us as a volunteer. We need everything from ushers to painters. 

Or, if you are an overly busy New Yorker, please think about giving us a donation 

to help us with our quest. In addition to writing a check this evening, you can also 

conveniently make a donation online at www.amoreopera.org. 

Thanks to everybody involved – the singers, the instrumentalists, the artistic staff 

and the administrators - for loving and nurturing the Amore Opera. Now, onto our 

third season! 

Nathan Hull 

Amore Opera President 

This production is dedicated to the memory of John W. Behonek, 

Actor, Singer, Producer, Gentleman, and Supporter and Patron 

of the Amore Opera and many, many other Opera & Operetta companies

If this beautiful opera has not cured your heartburn or 

other gastrointestinal ailments, may we emphatically 

suggest that you see some of New York‘s most renowned 

gastroenterologists for help! Wonderful physicians, humane 

approach, practice the art of Medicine and supporters 

of the art of Music. 

Gastroenterology, Liver Disease 

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy & Colonoscopy 

Jerome H. Siegel, MD, PC 

60 East End Avenue 

Tel: 212-734-8874 

and 

The Center for Digestive Health 

37 Union Square West 

Tel: 212-604 6822 

Jerome Siegel, MD William Brown, MD 

Seth Cohen, MD Jason Bratcher, MD 

Franklin Kasmin, MD Evin McCabe, MD

Production Staff 

Conductor/Musical Director............................................................Richard Owen 

Stage Director.........................................................................................Nathan Hull 

Choreographer....................................................................................Jorge Navarro 

Executive Producer..................................................................Marlene E. Williams 

Producer......................................................................................................Iris Karlin 

Associate Producer................................................................Courtenay Showalter 

Artistic Coordinator/Children’s Chorus Master..............................Cheryl Warfield 

Chorus Coordinator............................................................................Janet Johnson 

Technical Director................................................................................Adam Bishop 

Stage Manager............................................................................. Norah Scheinman 

Scenic Designer/Production Graphics........................................Richard Cerullo 

Lighting Designer..............................................................................Daniel Winters 

Costume Designer......................................................................................Iris Karlin 

Propmaster........................................................................................Robert Malayev 

French Language Coach................................................................Michele Halpern 

Program..................................Elizabeth Treat, Stu Whalen, Marlene E. Williams 

Publicity/Press...............................................................................Melissa Gerstein 

Box Office Manager.................................................................Marlene E. Williams 

Development...................................................................................................Hal Lai 

Ad Sales............................................................................................Rochelle Shereff 

Videographer............................................................William Remmers, Jay Gould 

Supertitles......................................................................................................Connie I 

Concession.............................................................Vera Asaro, Lorraine Davidson 

Orchestra 

Pianists: Wei-En Hsu, Judith Schaaf, Regina Yakubtsiner 

Flute: Beth Anderson, Jung-Yi Hsieh, Maureen Keenan, 

Abbe Krieger, Dorothy Lee, Renee Oakford, Richard Paratley 

Oboe: Barbara Cohen, Suzette Jacobs 

Clarinet: Aaron Abramovitz, Laurence Beckhardt, Deborah 

Cardona, Janet Johnson, Edward Klein 

Bassoon: Timothy Emerson, Daniel Liao, Sandra Pearson, 

Matthew Rosenberg, Richard Vrotney 

Trumpet: Anthony Bavota, Larry Malin, Tom McGee 

Donna Rossi, Joseph Schufle, Harry Wise 

Horn: Susan Allard, Lynn Caron, Roy Femenella , Peter Huitzacua, 

Charissa Smith, Nancy J. Vizza, Marc Wager 

Trombone: Jeremy Kempton, John Lieto, Carl Reinlib 

Violin: Joyce Balint, Marc Bastuscheck, Jane Buckwalter, Kristine 

Cangceusta, Victor Dvortsov, Elliott Neibch, Dave Obelkivich, 

Andrew Pak, Juliana Pereira, Sylvia Rubin, Tomoko Samei, 

Yelena Savranskaya, Abigail Wilensky, Antje Wilmer 

Viola: Haw-Bin Chai, Thomas Leff, Andrea Maire, Yumi Oikawa, 

Rachel Teplow, Ryan Teynor 

Cello: Tim Carter, Carl Courant, Steve Flanders, Toshi Kono, 

Marty Steinberg, Judy Tobey 

Bass: Jim Boyd, Ben Fox, David Wiener 

Percussion: Ashley Baier, Minhye Ju, Charles Kiger, 

ChiChing Lin, Scott Still 

Harp: Kathleen McAuliffe, Violetta Norrie 

Orchestra Librarians: Beth Anderson, Sandra Pearson 

Music Coordinator: Barbara Cohen

Congratulations to Amore Opera! 

Adele Bond 

Christopher F. van Elk 

Bruce Greengart 

Carolyn Kornblau 

Ann Lipson 

Paul and Mike Riezenman 

Evelyn and Marvin Rich 

Anna Shereff 

Shirley Singer

Carmen 

Composed by Geoges Bizet 

Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy 

Based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée 

Synopsis 

Act I. On a square in Seville next to the Cigarette Factory, Corporal Moralès and 

his soldiers spend a hot afternoon lazily looking at the passers-by and the pretty 

girls. Suddenly, their monotony is broken by the arrival of Micaëla, a simple 

country girl, who is looking for her beau, Don José, who is also a solider. Moralès 

tells her that José will arrive later and tries to pick her up himself, but Micaëla 

escapes his advances. A bugle call announces the changing of the guard which 

is merrily mimicked by a chorus of street urchins. When Don José and his men 

relieve the soldiers on duty, Moralès tells him that a girl has been looking for 

him. Zuniga, the new lieutenant of the guard, is concerned about smugglers. He 

questions José about the building on the square, and is thankful to find out that 

it is the famous cigarette factory. The factory bell sounds, and the cigarette girls 

emerge much to the pleasure of the men waiting to catch a glance. Finally, Carmen 

herself appears and sings her sensual Habañera, but is annoyed that alone 

amongst men, José is ignoring her. She throws a flower at him in an attempt to 

inflame his passion, but leaves without seeing its effect. Micaëla returns bringing 

a letter from José’s mother. They sing of their innocent love, and when Micaëla 

leaves, José determines to follow his mother’s wishes by marrying her. A fight in 

the cigarette factory between Carmen and Manuela interrupts him, and he is 

forced by Zuniga to arrest Carmen. As he ties her wrists, Carmen tempts José to 

let her escape and rendezvous with her at Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Mesmerized by 

the siren call of her Séguedille, José loosens Carmen’s bonds, and she runs away. 

José is arrested. 

ACT II. A month has passed. At Pastia’s seedy bar on the edge of 

Seville, Carmen with her friends Frasquita and Mercédès sing and dance a Gypsy 

Song for Zuniga and some soldiers. The drunken but still lustful Zuniga lets it 

slip that José has been released from prison just as the bar is invaded by revelers 

hailing the arrival of Escamillo, the celebrated bullfighter. He sings of his exploits 

in the famously tuneful “Votre Toast”, the Toreador song. When Escamillo propositions 

Carmen, she tells him to wait for another day. Pastia throws everybody 

out of the bar except for Carmen and her two friends in preparation for the 

arrival of the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado. They have a big operation for 

which they need female assistance. (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”). Carmen 

refuses to join them until later since she is convinced Don José will shortly join

her. As if on cue, José’s voice is heard, and the smugglers and their girlfriends 

leave Carmen alone with José with the instructions that she must convince her 

soldier friend to join them on the operation. José proclaims his love for Carmen 

as she dances seductively for him. (“Je vais danser en votre honneur”). Just as 

their love is finally to be consummated, the company bugle is heard, and José 

tries to return to base. Furious, Carmen says he doesn’t love her at all, and he 

demonstrates his devotion by showing her the flower which he has treasured 

throughout his imprisonment. (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). Carmen says that 

the only way to prove his love is by deserting the army and joining her in the 

mountains with the smugglers. He resists and is starting to leave when Zuniga 

bursts in, and José attacks him in a jealous rage. The smugglers return and hold 

Zuniga prisoner. Don José now has no choice but to join them. 

Act III. In a dark, cold mountain pass, the smuggling operation is underway. 

While Dancaïre and Remendado reconnoiter the path ahead, it becomes 

obvious that Carmen’s passion for the overly insistent José has cooled considerably. 

He gazes longingly at the valley where his mother lives; Carmen tells him 

to join her. To amuse themselves, Frasquita and Mercédès read their Tarot cards, 

but Carmen takes it much more seriously. When she draws the Death Card, she 

is convinced that Fate has determined that José will kill her and that there is no 

escape. Dancaïre returns and moves the crew forward, appealing to Carmen, 

Frasquita and Mercédès to use their feminine charms on the border guards to let 

them pass. A jealous José is left behind to guard the rear. Unexpectedly, Micaëla 

appears. She has followed José in order to rescue him from his life of crime. 

