PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Burke, Opera Ball Co-chairperson
Phone:
E-mail:
info
Madame Licia Albanese
To Preside Over Festivities of the
Reflections and Imagination
Reflections and Imagination will serve as the theme of the
New Jersey State Opera’s much anticipated Opera Ball to be held
Honorary Chair, Madame Licia Albanese, will preside over the
festivities of the 41st Annual Opera Ball which will take place at
the architecturally renowned world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson
designed by IM Pei in
This year’s Opera Ball will honor Martha-Ann Alito, Samuel
Ramey, and Johnson & Johnson as distinguished corporate citizen.
Reflecting on its forty-one year history, The
New Jersey State Opera began as the Opera Theater of Westfield in 1964. Before its 1965 season, Alfredo Silipigni
was engaged as Principal Conductor and Artistic Director and the name was
changed to Opera Theatre of New Jersey. Performances were given in
The New Jersey State Opera and
Maestro Silipigni brought to the New Jersey stage a level of excellence
unsurpassed in the state, in collaboration with many of opera’s most celebrated
artists, among them Licia Albanese, Beverly Sills, Birgit Nilsson, Magda
Olivero, Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill, Jerome Hines, Franco Corelli, Anna
Moffo, Sumi Jo, Carlo Bergonzi, Roberta Peters, James McCracken, Sherrill
MilnesJames Morris and Placido Domingo, and Samuel Ramey.
Maestro Silipigni’s
and the New Jersey State Opera’s acclaimed productions included two world
premieres, and his authoritative performances of the verismo repertoire created
a unique venue for emerging young singers, musicians and practitioners of
operatic stagecraft. The International Vocal Competition (re-named the Alfredo
Silipigni International Vocal Competition in June 2006) was organized to
encourage the development of promising young talent and the Young Artists program
gives young performers the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed
artists and directors. Maestro Silipigni’s development of New Jersey State Opera’s music
and education programs inspired the formation of the New Jersey State Opera
Guilds.
The vision of the New Jersey State Opera attracted the loyal partnership and financial support of corporations and foundations, among them Johnson & Johnson, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, The Jaqua Foundation, Panasonic Electric Corporation, Lillian & Huber Boscowitz Foundation; Ambrose & Ida Frederickson Foundation; The Hyde & Watson Foundation; Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Puccini Foundation, Mayor James Sharpe and The City of Newark, and the endorsement of four New Jersey State Governors.
To learn more about the New Jersey State Opera Ball and to make
your reservation either call the New Jersey State
Opera office at
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