Holiday spectacular 2023
August 11, 2024
Summer Soirée
Opera at Florham welcomed back husband and wife Operatic duo Tenor Pedro Barrera and Soprano Sarah Barrera for the 2024-2025 season kick-off concert - Summer Soirée. Performed at the beautiful Lenfell Hall in The Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the singers performed timeless melodies from Opera to Broadway and Hollywood.
Highlights from the concert can be seen in the videos to the right including:
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Una furtiva lagrima… from l’Elisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti
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O mio babbino caro… from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini
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Granada by Agustín Lara
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Je veux vivre… from Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod
Accompanied by Artistic Director Mary Pinto, audiences were brought to their feet in a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
Bravo to an incredible kick-off of our season!
2024 Summer Soirée
SARAH BARRERA
Soprano
Sarah, a San Diego native, began her musical journey with a Bachelor of Music from Northern Arizona University in 2016. She continued her studies at the University of Denver, earning her Master of Music degree in 2017. During her time there, she captivated audiences with her performances as Susanna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Lauretta in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.
Sarah's passion for opera and classical singing ignited at the age of 17 when she was selected as an apprentice for the summer at the Greek Opera Studio. Since then, her talent has taken her across the globe, with performances in Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria.
Currently, Sarah resides in New York City, where she dedicates her time to working with children, introducing them to the world of opera and inspiring the next generation of classical music enthusiasts.
PEDRO BARRERA
Tenor
Colombian-American tenor Pedro Barrera, born in Barranquilla, moved to the United States in 2017 after receiving a full-ride scholarship for his Master's at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music. Originally classified as a baritone, Barrera started transitioning to tenor in 2019. His tenor debut was that same year as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, and later on he played Goro in Madama Butterfly, both performances at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts in Denver, Colorado.
In Colombia, Barrera started his career as a baritone, performing roles with Opera de Colombia, including the Second Prisoner in Fidelio, Norton in La Cambiale di Matrimonio. He was also the baritone soloist for Duruflé’s Requiem with the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Barrera was a national finalist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra Singing Competition in 2015 and 2016.
In New York City, Barrera performed the roles of Vitellozzo in Lucrezia Borgia with New Amsterdam Opera, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Teatro Grattacielo - Camerata Bardi. Recent engagements include his debut as Nemorino in l’Elisir d’Amore with Teatro Grattacielo in Heraklion, Greece, as well as at The Flea Theater in New York City.
MARY PINTO
Artistic Director & Piano Accompanist
Mary Pinto, an acclaimed accompanist and vocal coach, has worked with international opera singers and major American opera companies for the past 25 years. Ms. Pinto's career began as a rehearsal pianist for noted opera companies: Dallas Opera, Chicago's Lyric Opera, Omaha Opera, and others. In 2012, Ms. Pinto coached and was rehearsal pianist for Metropolitan Opera star and international soprano Deborah Voigt as she prepared for the three Brünhilde roles for the Met's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle which was featured in the documentary Wagner’s Dream: The Making of the Met's Ring Cycle and premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
In 2022, Ms. Pinto was invited to be official accompanist for the Giulio Gari Competition and to accompany singers in the Gerda Lissner Song, Zarzuela and Aria Competition. She made her Carnegie Hall debut playing for the winners of the Gerda Lissner Winners Concert. In 2021, Ms. Pinto coached and directed scenes at the Summer Opera Festival of Morelia and coached at the Queens Summer Vocal Institute. In the fall of 2020, she performed at Black Opera’s tribute to Jessye Norman. She spends her summers on the coaching staff at Masterclass d' Ischia, Italy. She has worked with the NJ State Opera and Light Opera of NJ, and internationally with Opera Noire’s Ensemble in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Ms. Pinto is on the faculty of Montclair State University as a private coach, accompanist, and prepares students for opera productions. She serves as Artistic Director and accompanist for Opera at Florham while maintaining coaching studios in New Jersey and New York City.
Mary received her Bachelor’s degree in Music for piano performance from DePauw University and a Master’s in Music degree for piano and voice accompaniment from University of Illinois.