From a distance, José mistakes her for a poacher and fires at her, almost hitting 

Escamillo instead. While Micaëla hides, Escamillo reveals to José that he loves a 

gypsy girl who has tired of her lover. José realizes that he is that soldier, and he 

and Escamillo fight. The band of smugglers runs back in time to separate the two 

of them, and while José is being restrained, Escamillo courts Carmen in front of 

him before leaving. Micaëla is discovered, and begs José to return with her. He 

only relents when Micaëla tell him that his Mother is dying. As he reluctantly 

abandons the gypsy smugglers, Escamillo voice is heard in the distance, and it is 

obvious that Carmen has found her new lover. 

Act IV. Time has passed, and it is now the day of the big bullfight in 

Seville. With rising excitement, the crowd watches the procession which culminates 

with the arrival of Escamillo who now has Carmen on his arm. As everyone 

goes into the stadium, Frasquita and Mercédès pull Carmen aside to warn her 

that Don José has been sighted. She tries to calm their fears, but knows it is true. 

Alone, she turns to find herself trapped by Don José. He frantically appeals to 

Carmen and begs her to flee with him. His life has been ruined by her and only 

her love will redeem him. She coldly says she does not love him any more, and 

that ‘free she was born, and free she will die.” Carmen tries to enter the bull-ring, 

but José stabs her and she dies, leaving José alone with his guilt.

Carmen Characters: 

CARMEN, a Gypsy-Girl 

Mary Bowen, Pavlina Horáková, Elena McEntire, 

Elizabeth Mondragon, Margaret O’Connell, Joan Peitscher 

DON JOSÉ, Corporal of the Dragoons 

Maurizio Casa, Mark Franko-Filipasic, Adam Juran, 

Benjamin Sloman, Mauricio Trejo 

ESCAMILLO, a Famous Toreador 

Raymond Diaz, Isaac Grier, Thomas Gunther, 

Djoré Nance, Charles Sanford 

MICAËLA, Don Jose’s village sweetheart 

Maryam Amatullah-Wali, Iris Karlin, Michelle Pretto, 

Mia Riker-Norrie, Alea Vorillas, Cheryl Warfield, Victoria Wefer 

ZUNIGA, New Captain of the Dragoons in Seville 

Richard Cassell, Jay Gould, Jonathan Kahn, Dominique Rosoff 

MORALÈS, Corporal of the Dragoons in Seville 

Ari Amir, Rashard Deleston, Gene Howard, 

Jonathan Powers, Matthew Walters-Bowens (MWB) 

FRASQUITA, Gypsy-Girl and friend of Carmen 

Samantha Guevrekian, Laura Puzio, Sheena Ramirez, 

Courtenay Schowalter, Elizabeth Treat 

MERCÉDÈS, Gypsy-Girl and friend of Carmen 

Alison Cheeseman, Emily Geller, Melissa Gerstein, 

Sarah Nordin, Anna Petrie, Katie Stevenson 

DANCAÏRO, The Smuggler Chief 

Jonathan Powers, Alan Smulen, 

William Remmers, David Tillistrand 

REMENDADO, a Smuggler 

Georgios Argyratos, Mark Bentley, Chad Kranak, Victor Ziccardi 

LILLAS PASTIA, Innkeeper & Smuggler Collaborator 

William Remmers, Trey Sanduski, Stu Whalen, Nyah Williams 

MANUELA, a Cigarette Girl 

Allegra Durante, Megan Marod, Marissa Pepple, Loralee Tyson 

MOUNTAIN GUIDE 

William Remmers, Trey Sanduski, Alan Smulen, Stu Whalen 

DRAGOONS, GYPSIES, SMUGGLERS, CIGARETTE GIRLS, 

STREET URCHINS AND TOWNSPEOPLE

Place: In and around Seville, Spain 

Time: Early 1840s 

Act I - Square in Seville by the Cigarette Factory 

-- Intermission -- 

Act II - Lillias Pastia’s Inn outside of Seville 

-- Intermission -- 

Act III - A Wild and Deserted Rocky Place at Night 

-- A Pause -- 

Act IV - A Square Outside the Bullfight Arena in Seville 

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Meet the Artists and Staff 

Richard Owen Conductor 

Richard is celebrating his 10th season as Music Director of Camerata 

New York Orchestra. For the past three seasons, Maestro Owen was a 

cover conductor at the New York Philharmonic. From 2005-7, Maestro 

Owen was a staff conductor at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Mr. Owen 

was also a visiting conducting associate at the San Francisco Opera. He 

has conducted the Duisburg Symphony, the Duesseldorf Symphony, 

the Staatskapelle Symphony Weimar, the Europa Symphony, the 

Monterrey Symphony, the Rzeszow Philharmonic, the Silesian Philharmonic, 

the Baltic Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Jacksonville 

Symphony and the Belgrade Philharmonic. Owen graduated from 

Dartmouth College, the Manhattan School of Music and studied at the 

University for Music in Vienna, Austria. An accomplished pianist, Mr. 

Owen gives recitals with his wife, a professional cellist, and resides in 

Brewster, New York with their three sons. In the Fall, 2009, Mr Owen 

conducted the Amore Opera’s debut production, La Boheme. 

Nathan Hull Director 

Nathan has directed shows for many companies including Amato 

Opera, Village Light Opera, and Actors Opera, and was the director for 

Amore Opera’s inaugural season, La Bohéme, Merry Widow and The 

Magic Flute. His production of A Sullivan Trilogy was recently presented 

at the International G&S Festival in England to great acclaim. 

Nathan has also sung a wide repertoire including Dr. Bartolo in The 

Barber of Seville at the Bronx Opera, Barnaby in Babes in Toyland at 

Avery Fisher Hall with the Little Orchestra Society, and Marcello, both 

Figaros, Papageno and many others with the Amato Opera. Nathan 

has also directed and sung in most of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire, 

and regularly lectures on opera and operetta. 

Maryam Amatullah-Wali Micaëla 

Maryam has performed in Faust and Don Giovanni with Regina 

Opera Company. In the spring of 2010, she played Micaëla in Regina 

Opera Company’s production of Carmen. In June 2010, Maryam was 

chosen to be 1 of 30 people across the United States to participate in the 

Advanced Artists Program at Opera Works in Los Angeles, California. 

Just recently she covered the role of Yum-Yum in The Mikado (Regina 

Opera Company), and in the spring of 2011 she will play Antonia in 

Les contes d’Hoffmann (Regina Opera Company). This is Maryam’s 

first production with Amore Opera; she is thrilled to play Micaëla 

again! 

Ari Amir Moralès 

Ari is excited to make his debut performance with Amore Opera! An 

avid New Yorker, Ari has performed around town as Count Almaviva 

in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Dr. Falke in J. Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, 

Mercutio in Gounod’s Romeo et Julliet, Silvio in Leoncavallo’s 

Pagliacci, and El Dancaïro in Bizet’s Carmen. This is his NYC debut 

as Morales. During the week you can find Ari at the NYU Nordoff- 

Robbins Center for Music Therapy.

Georgios Argyratos Remendado 

Georgios is a Greek tenor whose voice was called “rich and colorful” 

by the Athens News. After acquiring his BA in opera performance from 

the Hellenic conservatory of Athens, he moved to NYC to continue his 

operatic career. Georgios has performed in the NY area as a SEP member 

of Opera Manhattan and he also sings with Regina Opera, Dell’Arte 

Opera Ensemble and Amore Opera. He has also held many leading 

roles throughout his career. Gastone in La Traviata, El Remendado in 

Carmen, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Nemorino in L’Elisir D’amore, Rodolfo 

in La Boheme, Faust in Gounod’s Faust, Duke of Mandua in Rigoletto, 

Macheath in The Beggar’s Opera. 

Mark W. Bentley Remendado 

Mark performed many roles at The Amato Opera and frequently 

served as Maestro Amato’s assistant director and stage manager. Prior 

to The Amato Opera, Mark performed with The Metro-Lyric Opera and 

The Monmouth Civic Chorus, both in New Jersey, as well as for The 

New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, for which he performed the tenor 

solo in the NY premiere of Daniel Pinkham’s Fanfares at Carnegie Hall. 

Mark is an enthusiastic supporter of Amore Opera and serves on its 

board of directors. 

Adam Bishop Technical Director 

Adam is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, 

Pennsylvania with a BA in Theater. He currently hold positions as a 

freelance technician and lives on Long Island. 

