La Bohème 2023
La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Directed by Sabrina Palladino
Conducted by Richard Cordova
Theater: The Center at West Park
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Meet the Casts
Jason Adamo
Colline
Jason Adamo, bass-baritone, is delighted to return to Amore Opera, where he performed in La Bohème in 2018. He has sung a wide variety of repertoire by composers from Monteverdi to Milhaud. He has appeared frequently with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey in roles such as Schlendrian in Schweigt Stille, Plaudert Nicht (Coffee Cantata), Falke in Die Fledermaus, Dulcamara in L’Elisir d’Amore, and the title roles of Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, among others. Jason is a graduate of Mannes School of Music at The New School.
Jason will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Matinee, and Fri. 5/5 Eve.
Amelia Bach
Child, Cover
Amelia is seven years old. She was born in New Haven, CT and is now living in Long Island City with her parents and baby sister. Amelia loves dogs and is a big Harry Potter fan. She enjoys playing the piano and swimming in hotel pools.
Daniel Chiu
Schaunard
Daniel Chiu is a baritone from East Setauket, NY. He was last seen singing “The Old Maid and the Thief” as Bob, produced by The Opera Next Door. On occasion, Daniel sings with the NY Philharmonic. He would also like to give a word of gratitude to his mentor Kent Smith, who teaches at SUNY New Paltz.
Daniel will be performing on Sat.4/29 Matinee, Fri 5/5 Eve, and Sat. 5/6 Eve
Tristan Cano
Alcindoro/Benoît Cover
Tristan is a diverse New York musician who normally serves as a pianist/music director/conductor in the operatic world and off Broadway productions. And for this production, he is performing small operatic roles. Having studied at Cincinnati Conservatory, his first opera was the Valley Lyric Opera/SHS production of Don Pasquale in Sharpsville PA. Since moving to New York City, in addition to serving the above roles listed, also entertained audiences in restaurants and clubs, such as Patsie's, Angeletto's, and Papillon. His piano playing is best described as a combination of composed improvisation.
Thibault Courtois
Parpignol
Originally from Besançon, France, Thibault is a Brooklyn-based tenor who focuses mostly on 19th century repertoire. He is a student of tenor Philippe Do and has performed in various workshops and lyric concerts in France and the United States.
Thibault will be in all performances unless otherwise indicated.
Cassandra Douglas
Musetta
Lyric Soprano, Cassandra Douglas, known for a voice with warmth and radiant high notes. Her recent performances include Ms. Pinkerton with The Old Maid and the Thief with The Opera Next Door, covering Evelyn in Fire Shut Up in My Bones with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Musetta in La Bohème and Berta in The Barber of Seville with Amore Opera. Cassandra is grateful to return to Amore Opera in her third role with the company. Cassandra studies with Deborah Birnbaum. She’s a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)
Cassandra will be performing on Fri. 4/28 Eve, and Sat. 5/6 Matinee
Chris Fistonich
Marcello
Baritone Chris Fistonich, currently residing in Princeton, New Jersey, is a PhD Immunologist and cybersecurity researcher turned opera singer. Chris has been hailed as a "voluminous, beefy baritone" with "supple variation of dynamics" (South Florida Classical Review), and as a "strong baritone" (Schmopera). Future engagements include Baron Scarpia (Tosca) with Garden State Opera, and the title role in Don Giovanni with Aquilon Music Festival. Recent engagements include Escamillo (Carmen), Ben (The Telephone), Mr. Gobineau (The Medium), Count Danilo (The Merry Widow), Vodník (Rusalka), Peter (Hänsel und Gretel), and Pandolfe (Cendrillon).
Chris will be performing on Fri. 4/28 Eve.
Sam Flores
Schaunard
Mr. Flores is a Latin American baritone who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and can be seen performing locally. He currently works for the Metropolitan Opera as an Administrative Associate since 2018 and has participated in training programs including the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, St. Petersburg Opera: Emerging Artist program and many more. Roles performed include Sciarrone in Tosca, Silvio in Pagliacci, Schaunard in La Bohème, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Wagner in Faust and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte.
Sam will be performing on Fri. 4/28 Eve, Sat 4/29 Eve, and Sat 5/6 Matinee
Gary Giardina
Alcindoro/Benoît
Gary Giardina is equally at home on the operatic or musical theater stage. Across the US and in Europe he has appeared in a wide range of roles, in such familiar operas as Aida and The Marriage of Figaro, and such obscure works as Una Cosa Rara and Il Matrimonio Segreto. He made his New York City Opera debut as Emile DeBecque in South Pacific, a role he has performed frequently around the country. Gary is an undefeated Jeopardy! champion.
