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EAST WINDSOR: Opera comes to town

Opera New Jersey practices at Meadow Lakes in East Windsor

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   EAST WINDSOR — Last weekend, the opera was in full force.
   For the fifth year in a row, residents at Meadow Lakes, a senior living facility of Springpoint, had the opportunity to experience two final dress rehearsals of Opera New Jersey’s winter production of “Tosca.”
   The showings took place on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28.
   Residents from another Springpoint site, Monroe Village, were able to visit Meadow Lakes and experience the opera as well.
   Around 400 residents, along with some of their family members and friends, attended the two dress rehearsals.
   There is a longstanding partnership between the Springpoint Foundation and Opera New Jersey.
   The organizations share an Artist-in-Residence program.
   It is a unique program that combines the arts and the senior living worlds. Audiences of all ages are invited to witness and experience the partnership between the two organizations.”
   "The Springpoint Foundation has been incredibly supportive of the work that Opera New Jersey does all year long. In addition to sponsoring the Artist-in-Residence program,” said Richard Russell, general director of Opera New Jersey.
   He continued, “(It helps) with our education and outreach initiatives. It is a great partnership and if I may say I think a model for how organizations can collaborate effectively.” As a result, residents and guests are able to watch every step of the process from the earliest rehearsals to the final run through.
   In addition, they have an opportunity to attend specially arranged round table sessions to gain an insider’s view of opera.
   Opera New Jersey practiced for 16 days at Meadow Lakes beginning on Jan. 13 prior to moving on to the McCartre Theater in Princeton on Jan. 29.
   "The singers have loved the experience,” Mr. Russell said. “One singer from last season just wrote me and told me how much she liked the ‘at home’ experience of living and working at Meadow Lakes. The singers in ‘Tosca’ have really enjoyed the experience and have had a great time interacting with the residents.”
   "The Foundation was looking to bring a world class arts groups out to our communities, and Opera New Jersey needed rehearsal space,” said Lauren Medici, who is the Springpoint Foundation arts and cultural programs coordinator and a foundation associate.
   "We thought it would be a great experience for Opera New Jersey to rehearse their winter production at Meadow Lakes and live on the campus,” she said.
   Ms. Medici continued, “Not only does this allow a behind the scenes look at the process, but (also) it brings a great opportunity for daily interaction between the residents and artists. It’s been a positive experience and over the last five years the program has grown to include a full stage, set pieces, and more events with the artists like round table discussions.”
   Mr. Russell highlighted some of the benefits of the partnership.
   "There are many benefits to rehearsing at Meadow Lakes,” said Mr. Russell. “First and foremost is having the principals and rehearsal space under one roof during the rehearsal process. This takes several variables out of the equation.”
   Additionally, “the wonderful auditorium at Meadow Lakes is much more space than we would typically have for staging rehearsals. This allows us recreate the amount of space at the theatre very closely and thereby maximize that time that we have in the McCarter Theatre. We can bring in stage pieces, like the scaffolding in the first act and parapet in the third, to work out a lot of details much earlier in the process,” said Mr. Russell.
   Floria Tosca, who may be the opera world’s most tragic heroine, is a character who acts out of love.
   Opera New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra have joined forces to bring “Tosca” to life at McCarter Theater and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. This is the third season that Opera New Jersey has partnered with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Opera New Jersey is the state’s largest opera company.
   "Tosca” is a three-act opera. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, Italy, on Jan. 14, 1900. “Tosca” features acts of torture, murder and suicide.
   The opera is about a Napoleonic-era woman who falls in love with a radical young artist.
   "It’s culminating to what I look for,” said Elma Weltchek, a resident of Meadow Lakes. “It’s been very interesting for us. I can walk in whenever I want (to see the rehearsals).”
   "I am thrilled to be here,” said Willette Weltcheck, of Watchung. “To me, I enjoy it as much as being at the Met. I’m enjoying every second.”
   "I think it is excellent,” said Muriel Boguslav, a resident of Monroe Village. “I really think that the voices are very, very professional and done very well. I am appreciating it very much.”
   Many other residents and guests were impressed with the set and how professional it looked.
   "It’s truly amazing how they could get the feeling of the church and everything else about it,” said Evelyn Kamerman, a resident of Monroe Village. “It’s such a good group, Opera New Jersey.”
   "I have seen ‘Tosca’ many places, the Metropolitan, on television,” said Roselyn Katz, a resident of Monroe Village. “(The Opera New Jersey is) doing very well. The set is very professional. The costumes are very nice too.”
   Several new residents were excited and appreciated the chance to experience the opera.
   "This is the first time I am here because I am a fairly new resident,” said Florence Beneckson, of Monroe Village. “I am very impressed with the place.”
   "It’s been very exciting to see them rehearse,” said Annette Lopez, a resident of Meadow Lakes. “And now to see it all come together is a very rewarding experience.”
   Noteworthy, there were English captions provided on a drop down screen for the audience.
   Opera New Jersey is one of the fastest growing opera companies in the country. Some of the world’s leading talent has graced its stages along with the finest emerging singers of today according to the Opera New Jersey’s Website.
   Opera New Jersey will start its formal showing of “Tosca” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in the McCarter Theatre.
   For tickets, call 609-258-2787 or visit www.mccarter.org.
   For more information on the Opera New Jersey, visit www.opera-nj.org.