Mary Bowen Carmen 

Mary is a Mezzo Soprano with Opera Ireland – Dorabella, Così fan 

tutte; New York City Opera – The Second Lady, The Magic Flute; Flora, 

La Traviata; Sister Mathilde, Dialogues of the Carmelites; Opera di 

Zapopan (Guadalajara, Mexico) – Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni; Dayton 

Opera – Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus; Venice Baroque Orchestra 

at BAM – Siroe (Cover), Siroe; Des Moines Metro Opera – L’Enfant, 

L’Enfant et les Sortilèges; Opera Southwest – Flora, La Traviata; Other 

roles: Der Komponist, Ariadne auf Naxos; Carmen, Carmen; Cherubino, 

Le Nozze di Figaro; Concert Soloist: Carnegie Hall – Beethoven’s 

Mass in C; Trinity Church, NYC – Concerts at One series; Lima Symphony 

Orchestra – Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. 

Maurizio Casa Don Jose 

Maurizio, a tenor, attended the Mannes School of Music in New York. 

He has performed Rodolfo (La Boheme) in Theater Nordhausen in 

Germany, Alfredo (La Traviata) with Teatro Capranica in Rome as well 

as the Duke (Rigoletto). Also in Germany, he performed the Duke with 

the Orpheus Ensemble, Tamino (Die Zauberflöute) with the Frankfurt 

Opera, Contino (Crispino and Contino) in Maxlrain, Germany. He has 

also performed Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte) in Tel Aviv at the IVAI festival. 

Oratorio soloist credits include Mozart ‘s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah 

(Amadeus Orchestra in Italy) and the tenor solo in the Messe von 

Cimerosa with the Vatican Chorus.

Richard Cassell Zuniga 

Acclaimed by the New York Times as “vocally robust, with ample 

charisma and self-possession,” a Dramatic Baritone, Richard created 

the role of the Magician in Francis Thorne’s Mario and the Magician, in 

NYC. The award-winning recording was released on Albany Records. 

The Juilliard-trained baritone has a repertoire of over 50 roles, from 

Amonasro to Baron Zeta. He has appeared with many major US companies, 

including New York City Opera, Cleveland Opera, San Antonio 

Opera, Los Angeles Lyric Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Aspen 

Opera Theatre and the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, and 

Amore. Additionally, he has extensive professional credits in Europe 

and Asia. 

Richard Cerullo Scenic Designer 

Richard was scenic designer for the Amato Opera for over 38 years 

and it is his collective work of over thirty productions which have 

been presented to the Amore by the Amato Opera. For this current 

production, Richard has redesigned his original conception. Richard 

got his early training at the Manhattan School of Art and Design, but 

first became interested in designing for the stage at the Jean Cocteau 

Repertory Company on the Bowery. His designs for the Amato Opera 

were regularly greeted with high praise by the press. 

Alison Taylor Cheeseman Mercédès 

Alison has sung in opera, theater, orchestral and dance performances 

in NYC and points north, with organizations including Pocket Opera 

of New York, Amato Opera, Liederkranz Opera Theatre, dell’Arte Opera, 

Yard Arts! Opera, Human Company, New York State Early Music 

Association, and the Christopher Caines Dance Company. Favorite 

roles include Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), alto soloist in Pergolesi’s 

Stabat Mater, and the Voice of Orpheus in Human Company’s Orpheus 

and Eurydice. She is delighted to perform with Amore Opera again 

after having such a grand time as Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) 

this past winter. 

Allen Cooper Ensemble 

Allen has sung in the Amato Opera and then with the Amore Opera 

for the last 17 years. He graduated from NYU with an M.A. in Music 

Education. He also plays chamber music (piano) with a group at the 

92nd st Y. He sings with the St. Ceeilia Chorus. He is glad to be back 

once again, singing with Amore. 

Rashard Deleston Moralès 

Rashard, baritone, has sung roles including, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, 

Peter (Father) in Hansel and Gretel, Escamillo and Morales 

in Carmen, Figaro in Barber of Seville, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, 

Marullo in Rigoletto, Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, Yamadori in 

Madame Butterfly, Idomeneo as Idomeneo, and Fenton in Falstaff. He 

earned his BM from DePaul University. He graduated with a MM from 

the Manhattan School of Music. Since graduating he has performed 

with Bleeker Street Opera, Amore Opera, Opera Company of Brooklyn, 

and New York Lyric Opera Theater. He currently studies with the 

legendary Mignon Dunn.

Raymond Diaz Escamillo 

Raymond studied at S.U.N.Y. Purchase College. He sang the title 

role in their production of Don Giovanni, for which he received rave 

reviews from Opera News. The same publication found him, again, 

worthy of praise for his portrayal of Bottom in Pittsburgh Opera’s 

production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mr. Diaz has been 

selected as an award winner of the Heinz Rehfuss Competition, the 

Mario Lanza Competition, the Sullivan Foundation, the Licia Albanese 

Puccini Foundation, and was selected as a regional finalist of the Met 

Opera competition. Mr. Diaz has performed with NYC Opera, and 

many other companies throughout the US. 

Allegra Durante Manuela 

Allegra first performed with Amore in this season’s Die Fledermaus. 

Experience includes work with New Jersey Verismo Opera (the Page, 

Rigoletto; chorus, Aida); concerts of Lucia di Lammermoor, Linda de 

Chamounix, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah; acting in the 2010 NY Fringe 

Festival; and seven years with home-school theatre groups in New 

York. In addition to ongoing voice training with Evelyn LaQuaif, Allegra 

is a student at the Lucy Moses School, a dancer, and an alumna of 

HB Studio. 

Mark Franko-Filipasic Don Jose 

Mark is delighted to perform in another production at the Amore Opera, 

this time as Don Jose in Carmen. He has performed a wide range 

of lyric and dramatic tenor roles with companies including Amato 

Opera, Island Lyric Opera, Family Opera of New Jersey, Opera Music 

Theater Institute, Suncoast Opera, The Lyric Theatre, Houston Grand 

Opera, St. Petersburg Grand Opera, Tampa Bay Opera, Opera North 

and Connecticut Grand Opera. 

Emily Geller Mercédès 

Emily is happily returning to Amore after performing 3rd Lady in The 

Magic Flute. Recent roles: Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites), 

Katisha (The Mikado), La maestra delle novizie (Suor Angelica), Miss. 

Todd (Old Maid and the Thief) and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring). She 

has performed with One World Symphony, NY Lyric Opera Theater, 

VLOG, Intermezzo Opera, CLOC, Harvard-Radcliffe G&S Players, and 

BU’s Tanglewood Vocal Program. Ms. Geller graduated with a B.M. 

in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. This June she 

will be singing Voice of Antonia’s Mother in Les Contes d’Hoffmann 

with Regina Opera. 

Melissa Gerstein Mercédès 

A New York Sun review of her performance from Cosi fan tutte from 

the famed Amato Opera stated: “Melissa Gerstein was a versatile 

Dorabella, putting her all into “Smanie implacabili,” an aria just a little 

too tragic for us not to hear the cackle of Mozart in the background.” 

She trained and performed with the American Singers’ Opera Project 

in NYC, Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, University of Miami’s 

Summer in Salzburg and the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium in Italy. 

Operatic credits include, Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), 

Siebel (Romeo et Juliette), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), 

Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel) and Auntie 

(Peter Grimes).

Jay Gould Zuniga 

Jay celebrates his tenth role with Amore: Baron Zeta in Merry Widow, 

Sarastro and Speaker in Magic Flute, Scarpia and Sacristan in Tosca 

Frank and Falke in Die Fledermaus, Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinaforwand 

Peter in Hänsel und Gretel. He has played Music Master in Ariadne 

with Brooklyn Repertory Opera, with whom he has also played 

Rocco (Fidelio), Alfio (Cavalleria), Renato (Balla) and Bartolo (Marriage 

of Figaro). Jay has been soloist in Messiah at Avery Fisher Hall with 

Masterwork Chorus, and bass soloist in Beethoven’s 9TH Symphony in 

Carnegie Hall. 

Isaac Grier Escamillo 

Isaac, a Bass-Baritone, is native of Flint, Michigan, has sung with Opera 

North (New Hampshire), New Orleans Opera, The Martina Arroyo 

Foundation, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (NYC) and recently with Regina 

Opera. In 2010, Grier was the featured soloist with the Flint Symphony 

Orchestra. He also appeared as Rochefort in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, 

in Lucia di Lammermoor with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble and Angelotti 

in Tosca with Regina Opera. Grier received his Bachelor of Music 

from Xavier University in New Orleans and his Master of Music at the 

Manhattan School of Music. 