Gary will be in all performances unless otherwise indicated.
Ziliang Hao
Colline
Bass-Baritone Ziliang Hao is a second-year doctoral student in Voice and Opera at Rutgers University under the tutelage of Eduardo Chama. He obtained his Master’s in Voice and Opera at the Mannes School of Music and studied with Arthur Levy and Lucy Arner. He received his Bachelor’s in Acting and Opera at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China. His recent credits include Colline (La Bohème), Theseus (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Zuniga (Carmen).
Ziliang will be performing on Fri 4/28 Eve, and Sat 4/29 Eve
Jose Heredia
Rodolfo
Award-winning tenor José Heredia attended the Manhattan School of Music and Nyack College School of Music and has performed the lead roles in Rigoletto, Carmen, La Traviata, Un Ballo in Maschera, L’Elisir D’Amore, Leoncavallo’s La Bohéme, Puccini’s La Bohéme, Aida, Madama Butterfly, Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana and Tosca with companies throughout the United States. He has studied with Met Opera Singers Mignon Dunn, Dr. Dana Talley, Mark Oswald, and Mrs. Tamie Laurance. Jose is thrilled to return to Amore Opera in his 8th production with the company.
Jose will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Eve, and Sat. 5/6 Eve
Rachel Hippert
Mimì
Rachel Hippert has impressed audiences internationally with her warm and expressive voice. Her recent performances include Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, Violetta in La Traviata, Micaëla in Carmen, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, High Priestess in Aida, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Nedda in Pagliacci. She has also recorded two albums under the Irreverence Group Music label, bringing the works of composer Julian De La Chica to life. Rachel is excited to return to Amore Opera in her seventh role with the company.
Rachel will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Eve, and Sat. 5/6 Eve
Muir Ingliss
Marcello
New York City born baritone Muir Ingliss is thrilled to be returning to Amore Opera, this time as Marcello. Muir has recently appeared with Opera Magnifico as Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief and as Belcore in L'elisir d'Amore, with SAS Performing Arts as Alidoro in Cenerentola and Marco in Gianni Schicchi, with Bronx Opera as Kendall Nesbitt in Lady in the Dark, and with Barn Opera as Musiklehrer/Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos.
Muir will be performing on Sat 4/29 Matinee, Sat. 4/29 Eve and Sat 5/6 Eve
Yeawon Jun
Musetta
Yeawon Jun, a full lyric coloratura soprano, was born in Seoul, South Korea and is now based in New York City. She has performed in Puccini’s La Bohème as Mimi and Musetta, Donizetti’s Viva La Mamma as Luigia, J.Massenet’s Werther as Sophie and Britten’s The Midsummer Night’s Dream as Tytania. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Yonsei University, and a PDPL from Mannes School of Music and studied. She studied with Moolim Kang, and Diana Soviero. Currently, she is pursuing DMA in voice performance at Rutgers University with Judith Nicosia.
Yeawon will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Matinee, and Fri. 5/5 Eve
Jesse Malgieri
Marcello
With Amore Opera, Jesse Malgieri has previously sung Valentin in Faust, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, and Marcello in La Bohème. Elsewhere, he has appeared with the opera companies of Santa Fe, North Carolina, Caramoor, Sarasota, Central City, the Castleton Festival, and Indiana University, his alma mater. Overseas, his engagements include the Munich Philharmonic, Germany; Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Spain; Japan Society Opera at Bunka Kaikan Theater, Tokyo; and Kyrenia Opera at the Pantheon Theater, Cypress. For his artistry, he received career grants from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Gerda Lissner Foundation, and the Career Bridges Foundation.
Jesse will be performing on Fri. 5/5 Eve, and Sat 5/6 Matinee
Jennifer Moore
Mimì
Jennifer began her career in the International Opera Studio at Zurich Opera after graduating from New England Conservatory and Rice University. Jennifer has since performed extensively in New York, singing the title role in Dinorah with Amore Opera; Ninetta (La gazza ladra) with Bronx Opera; Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Blanche (Dialogues des Carmélites) with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble; and Aspasia (Mitridate) with Little Opera Theatre of NY. Other roles include Sieglinde (Die Walküre), Anna Bolena, Gilda (Rigoletto), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte).
