Review of The Roulades of Rossini

by Frank Strafaci, Opera at Florham member of the Board of Trustees

What do you get when you put three outstanding singers in the hands of Mary Pinto?

Absolute Joy!

Mary Pinto is Opera at Florham’s Artistic Director, and well… on September 7th The Roulades of Rossini was presented at Lenfell Hall on the beautiful campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison. The audience was delighted with Arias from works of Rossini, in particular The Barber of Seville. Mary chose beautiful selections from this ever-loved Opera such as "La calunnia…” when Don Basilio thinks up ways to slander the Count so that he can marry Rosina and many more in the Opera’s repertoire.

​During the second act, tunes from Wicked, The Scarlet Pimpernel and an Aria from Cinderella, another Opera from Gioachino Rossini, echoed through the hall by our outstanding singers.

Mezzo-Soprano Anna Kelly, Tenor Matthew Cerillo and Bass-Baritone Raúl Morales Velazco delivered the Arias and songs with skill, beauty and theatrical depth. Lenfell Hall was full as the audience acknowledged their accomplishments by ending the concert with a standing ovation. Many commented on the voices of our singers as being strong and clear.

You can hear excerpts of these wonderful singers on on YouTube.

​On November 9th, Opera at Florham will present Due Soprani e Un Tenore, again at Lenfell Hall, and the December 7th concert will be the Holiday Spectacular held at Saint Margaret’s Church in Morristown.