Samantha Guevrekian Frasquita 

Versatile American Soprano, a 2011 Resident Artist of The Martha Cardona 

Theater, the recipient of several prestigious awards, most recently 

receiving an Encouragement Prize from the Gerda Lissner International 

Voice Competition. Her roles have included Belinda in Dido & Aeneas, 

Despina in Così Fan Tutte, Nedda in Pagliacci, Norina in Don Pasquale, 

Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and Blanche 

in Dialogues of the Carmelites. Ms. Guevrekian holds a B.M. in Vocal 

Performance and Music Business from Northwestern University and a 

M.M. in Vocal Performance from Stony Brook University. 

Thomas Gunther Escamillo 

This is Thomas’ second show with Amore having sung the role of Dr. 

Falke in Die Fledermaus. Recently he performed Figaro in Il Barbierie 

di Sivilgla and Le Marie in Poulenc’s Mammelles de Tiresias. Other 

performances have been, Marcello in La Bohème, Joseph DeRocher 

in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosí an 

Tutte, King Melchior in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night 

Visitors, Dr. Falke in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Thomas Putnam in 

Robert Ward’s The Crucible, and Shamrayeff in Thomas Pasatieri’s The 

Seagull. As Starveling in Britten’s “A Midsummer Nights Dream” for 

Des Moines Metro Opera he was he was mentioned in Opera News as 

one of the summer’s “standout performers.” A winner of the Nebraska 

District Met Auditions and finalist in the Upper Midwest Region twice. 

Michèle Halpern French Language Coach 

Michèle was born and raised in Lausanne, Switzerland. A native 

French speaker, she also had thorough education in German, English 

and Latin. She graduated from the Université de Lausanne with an 

MD, and pursued post-graduate training in Boston and New York 

where she currently practices and lives with her husband and two 

daughters. She studied voice privately in Geneva, Boston and New 

York, and sang for about 10 years with the Amato Opera Company 

where she performed roles such as Dorabella, Carmen, Meg, Suzuki, 

Thérèse, Madalena, Giulietta, Hansel, Cherubino, Siebel and Prince Orlofsky. 

She also has given several recitals in New York and Switzerland.

Pavlina Horáková Carmen 

Pavlína most recently performed two solo concerts in New York City 

and appeared as Eurynome at Manhattan School of Music in the 

production of Penelope by G. Faure. She won the Czech National Vocal 

Competition and a Czech televised Competition “Caruso Show”. 

As a teaching artist in the outreach program at MSM she wrote and 

performed her solo one woman show Why do I love Opera? for public 

schools students in NYC. In addition to a classical repertoire Pavlína 

sang with the Czech rock band Checkpoint and appeared on a CD 

release Ruzný světy. 

Gene Howard Moralès 

Gene is a native New Yorker from Harlem has performed the roles 

of Nicholas in Vanessa, Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, Bartley in Riders 

to the Sea, Der Pfleger in Electra, Usher in Trial by Jury, Le Goelier in 

Dialogues des Carmilites, Lawyer Frazier and The Undertaker in Porgy 

& Bess, with One World Symphony Orchestra, Utah festival Opera 

and Harlem Opera Theater. Other roles in his repertoire are Fleville 

in Andrea Chenier, Silvano in Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Commissario 

Imperiale in Madama Butterfly and Amantio in Gianni Schicchi. 

Janet Johnson Associate Producer, Ensemble 

Janet played clarinet with Amato Opera for twenty years. After Amato’s 

closing, she became involved with forming Amore. She has been 

one of the producers for three main stage productions and the Family 

Opera’s in Brief. She developed a passion for opera as a clarinet 

student and at Manhattan School of Music, studied with the principal 

clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera. She has performed with many 

local opera companies. She is excited to make her debut as a chorister, 

as well as playing clarinet 

Adam Juran Don Jose 

Adam’s musical training began at Cornell University where he initially 

studied physics and engineering. He recently sang Alfred in the Amore 

Opera production of Fledermaus. Other recent engagements include 

the roles of Raoul St. Brioche with Opera Camerata of Washington and 

Lenski in Eugene Onegin with Opera Manhattan. In 2009, he debuted 

as a tenor singing First Armored Man with Anne Arundel Community 

Opera. As the Tamino cover he stepped in for his ailing colleague for 

the fourth performance and saved the day. Upcoming plans include a 

summer with Watershed Opera in Seattle, WA and an audition tour in 

Germany next fall. 

Jonathan Kahn Zuniga 

Jonathan (originally from Washington DC) is making his debut with 

Amore Opera.- Mr. Kahn. Having appeared on radio and television, 

He has performed with New York Opera, Amato Opera, One World 

Symphony, and Regina Opera. Formerly a Young Artist with DiCapo 

Opera, Mr. Kahn has been featured in many well-known roles such as: 

Sparafucile (Rigoletto) Sarastro (Magic Flute), Commendatore (Don 

Giovanni) Ramfis(AIDA). Having appeared in Opera Summer festival 

in both Eastern and Western Europe, Jonathan has trained with the late 

great Wesley Balk.

Iris Karlin Micaëla 

Iris is a native Israeli internationally acclaimed soprano singer, musician 

& actress, who is also an IDF officer in reserve. Her personal 

charm & sensational voice made her one of the leading singers in 

Israel, and after singing with the Israeli Opera and the International Vocal 

Arts Institute, she moved to the states to follow her career. Singing 

opera, operetta & musical theater, she performed with NY Lyric Opera, 

Light Opera of NY, Metropolis Opera, Amore Opera, Williamsburg 

Opera, NJ Baroque Orchestra, Cleveland Pop Orchestra, and debuted 

in Carnegie Hall with Pacific Opera. 

Chad Kranak Remendado 

Chad has performed with Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, and 

Colorado Light Opera. He holds a Master’s in Music from the University 

of Colorado Boulder. He has performed such roles as Albert Herring 

(Albert Herring), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Sam Kaplan (Street 

Scene), and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni). He was most recently seen in 

Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges with Pocket Opera New York and will 

be performing the role of Nathanael in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with 

Regina Opera in June. 

Hai Ly Assistant Conductor 

Hai is excited to make his conducting debut with the Amore Opera. He 

has performed with Amore in past productions of Tosca and Die Fledermaus 

as a cellist. In addition, he has extensive orchestral experience 

as an oboist and has performed with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, 

Bronx Arts Ensemble, Fort Worth Symphony, American Sinfonietta, 

and Baton Rouge Symphony. Ly currently studies conducting with 

Gregory Buchalter. 

Megan Marod Manuela, Ensemble 

Megan is thrilled to be making her opera debut with Amore opera! 

She has performed with the Village Light Opera Group in Iolanthe 

(Iolanthe) Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel) and HMS Pinafore. She has 

a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan, an undying love of 

Shakespeare, and is a firm believer in happily ever after! 

Elena McEntire Carmen 

Elena’s opera engagements include the title role of Bizet’s Carmen in 

New York, Houston, and Bulgaria, Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito, Der 

Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Erika in Vanessa, Adalgisa in Norma, 

Siebel in Faust, Sesto and Cesare in Giulio Cesare, the title role of Xerxes, 

Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus, Charlotte in Werther, and Madame 

de la Haltiere in Cendrillon with companies including One World 

Symphony, the New York City Opera and the Aspen Music Festival, 

as well as Madame Chow in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway Production of 

Puccini’s La Boheme.

Maria Michaels Ensemble 

Maria is excited to be making her debut with Amore! This season 

she also appears in New Rochelle Opera’s Die Fledermaus chorus. 

Recently, Maria was chosen by the Metropolitan Opera to learn the solo 

roles of Vision Dancer and Oriental Dancer in Thais. She studies voice 

privately with Ira Siff and holds a B.A. in Musical Theater/Dance from 

Rhode Island College and an M.F.A. in Dance Performance/Choreography 

from N.Y.U.’s Tisch School. Maria has many film, theater and 

dance credits, most recently appearing as a featured performer in Sex 

and the City 2. 

Elizabeth Mondragon Carmen 

Elizabeth’s operatic roles include Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Dido 

(Dido and Aeneas), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mercedes (Carmen), 

Maddalena (Rigoletto), Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare in Egitto), 

Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Pitti-Sing (The Mikado). 

At home in concert and recital, as well as on the operatic stage, she has 

been a featured soloist in performances of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, 

Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Rossini’s Petite 

Messe Solenelle, and has performed and premiered new works by local 

composers, including Erin Rogers, Lawrence Rush and David Sisco. 

Djoré Nance Escamillo 

Bass-Baritone Djoré is a prolific competitior and has been an award 

winner from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, The Giulio Gari Foundation, 

the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, a finalist in the Young 

Artist competitions at the Palm Beach and Florida Grand Opera companies, 

and a national winner of the Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition. 

