Teaneck Resident to Debut with Verismo Opera in Suor Angelica

Teaneck resident Erika Bourque debuts with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (Verismo Opera) in the company’s production of Suor Angelica in the role of the Nursing Sister in a double bill with Cavalleria Rusticana at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, on Sunday, October 20 at 3:00 p.m.  The bergenPAC is handicapped accessible.

Bourque, a mezzo-soprano, has sung leading roles with the University of Connecticut Opera, Palisades Opera, Westminster Opera, and Opera Theatre of Connecticut.  Among her past roles, she has performed Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflote, Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte, Hansel in Hansel und Gretel, and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus.  She has appeared as a concert soloist with the West Jersey Chamber Music Society, the University of Connecticut Symphonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Nova of Princeton, as well as various chamber ensembles.

Among her concert performances, she has sung Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Sparrow Mass, Handel’s Pauken Mass, as well as the world premiere of The Sleepers by contemporary composer Philip Rice.  She has received awards in competitions with Lakes Region Opera Company, Opera Theatre of Connecticut, and Westminster Choir College.

When she's not performing, Bourque teaches at Bergen Community College in Paramus and Arete Music Academy in Englewood Cliffs.  She holds a Masters in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College-Rider University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Connecticut and has additional training as a CoOPERAtive Fellow, a Resident Artist with the Martha Cardona Theatre of Brooklyn.

Under Artistic Director Lucine Amara, one of the Metropolitan Opera’s luminary performers, the company presents each opera with a full cast in costumes created by created by Catherine Mirabella and Barbara Konig, a live orchestra under Maestro Anthony Morss, and the Verismo Opera Chorus directed by Mara Waldman.   Sung in Italian with English supertitles, Gioachino Forzano’s libretto of Suor Angelica and Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti’s and Giudo Menasci’s libretto of Cavalleria Rusticana will be performed with traditional staging and sets.

Verismo Opera is providing the public with a special 30% off on $55 and $45 tickets only on October 10, 11 and 12 (Code CS3).  Discount ticket rates for senior citizens, ages 65 and over, and children, ages 12 and under accompanied by a ticket-holding adult, are available now through October 20 to see Suor Angelica and Cavalleria Rusticana.   Senior citizens, ages 65 and over, purchasing regular-priced tickets on non-sale dates are entitled to a 10% discount.  Tickets may be purchased online, at the bergenPAC box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW.

Call (201) 224-2809 for special rates for group discounts on $55 and $45 tickets with a purchase of a minimum of 50 tickets.  This rate is not available online.  For more information about Verismo Opera, visit its web site, follow the company on Facebook or Twitter @NJVerismoOpera, or call (201) 886-0561.