Jennifer will be performing on Sat 4/29 Matinee, and Fri. 5/5 Eve.
Michelle Pretto
Mimì
Born in NYC, Michelle Pretto has sung in places as diverse as the White House to a thousand-year-old church nestled in the Austrian Alps. As an astronomy student at the University of Arizona, she took a one-credit opera stage training course on a whim where the teacher vehemently insisted that she take singing lessons. She did and never looked back. Roles include title roles in Tosca, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, Mimì (La Bohème), Violetta (La Traviata), Micaela (Carmen), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Nedda (Pagliacci), Gilda (Rigoletto), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) and more. www.michellepretto.com
Michelle will be performing on Fri. Apr 28 Eve, and Sat. 5/6 Matinee
Addie Seiler
Child
Addie Seiler fell in love with the stage at the age of four and has explored her love of her "happy place” not only on stage, but also in films and commercials, as well as modeling. Her most recent credit include Young Scrooge in McCarter Theatre’s production of A Chrsitmas Carol, Addie loves to sing and dance, and is so excited to be appearing in her first opera. A big thanks to the wonderful people at Amore Opera for giving her this great opportunity. Learn more about Addie on her Instagram page @addieascupcake.
Christopher Trapani
Rodolfo
Opera News writes, “an artist to watch with his clear and vibrant upper voice.” Title roles include Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Gounod’s Romeo et Juiliette and Faust, and Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito. Other roles: Manrico in Il trovatore, Don José in Carmen, Luigi in Il tabarro, Duke in Rigoletto, Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana, Alfredo in La traviata, and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. He has also performed as the tenor soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, Elijah, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. He has sung with the Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, New Rochelle Opera, Tri-cities Opera, Regina Opera, and Opera in the Heights.
Christopher will be performing on Fri 4/28 Eve, and Sat 5/6 Matinee
Dilara Unsal
Musetta
Dilara Unsal, a Turkish American Soprano, is widely recognized for her powerful voice and stage presence with a colorful and lush quality. A student of İstanbul State Conservatory, Dilara made her debut with the İstanbul State Opera and Ballet as Violetta in La Traviata in 2012. Dilara's American debut was in 2017, on short notice, in the title role of Puccini's Tosca at the Amore Opera. Since then, she's performed the title role in Aida, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro at Regina Opera. To quote the Operawire: "Unsal’s voice was equal to the dramatic demands of Puccini’s lush score."
Dilara will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Eve, and Sat 5/6 Eve
Diego Valdez
Rodolfo
Diego Valdez, an El Paso, TX-born and Brooklyn-based tenor, will take the stage as Rodolfo in La Bohème with the return of Amore Opera. He recently appeared as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Light Opera of New Jersey following his west coast run as Peppe in I Pagliacci at Opera West and his European trip reprising Don Ottavio at the Rhodes International Festival. Outside of opera, Diego is a freelance photographer for all things artist-related, and you can find him everywhere online as @Diegovaldeztenor and at Diegovaldeztenor.com.
Diego will be performing on Sat. 4/29 Matinee, and Fri. 5/5 Eve
Gennadiy Vysotskiy
Colline
A native of Odesa, Ukraine, Bass-Baritone Gennadiy Vysotskiy, specializes in both the standard operatic repertoire and folk songs of the Ukrainian, Neapolitan, Yiddish traditions. Before emigrating to the United States, Gennadiy graduated from the Odesa School of Music. Operatic roles in New York include Mephistopheles (Gounod), Leporello, Don Basilio, King Rene (Iolanta) and Sarastro. Future American engagements include Don Giovanni in Ann Arbor, and Boris Godunov in San Francisco. You can enjoy Gennadyi’s singing anytime by subscribing to his YouTube channel, 2000gv, where he hosts a monthly live-stream concert. https://www.youtube.com/@2000gv
Gennady will be performing on Sat. 5/6 Matinee and Sat 5/6 Eve
Nyah Williams
Waiter
Nyah is reprising her role as the hardest-working waiter in all the land. The Cafe Momus Waiter is one of her favorite non-singing opera roles she has performed with Amore Opera, and there have been quite a few!. She even received great praise from a reviewer who said that putting her own spin on the role was unique and delightful! Nyah dedicates her performance to her late best friend, Nathan Hull, who started Amore opera back in 2009. We miss him every day, and he would be proud that we are carrying on his passion for opera.
Nyah will be performing all performances unless otherwise indicated.