He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Opera Orchestra of 

New York as Malyuta in The Tsar’s Bride. Subsequently he performed 

with OONY as the Grand Inquisitor in L’Africaine. Djoré studied at the 

esteemed Juilliard School. 

Sarah Nordin Mercédès 

Hailed for a voice with “clear beauty that resounds effortlessly,” Sarah 

is a fine mezzo-soprano who was praised in Opera News, for her 

performance of Lola in Cavalleria Rusticanna, for her ability to “hold 

her own with the big guns.” Most recently, Sarah was seen in The 

Metropolitan Opera’s production of Boris Godunov. Sarah’s recent role 

debuts include Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Inez in Il Trovatore, Dorabella 

in Cosi fan tutte and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Sarah earned her 

Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee. 

Margaret O’Connell Carmen 

Margaret was called a “superb mezzo” by Fanfare Magazine for Traveling 

West w/North-South Records (Max Lifchitz). Upcoming: Nicklausse 

(Hoffmann) - Regina Opera. Premieres: Judgment of Midas 

(American Opera Projects); Agamemnon (La Mama); Ashley (Best 

Friends - w/Lauren Flanigan) Wendy Wasserstein’s libretto. Maddalena; 

Adalgisa; Dido; Mercedes; Dorabella; Florence (Albert Herring); 

Maman (L’Enfant); Cathleen (Riders to the Sea); Berta (Il Barbiere di 

Siviglia). Theater: Young Jennie (Portrait of Jennie – w/Brent Barrett); 

Fiddler Jones (Spoon River). Recordings: Lady Thiang, Aldonza 

(Stage-Stars); Mermaid (Bernstein’s Peter Pan) - Koch International. 

MM Voice, McGill University; BM Violin, Oberlin Conservatory.

David Owen Ensemble 

David returns to opera after a 25 years break. As a boy in the 1980’s, 

David performed featured roles for children with numerous companies, 

including the Metropolitan Opera and the Santa Fe Opera. After 

retiring from singing, he attended Dartmouth College and Fordham 

Law School and is now a partner with the law firm Cahill, Gordon and 

Reindel. He lives with his family on the Upper West Side. He hopes 

to pass on his love of opera to his boys and his son James is making his 

stage debut in this production of Carmen. 

Eva Parr Ensemble 

Originally from East Texas, Eva moved to New York City in 2008 to further 

her vocal studies after receiving a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance 

from Oklahoma City University. She most recently appeared in “Le 

Nozze di Figaro” as “Barbarina” with the Romefestival Opera in Italy, 

as well as in a debut performance of Mascagni’s “Il Piccolo Marat” as 

an ensemble member at Avery Fisher Hall. Eva is continuing to study 

voice privately in Manhattan, and is excited to be making her first appearance 

with Amore Opera! 

Marissa Pepple Manuela, Ensemble 

Marissa is making her third appearance with the Amore Opera Company. 

She is making her second go around as a Nibelung in the Metropolitan 

Opera’s production Das Rheingold. She has a B.F.A. in musical 

theatre from Elon University. She is a proud member of AFTRA and 

SAG. She has appeared in several NYC based television shows including 

Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods, All Law and Orders. She enjoys 

traveling up and down the east coast for work. Love and thanks to her 

family and friends for their support. 

Anna Petrie Mercédès 

A Wisconsin native Mezzo-Soprano, Anna studies with Lenora Eve, a 

disciple of the revolutionary pedagogue Cornelius Reid. Opera credits 

include: Meg Page (Falstaff), Hansel (Hansel & Gretel), Juno (Semele), 

Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), A Lay Sister, Novice, Prima Sorella 

Cercatrice (Suor Angelica). Upcoming engagements include: Olga (Eugene 

Onegin) with the Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) as part of their 

Professional Artist Development Program and an appearance with the 

Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. She has been a Studio Artist with Opera 

New Jersey and is thrilled to be working with Amore Opera. 

Joan Peitscher Carmen 

An American born mezzo soprano, Joan has been heard on stages in 

NYC as well as abroad. She was recently acclaimed for singing a “rich 

and moving” portrayal as Suzuki in Bleeker St Opera’s production of 

Madama Butterfly. Notable highlights and repertoire include; Suzuki, 

Gertrude in Hänsel und Gretel, Alma March in Little Women (Tel Aviv, 

Israel), Hansel (Chiari Italy), Third Lady in Magic Flute, among others. 

This June, Joan will sing the title role in Carmen at the Arbor Opera 

Theater in Ann Arbor MI. This Fall, she will once again portray Suzuki 

at the Mississippi Opera. This performance marks her debut with the 

Amore Opera.

Jonathan Powers Moralès, Dancaïro 

Jonathan is in his third season with the Amore having previously sung 

Papageno in Magic Flute, St. Brioche/Montague in Merry Widow, and 

with the ensemble in La Boheme. At his alma mater of SUNY Oswego 

he performed as a chorus member in La Traviata, Carousel, and The 

Fairy Queen. He has also sung Corporal Morales (Carmen) and Cinderella’s 

Prince/Wolf (Into the Woods). He has had great fun singing 

with the Amore and plans on participating in future productions. 

Michelle Pretto Micaëla 

Michelle, a soprano, is from New York City. Most recently she 

performed the title role in Tosca and the role of Rosalinda from Die 

Fledermaus with Amore opera. This summer she will be performing in 

Austria with the AIMS music program based out of Graz. Some roles 

performed my Ms. Pretto: Turandot with Lowell House Opera at Harvard, 

Violetta (La Traviata) with Prelude to Performance in NYC. She 

won 3rd Place in the Meistersingerkonzert vocal competition and was 

a finalist in the Lakes Region Opera Company Vocal Competition. She 

has sung everywhere from the White House to the subway to a sushi 

restaurant in between. 

Laura Puzio Frasquita 

Laura is thrilled to make her Amore Opera debut as Frasquita this season. 

She has performed as a mainstage artist with the New York Lyric 

Opera Theatre, Opera Company of Brooklyn, and the International 

Vocal Arts Institute, and as a Young Artist with the Saint Louis Opera 

Theatre, and the New Israeli Opera Studio. Operatic roles include: 

Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), Polissena (Radamisto), 

Chocholka (Cunning Little Vixen), Papagena (Magic Flute), 

Nightingale (The Nightingale). She will make her debut with The 

Martina Arroyo Foundation this summer, as Yvette in La Rondine. 

Sheena Ramirez Frasquita 

Sheena has appeared in numerous operas and song recitals. A graduate 

of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Sheena was assistant to voice 

pedagogue Richard Miller at the Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center. 

She did graduate study at New England Conservatory where she 

performed in a master class for Renée Fleming. Other operatic credits 

include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Blanche (Dialogues of the Carmelites), 

Frau Fluth (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Fanny (La Cambiale 

di Matrimonio), Casilda (The Gondolierers), Patience (Patience). This 

April she made her New York City debut in the role of Josephine (HMS 

Pinafore) with the Blue Hill Troupe. Frasquita marks her first role with 

Amore Opera. 

William Remmers Dancaïro 

William has had roles in every Amore show since their first production 

including Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), Niejus (The Merry 

Widow), Frosch (Die Fledermaus), and Sciarrone/Jailer (Tosca). He codirected 

the brief version of The Magic Flute this past October. Other 

group affiliations include Regina Opera, G&S Society of NY, and Opera 

Performance Series (recently appearing as Hortensius in La Fille du 

Régiment). He has created and directed a G&S revue performed here 

in NY, and to be performed again at the Gettysburg G&S Festival this 

summer. William also serves as Amore’s videographer.

Mia Riker-Norrie Micaëla 

Amore Opera’s NY Times review of La Bohème said “Mia Riker- 

Norrie played Musetta with sterling control and brassiness worthy of 

Ethel Merman.” In Amato Opera’s La Traviata, The Villager said she 

“inspired confidence from the moment she took the stage. Her Violetta 

was exciting…with artfully spontaneous diminuendos and descending 

phrases that draped themselves with silken fluidity.” About her Gilda 

(Rigoletto), The Sun said she “consistently hit the high notes in the 

score (not something that happens on a regular basis uptown).” Mia is 

Director of Montclair Voice Studio in New Jersey. 

Dominique Rosoff 

Zuniga 

Dominique has performed with Amato, Amore, PORT Opera, Opera 

New Hampshire, Opera Manhattan, and The Opera Project, among 

others. Roles include Colline, Benoit, Alcindoro and Sergeant in La Boheme, 

Sarastro, Speaker, Second Armored Man and First Priest in The 

Magic Flute, Bartolo and Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Tom in Un 

Ballo in Maschera, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Collatinus in The Rape of 

Lucretia, Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors and Truffeldino in 

Ariadne auf Naxos, among others. Dominique also performs as a bass 

soloist for concerts and oratorio. 

