NJB dancer Mari Sugawa, Soprano Laura Zupa D'Avella and Pianist Albert Stanziano perform "Lauretta's Song." Photo: Joseph Schembri

A 40-year artistic partnership lives on in a splendid tribute to the late Maestro Alfredo Silipigni

Ballet has long been an integral part of grand opera. In New Jersey, a remarkable 40-year association between New Jersey State Opera and New Jersey Ballet has put glorious dancing in dozens of opera productions including Aida, Carmen, La Traviata, Samson and Delilah, Faust, Turandot, La Gioconda and many others.

On Saturday, January 13, New Jersey Ballet will salute the opera and pay tribute to its late founder/director Maestro Alfredo Silipigni in a performance at The Community Theatre, 100 South Street, Morristown. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m.

Internationally-acclaimed lyric tenor Ronald Naldi will head the non-dancing guest cast. Naldi has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, and New Jersey State Opera, numerous companies in the great capitals of the world as well as in prestigious festivals such as Caramoor and Spoleto.

January 13 program highlights include Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda; Marietta’s Song, NJB resident choreographer George Tomal’s lyrical vision of one of the most romantic duets in all of grand opera; and a sublime contemporary pas de deux to Meditation from Thais. Meditation will be accompanied by violinist Byung-Kook Kwak and pianist David Maiullo. Mr. Kwak, who studied with Jascha Heifetz, is often cited as one of the finest violinists of his generation. He is in great demand as a soloist, chamber musician and is a faculty member of Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, and Lehman College among others. Mr. Maiullo is a noted accompanist who has performed throughout Europe and North America.

Two new ballets that take their inspiration from opera will receive their premieres that evening. Both are by Ali Pourfarrokh, a choreographer of international significance who frequently works with New Jersey Ballet. The first, O Lola is an inventive and passionateduet built around the principal characters from Cavalleria Rusticana. The music is the Sicilianoand Intermezzo from that opera.The second piece, entitled Lauretta’s Song, deftly depicts a young girl, carried away on the power of her emotions as she describes her true love to her father. The subtitle (Daddy, he’s so handsome) comes directly from the aria O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi. Lauretta’s Song will be accompanied by soprano Laura Zupa D’Avella and pianist Albert Stanziano, both of whom are familiar to New Jersey State Opera Fans. Ms. D’Avella, a member of New Jersey State Opera’s Young Artist Program, performs with Pacific Opera in New York. Mr. Stanziano teaches piano at Oberlin and Montclair University and is in demand as a chamber pianist.

New Jersey Ballet’s salute to New Jersey State Opera drew praise from critics who attended a preview performance at Kean University in November. Karyn Collins of the Asbury Park Press zeroed in on several New Jersey Ballet dancers, applauding the husband and wife team of Era Korotaeva-Jouravleva and Andrei Jouravlev for their wonderful “chemistry and control in Meditation," and noting that Mari Sugawa and David Tamaki, who appeared in both premieres and in Romeo and Juliet, “turned in performances that sparkled.” She reserved special praise for Michelle deFremery’s work in Marietta’s Song, writing that Ms. deFremery shows a rare ability to dance “from the soul and from the heart.” Bea Smith of Worrall Newspapers wrote, “Ballet alone is an extraordinary theatrical experience. And when it is specifically combined with opera, it is truly a tribute to the world of entertainment and an experience one will remember in years to come.”

The January 13 performance marks the start of New Jersey Ballet’s annual Saturday Night Series at The Community Theatre. The next two performances are scheduled for February 24 and March 30. All performances at 8:00 p.m. Individual tickets range from $20 to $40. Money-saving subscriptions are available from $55 to $105.  Subscription inquiries call New Jersey Ballet at 973-597-9600. For more information and single ticket sales, call the Box Office at 973-539-8008 0r log on to www.communitytheatrenj.org.

New Jersey Ballet is committed to making its performances fully accessible to everyone wishing to attend. The theatres where the company performs meet ADA barrier-free requirements and offer assistive listening equipment. Upon request, program information and/or program notes are available on audio cassette up to 2 weeks prior to performances. Large print programs are available at all performances. New Jersey Ballet’s extensive performance schedule is made possible in part by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and by other generous corporate, foundation, and individual contributions. The company has been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for “artistic excellence, substantial programming, and broad public service.”

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