The Amore Opera Company

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.