Pedro Sanchez Ensemble 

Pedro was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and was interested in classical 

music since he was a kid. but it’s not until 2002, when he came to The 

United States when started to get more deeply involved with music, 

taking private guitar lessons and music theory. Although singing was a 

number one passion, what motivated him to take “bel canto lessons”in 

the summer of 2008. Participated in the recital “the songs we love to 

sing” at St Joseph church in November 2010. 

Trey Sandusky Lillas Pastia, Ensemble 

Joining Amore last May as the Bosun in HMS Pinafore, Trey returned 

for this fall’s production of Tosca (Sciarrone/Jailer), and again for the 

papa of Hänsel und Gretel in December. In November, Trey appeared 

in the Village Light Opera Group’s production of Iolanthe. As a Bronx 

prosecutor for the past 14 years, Trey has handled all kinds of crimes at 

every conceivable phase of prosecution. An avid roller derby fan, Trey 

frequently travels great distances to see top-ranked teams bout, and 

occasionally to sing the national anthem. Love to Mom. 

Charles Sanford Escamillo 

Charles made his debut with Amore Opera in the inaugural season as 

Marcello in La Boheme. He has performed with the New Jersey Opera 

Festival, the Sarasota Opera, Orlando Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, 

and Central City Opera among others and has sung many of the great 

baritone roles for New York audiences including Scarpia in Tosca, 

Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Germont in La Traviata and Il Conte 

di Luna in Il Trovatore. Other recent highlights have included Count 

Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale and the 

title roles in Rigoletto and Gianni Schicchi.

Norah Scheinman Stage Manager 

Norah is from Weston, Connecticut. Norah will receive her MFA in Stage 

Management from Rutgers University next spring. As a member of the 

Rutgers Theater Company she has worked on: The Last Days of Judas 

Iscariot, Dying City, Laundry and Bourbon, Egyptology, and Triumph of 

Love. Her thesis production will be Spring Awakening directed by Anders 

Cato. In the past, she has had the honor of working with FringeNYC, 

13th St. Repertory Company, The Atlantic Theater Company and The 

Santa Fe Opera. 

Courtenay Schowalter Frasquita, Associate Producer 

Courtenay, a soprano, has performed with The Voices of Women, The 

Musica Bella Orchestra of New York, The Opera Project, Bacchanalia 

Baroque Ensemble, Brooklyn Repertory Opera, the Hillyer Festival 

Orchestra and Opera Boston. Ms. Schowalter is part of the Art Song Preservation 

Society of New York, the Voices of Women recital group, and she 

is delighted to join Amore Opera this year. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, and 

studies voice with Margaret Lattimore. 

Petr Shikin Ensemble 

Baritone Petr made his debut in 2002 as Paris in “Romeo et Juliette”. A 

complete artist, Petr has a huge repertoire that includes opera arias in different 

languages, art songs, russian folk songs, popular songs, duets etc. 

Since 2009 Mr.Shikin has been a member of Inna Leytush’s studio in NYC 

where he has been coached on operatic standard repertoire. His recent 

appearances include King Melchior in The Amahl and the night visitors 

and Lockit in The Beggar’s opera. He performs with “Allegro singers” on 

a regular basis bringing the beauty of music to people 

Benjamin Sloman Don Jose 

An Australian tenor, Benjamin has performed internationally on opera 

stages and as soloist in recitals and concerts. Hailed as “a voice of staggering 

power and technical excellence ... sophisticated and stylish” and 

“a first rate tenor with a golden sound”. He recently sang Cavarodossi 

(Tosca) with the Amore Opera. Other recent performances include, Riccardo 

(Un Ballo), Pollione (Norma), Duca (Rigoletto), Pinkerton (Madama 

Butterfly), Don Jose (Carmen), Avito (L’Amore dei Tre Re), Siegmund (Die 

Walküre), Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), and Canio (Pagliacci) for companies 

such as the NJ Verismo Opera, Sydney Lyric Opera, Verdi Society 

of America and Regina Opera. 

Alan Smulen Dancaïro 

Alan is a baritone from Bayonne, New Jersey and has been seen performing 

in the New York Metro area for many years. Locally, he has performed 

with New Jersey State Repertory Opera, Amato Opera Theater, 

Hudson Opera Theater, Verismo Opera of Northern Jersey and The Little 

Opera Company of New Jersey. As a original member of Amore Opera, 

he appeared in all the six productions appearing in the roles of Schaunard 

in La Boheme, Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow and Papageno in 

The Magic Flute, the Sacristan in Tosca and Frosch in Die Fledermaus.

Katie Stevenson Mercédès 

Katie’s performance experience includes the role of Dorabella in Cosi 

fan tutte with American Singers Opera Project, 2nd Touriere in Suor 

Angelica with Anchorage Opera, Mercedes (cover) in Carmen with 

Anchorage Opera, and The Secretary in The Consul with Halifax 

Summer Opera Workshop. Ms. Stevenson performed in Anchorage 

Opera’s Dark Night Series, and was a Studio Artist with the company 

for the 2009 season. She has performed concerts with Bel Canto Singers 

of Alaska, appeared as soloist in the Messiah with Anchorage Concert 

Chorus, and has performed solo recitals in Alaska and Oregon. 

Linda Tagliaferro Ensemble 

Linda is a coloratura soprano who has taken classes at The Juilliard 

School and many opera workshops at Mannes College. She has studied 

with Joyce McLean, Marion Thompson, Debra Surdi, Katya Kortny, 

Linda Larson, Rebecca Hinkle and others. She has performed scenes as 

the Queen of the Night, Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta, Gilda and others. 

She sang and danced in the Footlight Players production of Verdi’s 

La Traviata in Rockville Centre. She is performing for the first time 

with Amore Opera in the chorus of Carmen 

David Tillistrand Dancaïro 

A singer, actor and musician, David frequently sings with Regina Opera: 

The Mikado (Koko); Carmen (Dancaïro), Tosca (Sacristan), Gianni 

Schicchi (Betto); Faust (Valentin-cover). In theatre, nominated for Best 

Actor by the IT Awards - Singapore Mikado (Pooh-Bah) at Theater 

1010, received an OOBR Award for best production - Medea (Jason) 

and had a beer bottle thrown at him in King Lear (Edmund) - Shakespeare 

In A Parking Lot. A saxophonist and bassist, he writes, arranges 

and collaborates with his wife, Lisa, on traditional eastern music with a 

twist and raising Anya Rose, 3. 

Elizabeth Treat Frasquita 

Elizabeth returns to Amore as Frasquita, having performed Queen 

of the Night in The Magic Flute and Adele in Die Fledermaus in the 

previous two seasons. Elizabeth has appeared with New York Lyric 

Opera Theatre, Intermezzo Festivals in Belgium and Connecticut, 

V.O.I.C.Experience at Disneyworld and the Players Club in NYC, New 

York Opera Studio, AIMS in Austria, and Opera New York. Elizabeth 

earned a BA cum laude in piano and voice from Augustana College 

and an MM summa cum laude in voice from Westminster Choir College. 

Mauricio Trejo Don Jose 

Mauricio has sung dozens of principal tenor roles in the US and abroad 

in venues including Sarasota Opera, New York Grand Opera, Teatro 

Lirico d’Europa, and Milan’s International Vocal Arts Institute. Recently 

he sang the role of Carvaradossi in the Amore Opera production of 

Tosca. Favorite roles include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don José 

in Carmen, Rodolfo in La Bohème and Ricardo Martin in the zarazuela 

El Barbero De Sevilla. Recodings include The American Tenors with 

Sony Classical (aired nationwide on PBS); and his solo CD, La Voz Del 

Amor, a compilation of Mexican songs in tribute to his beloved country.

Loralee Tyson Manuela/Ensemble 

Loralee, a Mezzo-Soprano, is excited to participate in her second opera 

with Amore. NYC credits include The Voice in Where Did All the Bees Go 

(American Globe Short Play Festival), The Queen in Rumplewho? and 

Nowhere Near Broadway (13th Street Repertory). Other favorite roles 

include Diaphanta in The Changeling, Anna in The King and I and Aphrodite 

in Metamorphoses. Loralee is a proud graduate of Drew University 

and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Shakespeare 

intensive. Huge thanks to her family and friends for their support! 

Allan Vail Ensemble 

Allan has performed in many operas over the years, mainly at Amato 

Opera and recently at the Amore. He is proud to boast over 43 years with 

the Amato Opera Theatre! His favorite roles performed were Papageno in 

The Magic Flute; Marcello, Schaunard & Alcindoro in La Boheme.He has 

also performed in some stage plays, most notably in Murry Schisgall’s 

two-character play, The Tiger and as Arnie in Herb Gardner’s A Thousand 

Clowns. He performed the role of Alcindoro in Amore’s inaugural 

production of La Boheme and Lars Gustaffson in The Merry Widow. 

Angel Vail Ensemble 

Angel is happy to once again be a part of Carmen, one of her favorite 

operas. The first time she performed in Carmen she was five years old 

singing through a toy trumpet in the children’s chorus at Amato Opera. 

You last saw Angel with many more feathers as Papagena in The Magic 

Flute last season. Some of her favorite experiences have been flying to 

Australia to sing the role of Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, and singing 

Barbarina opposite her father’s Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro. 

Angel has also performed in Carnegie Hall, Cami Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, 

and the Metropolitan Opera children’s chorus. 

Alea Vorillas Micaëla 

Alea has been performing with Amore since its 2009/2010 inaugural 

season, with performances as Mimi, Valencienne, Pamina and Adele. 

She was also featured as Yum-Yum and Gretel in the “Opera-in-Brief” 

productions of The Mikado and Hänsel und Gretel. She is delighted to 

return as Micaela in Carmen. She would like to thank her wonderful 

parents and husband for all their support. WINNING! 

Matthew Walters-Bowens (MWB) Moralès 

Matthew, Baritone, is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, and 

student of Thomas Faracco has sung operatically for the Bronx Opera 

Company, and the Westminster Opera Theater: doing productions of 

Auber’s “Fra Diavolo”, Debussy’s “Pelleas et Meslisande” and Mozart’s 

“Don Giovanni.” This is MWB first performance with Amore Opera. 

MWB has toured with the Westminster Jubilee Singers, opening concert 

for esteemed gospel artist CeCe Winans. Also, MWB is proud to have 

sung for the Missionaries of the Poor as well in order to raise money for 

an orphanage built in Uganda April of 2010.

Cheryl Warfield Micaëla/Children’s Chorus Master 

Cheryl has performed in opera and concert throughout the US and 

Europe. She opened Amore Opera’s 2010-2011 season as Tosca. Last 

season, Cheryl debuted with One World Symphony as Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s 

Pique Dame and sang for the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame 

Induction Ceremonies. She received critical approbation as Strawberry 

Woman in Chicago Lyric’s “Porgy and Bess” in 2008. Cheryl performed 

in Hal Prince’s SHOWBOAT on Broadway and appeared on CBS’ The 

Good Wife and the Live from Lincoln Center broadcast DVDs of the 

MET’s productions Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Fidelio. 

Victoria Wefer Micaëla 

Victoria is delighted to return to the Amore Opera stage to sing “Micaëla” 

in Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Following her successful string of 

performances with the company as “Pamina” in W.A. Mozart’s The 

Magic Flute, Miss Wefer has been invited to sing in a multitude of 

concerts along the eastern seaboard culminating with her most recent 

invitation by the Deputy General of the Philippine Consulate (NYC) to 

sing “Raya” in Carmela Sinco’s Raya & Sag-In (a role she created and 

premiered in NYC, June 2009). 

Stuart Whalen Mountain Guide, Program Editor 

Stu is thrilled to be part of this production. He recently sang Angelotti 

in the Amore Opera production of Tosca and Lord Montague in Die 

Fledermaus. Currently he singing the role of Captain in the Amore 

Opera production of HMS Pinafore. Shout outs to the choir of the 

Episcopal church in Rockville Centre, and special thanks to Dr. Zoe 

Goldberg, Nancy Kemeny, Chris McCarthy, and the staff of MSK who 

made this time possible. 

Daniel Winters Lighting Designer 

Daniel graduated from the Masters lighting design program at Ohio 

University, where he designed Knock Me a Kiss and Tempest. As an 

exchange student with the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing 

Arts he designed 2 pieces in a dance concert called Topology. In NYC 

he has designed four world premieres including The Brokenhearteds, 

The New Guignol, and Adaptations for the Stage. He has designed for 

the Burning Coal Theater Company in Raleigh NC, Xavier University 

and the Falcon Theater in Cincinnati Ohio, Ohio Valley Summer Theater, 

and assisted at the Cincinnati Opera. 

Marlene E. Williams Executive Producer, Box Office Manager 

Marlene is an accomplished actress and has been active in the New 

York theatre scene, most recently she was seen at Symphony Space’s 

Thalia Theatre in Lisa Morgan’s Black Mother Funny, and in the award- 

winning short film, Tanisha’s Choice. She was also seen recently in 

commercials for Mediacom, the 2010 Census, the New York Times, 

NatGEO and Johnson & Johnson; and in print, for Merck pharmaceuticals. 

Marlene is glad to be back in her producer’s hat, after successfully 

producing The Merry Widow, The Magic Flute, Tosca and Die 

Fledermaus.

Victor Ziccardi Remendado 

Victor is a New York City native and eleven-year veteran of the Amato 

Opera. This is his second year with Amore. Roles performed include 

Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Camille (Merry Widow), Eisenstein (Die 

Fledermaus), Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Fenton/ Dr. Caius/ Bardolfo 

(Falstaff), Nanki-Poo (Mikado), Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore), Beppe 

/ Harlequin (Pagliacci), Goro (Madama Butterfly), Basilio/ Curzio 

(Marriage of Figaro), Monostatos (Magic Flute), Spoletta (Tosca), Ruiz 

(Trovatore) Borsa (Rigoletto), Trabuco (La Forza del Destino), and Frantz/ 

Cochenille/Spalanzani (Hoffman). Victor is a graduate of the University 

of Pennsylvania, where he sang with the Penn Glee Club. 

Children’s Chorus 

Ekaterina Balsan 

This is Ekaterina’s second performance with the Amore Opera company. 

She is very excited to have been invited to participate in Carmen. 

George Brilliant 

George is 8 years old and enjoys singing, playing guitar and soccer. Love 

to Mom, Dad family and friends 

Peter Brilliant 

Peter is 8 years old and appeared in Amore Opera’s performance of 

Hänsel und Gretel at his school earlier this year. He thanks Mr. Argyratos 

for the opportunity to participate in Carmen. Love to Mom, Dad family 

and friends 

Raina Cagiao 

Raina is a 14 year old actress, singer, comedian and guitarist. She has 

been in three off- Broadway plays, as well as The Merry Widow, La Boheme, 

Hänsel und Gretel all with the Amore Opera. She wants to pursue 

her singing and acting career in the future and possibly become a successful 

performer. She also enjoys dancing, reading, writing and being with 

good friends & people. 

Evangeline Cassidy 

Evangeline is 8 years old, an avid reader and enjoys Greek dancing and 

playing Irish traditional music on the fiddle. She is proud to be a member 

of the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir and is grateful for the opportunity 

to participate in Amore Opera’s production of Carmen. 

Gino Diminich 

Gino is in a dual-language 2nd Grade program in NYC, an avid Andrea 

Bocelli fan, as well as a Lego enthusiast. 

IsabelLa Diminich 

Isabella is in a dual-language 2nd Grade program in NYC, made her 

professional debut in a non speaking role as a ballerina in Morning Glory, 

she is an amateur at-home performer of The Phantom of the Opera, as 

well as a voracious book reader. 

Gabrielle Brittany Flores 

Gabrielle is a bubbly talented eight-year-old, who loves singing and 

dancing. She lives in Haledon, NJ, where she is a honor roll student at the 

Haledon Public School. “Carmen” is Gabrielle’s very first performance 

professionally. She did her first appearance in public in December of 

2010, making an impressive mark by singing the song “Tomorrow” from 

the very famous play and movie “Annie”.

Alexander Garfin 

Alexander is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade at Manhattan New 

School, PS 290 on New York’s Upper Eastside. Alex has been acting 

since he was 3 and has done several commercials, an episode of Law 

and Order, and several on air demonstrations for Nick Jr. He also 

played a principal role in the movie “Salt,” starring Angelina Jolie. 

Alex loves to sing, dance, act and play the piano. 

Maximilian Garfin 

Maximilian is 9 years old and in the 4th grade at Manhattan New 

School, PS 290 on New York’s Upper Eastside. Max has been acting 

since he was 3 and has worked on several movies including “Salt,” 

starring Angelina Jolie and “The Nanny Diaries,” starring Scarlet 

Johansson. Max is an actor and music lover who plays the trumpet, 

drums and the piano. He also loved basketball and baseball. 

Ariana Gibb 

Ariana has enjoyed performing in several Amore productions including 

Merry Widow and The Magic Flute, performed with the NYC 

Opera’s children chorus in Where the Wild Things Are, and recently 

toured with the Broadway production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

Thank you to Nathan and Cheryl! 

Grace Goldstein 

Grace has appeared in La Boheme and The Saint of Bleecker St. at 

DiCapo Opera, Annie at Marymount Drama Camp, and Britten’s 

Noye’s Fludde at Church of the Transfiguration, where she is in the 

Girls’ Choir. Grace is in 3rd grade at P.S. 4O, and loves animals and the 

outdoors. 

Violet Lu 

Violet loves to be on stage. She is 6 years old and is taking gymnastics 

and flamenco classes. She likes singing, dancing, swimming, movies, 

computer games (unfortunately), and everything that is fun! She has 

been in Amore Opera’s Tosca, Die Fledermaus, and Hänsel und Gretel. 

Lily Lu-Lerner 

Lily performed at Amato when she was 8 years old, she is now 13. 

She likes reading, drawing/painting, singing, travelling, and acting. 

She loves Broadway musicals, especially Wicked and Mama Mia. 

Iona Neritani 

Iona is a 5th grader at PS158. She loves singing, acting, dancing and 

laughing. She is enjoying being around people of the Carmen cast and 

already is making plans for the future. 

Christopher Owen 

Christopher made his operatic debut with the Amore Opera in La 

Boheme (Puccini) and Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdink) in 2009. He 

played ‘Trouble’ in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with the Bleecker 

Street Opera in NY in 2010. He loves to sing and he is a member of the 

third grade chorus at Garden Street School in Brewster, NY. Christopher 

also plays soccer with the Brewster United Soccer Club. He comes 

from a musical background. His father is a conductor and his mother 

is a cellist. Christopher plays the piano and also speaks Polish. He likes 

reading, jogging, basketball, swimming and tennis.

James Owen 

James, 8, lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his parents 

and younger brother. When he is not practicing piano or violin, or tormenting 

his brother, he loves to play soccer and tennis and go sailing. 

This production of Carmen marks his stage debut. 

Richard Owen III 

Richard was born into a musical family. His father is a conductor and 

his mother is a cellist. He made his operatic debut in La Boheme (Puccini) 

and Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdink) with the Amore Opera in 

2009. He plays the piano and trumpet. Richard is a member of the fifth 

grade brass band at CVStarr School in Brewster, NY. He plays soccer 

with the Brewster United Soccer Club. He likes swimming, skiing and 

tennis. In his free time he enjoys drawing and playing DS games. Richard 

speaks Polish and is very interested in foreign affairs. 

Brendon Samide 

Age 12, is thrilled to return to Amore Opera. Last spring he made his 

debut performance at Amore Opera with the role of Sprit III in The 

Magic Flute. He recently played Tinman in Journey to Oz at Dream 

Makers Performing Arts. This year, he has also performed in school 

shows Oliver and The Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners. Brendon 

performs in his school’s Vocal Jazz and Chorus groups. He would 

like to thank Cheryl and Nathan for this opportunity and his family for 

their constant support and encouragement! 

Jillian Smith 

Jillian is so excited to perform again with Amore Opera. Jillian’s 

passion is to sing and to be on the stage. In addition to her love of 

performing opera, Jillian also enjoys musical theater. Favorite roles 

include Annie (Annie), Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), Sour Kangaroo (Seusical) 

Sebastian (Little Mermaid) Thank you to Cheryl and to Nathan for 

this fantastic opportunity. 

Marina Tsimisiris 

Marina is a second grader currently living and attending school in 

Queens. In addition to singing, Marina loves dancing, playing the violin, 

drawing, and reading. Her debut performance was one of the gingerbread 

children in Amoreopera’s production of Hänsel und Gretel. 

Nina Worley 

Nina is 7 years old. She is in first grade and lives in Manhattan with 

her family. She has performed in school plays and concerts. Carmen is 

her first Opera. 

SCHWALBE AND PARTNERS 

170 EAST 61 STREET #5N 

NEW YORK, NY 10021 

212.935.5650 

212.935.4754 FAX 

doug@schwalbeandpartners.com 

DOUGLAS SCHWALBE

Flamenco Dancers 

Jorge Navarro 

Choreographer 

Jorge has toured worldwide as a principal dancer and director of 

Flamenco companies and has appeared on the great stages of Carnegie 

Hall, Jacob’s Pillow and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

His film credits include”Take Me Out Tonight,” “Death of My Past,” 

and “Devil’s Advocate.” In addition to his role in Devil’s Advocate, Mr. 

Navarro was the dance and choreography consultant to the director 

of the film and taught choreography to Al Pacino. Mr. Navarro has 

been teaching Flamenco dance for more than twenty years, conducting 

workshops across the United States, and as distantly as South Korea 

Patricia Bruno 

Patricia has been studying Flamenco dance for the past thirteen years. She has trained with 

many teachers, most in New York City, and is experienced in the various flamenco styles. 

Patricia has performed in many recitals as well as appeared on stage. And currently is a 

principal student and assistance of Jorge Navarro beginners class. 

Anna da Silva 

Anna has studied with some of the top flamenco figures in New York, Florida and Spain. 

She has performed in several theatrical productions as well as smaller venues with Ballet 

Flamenco La Rosa. She continues her training under the direction of Jorge Navarro. She is 

also an avid painter, often reproducing vintage flamenco photographs into drawings and 

paintings. 

Mane Larraguibel 

Mane Larraguibel has been trained in ballet, modern dance and jazz at the City College of 

New York. She has studied flamenco in NYC with Jose Molina, Dionisia Garcia, Victorio K., 

Magdalena, and most recently with Jorge Navarro and Auxi Fernandez from Cadiz, Spain. 

She has a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Dance from CCNY and a MA in Clinical Social 

Work from NYU. 

Vera Navratilova 

Vera has been nurturing her passion for Flamenco since 2002 after seeing bailaora Maria 

Pages, whom she greatly admires. While in Europe, she studied with bailaora Jana Drdacka 

and later taught Flamenco basics in Eastern Europe. Since she has been in the U.S., Vera has 

looked to further polish her skills, studying with notable flamenco performers as Jorge Navarro, 

Antonia Messina, JoDe Romano, Dionisia Garcia, La Magdalena and Jesus Munoz. 

Ryan Rockmore 

Ryan Rockmore just graduated from the Steinhardt School of NYU, earning a Bachelor of 

Science in Spanish Education. He began training as a flamenco dancer in June 2009 and 

has studied in both Spain and NYC. His flamenco training follows over ten years of training 

as a classical percussionist. Ryan has since designed a classroom unit on Spanish and 

Flamenco culture and recently conducted a study on the value of Flamenco for improving 

male perceptions of dance. He is also a dancer in NYC-based companies JuxtapOlé and 

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana II. 

Freddie Ruiz 

Freddy Ruiz was born and raised Brooklyn NY of Puerto Rican heritage. Freddy Ruiz 

began dancing in the early 80s to hip hop in the streets of Brooklyn. In the 90s he adapted 

to the new styles of house and freestyle club music. In 2002 Freddy Ruiz began formal 

training in mambo partnerwork with Eddie Torres the Mambo King. He has also trained 

and performed Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Argentine Tango and other styles. In 2008 Freddy began 

training in Flamenco with Jose Molina and Gorge Navarro of the Alegrias dance company. 

He is currently performing Afro-Latin fusion.

42 A v e n u e B 


Tel: 646-602-7050 

Fax: 646-602-7051

Jorge Navarro 

Flamenco Vivo Studios 

tel: (212) 625-8369 Ext.284 

info@artsFlamenco.org 

http://www.artsflamenco.org 

PASTA • WINGS • SALAD • HERO 

27 Ave B, Between 2nd St. & 3rd St., NYC 

Tel: 212-420-SOLO (7656)

RICHARD OWEN 

Music Director 

Camerata New York Orchestra 

845-278-4104 

www.CamerataNY.org 

EAST SIDE 

GOURMET DELI 

53 Avenue B 


Tel: (212) 475-3217 

Open 24 Hours 

Jean Russak 

Piano Teacher 

646-233-6543 

jrussak@earthlink.net 

www.russakstudio.com

Mary Bowen, Mezzo Soprano 

(Performing the Role of Carmen with Amore Opera on May 13, 21, & 

27!) 

Private Voice Teacher, Drama/Acting Coach 

• Healthy Vocal and Breath Support Technique 

• Detailed Audition & Performance Preparation 

• Build Confidence and Ease as You Develop Your Artistic Expression 

• Ear Training and Sight Reading 

All Music Genres - Solo and Choral…from Beginners to Professionals (Ages 16 & Up) 

Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, & Sunnyside Queens 

(551) 655-2740 | mary@mary-bowen.com

The Amore Opera Company

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