Playbill

Ashley Galvani Bell - Cio-Cio-San

Hailed by Opera News as “delightful,” soprano Ashley Bell started as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus and has since performed as a soloist in the United States, Italy, Spain, France and Russia. The 2024 season has included singing with New York City Opera in a 100 YEAR PUCCINI ANNIVERSARY concert, returning to ABAO Bilbao covering both Mimi and Musetta in LA BOHEME, singing the title role in Pedro Halffter's PENELOPE'S DREAM at the Ateneo de Madrid & in Logroño, singing Cio Cio San with Bay Street Theatre and Mimi with Teatro Lirico at McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, and joining Teatro de la Maestranza for LA BELLA SUSONA. Highlights of 2023 included her debut with ABAO Bilbao Opera as Fiordiligi in COSI FAN TUTTE where ProOpera highlighted her "superabundance of talent", her debut with Teatro Perez Galdos in Gran Canaria, Spain as the title role in KLARA, singing Cio Cio San in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with both Bohème Opera New Jersey and Daytona Beach Symphony Society, her debut in Milan, Italy as soprano soloist in EXULTATE JUBILATE with Orchestra UNIMI and Violetta in LA TRAVIATA and as Soprano soloist in Zemlinsky's LYRISCHE SYMPHONIE with Spain's festival Musica en Villafranca.

In 2022, she made her debut with Seville’s Teatro Maestranza as Violetta in LA TRAVIATA, originated the title role in the world premiere of Pedro Halffter’s opera KLARA in both Spain and Harvard University and joined ABAO Bilbao Opera for productions of LA VOIX HUMAINE & Zemlinsky’s EINE FLORENTISCHE TRAGÖDIE. Other 2022 engagements included Mimí in LA BOHÈME with California’s Opera Modesto, Violetta in LA TRAVIATA in the Semana Lirica Lucrecia Arana in Spain's La Rioja & Soprano Soloist in Beethoven’s 9TH SYMPHONY with both Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid and in the Festival de Villafranca del Bierzo. Last season, as in-person performances resumed, she sang one of her signature roles, Elle, in a critically acclaimed production of LA VOIX HUMAINE both at Spain’s Rioja Forum & Bay Street Theatre.  During the pandemic, Ashley produced & starred in the documentary film RIVAL QUEENS featuring music from MARIA STUARDA, which has won 20 awards in international film festivals including Best Documentary at Tokyo Film Festival.

In recent seasons, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as soprano soloist in Hadyn’s LORD NELSON MASS and Schubert’s MASS IN C with MidAmerica Productions, debuted as Cio-Cio-San in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with California’s Townsend Opera, sang Mimí in LA BOHÈME with both Mississippi Opera and Natchez Festival, sang Donna Anna in Mozart’s DON GIOVANNI in sold-out performances at Bay Street Theatre, and debuted with New York City Opera as a principal artist in L'AMORE DEI TRE RE. Other notable performances have included her debut as Gilda in RIGOLETTO with New Jersey Verismo Opera, Anna in LORELEI with Teatro Grattacielo, productions of MADAMA BUTTERFLY and DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES with Sarasota Opera, Fiordiligi in COSÌ FAN TUTTE and Donna Anna in DON GIOVANNI with Orchestra Filarmonica di Roma, Norina in DON PASQUALE in Logroño, Spain, Violetta in LA TRAVIATA with Mid-Atlantic Opera, Isabella Colbran in the premiere of DISCOVERING MRS. ROSSINI at the Sheen Center in NYC, and Musetta in Puccini’s LA BOHEME at the National Opera Center. Ms. Bell’s other projects have included the lead in Serrano’s zarzuela LA DOLOROSA with Rioja Lirica, soprano soloist in the Italian Cultural Institute & Basilica of St. Patrick Old Cathedral’s commemoration of the 175th Anniversary of Lorenzo da Ponte, Dorothée in the U.S. premiere of Offenbach’s LA BONNE D’ENFANT with Salome Chamber Orchestra, and Molpe in Choreo Theatro’s world premiere of ODYSSEY at the 92nd Street Y.

Ms. Bell is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University & speaks five languages fluently. She is a recipient of Yale’s Browne Irish Performing Arts Award & a Scholarship Award at the Crested Butte Music Festival. Upcoming engagements include her debut in the role of Leonora in IL TROVATORE with Boheme Opera New Jersey, Cio Cio San in MADAME BUTTERFLY with New Jersey Verismo Opera and Teatro Lirico D’Europa and debuts in Denmark, Germany and Serbia.

Nathan Snyder - B.F. Pinkerton

Praised for his “rich and nuanced" sound and “riveting” acting, tenor Nathan Snyder has built a reputation of excellence in all genres.  His energy and impressive versatility make him an outstanding presence on any stage. Nathan recently performed the role of Young Jim Thompson in GLORY DENIED and the United States Airforce Academy earning him a Challenge Coin from the current Superintendent of the Academy. A rare and auspicious honor for someone not in the military.  Nathan also performed the role of Paco in Manuel De Falla’s LA VIDA BREVE for Opera Fort Collins in their first ever Spanish opera. This summer, Nathan joined the chorus of LA BOHÈME at the Bravo! Vail Music festival with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin

After premiering the role of Dewey Noyes in STAGGERWING with Opera Kansas in 2021, Nathan has experienced great success in contemporary repertoire, including Clarence Elkins in BLIND INJUSTICE with Opera Theater of the Rockies, Miles in PROVING UP with Opera Steamboat, as well as covering the role of the Visitor in Phillip Glasses in THE PENAL COLONY. Nathan will be returning to Opera Kansas in May 2025 to reprise the role of Dewey Noyes. Between contemporary works, Nathan has also performed standard roles including Manrico in Verdi’s IL TROVATORE, Rodolfo in Puccini’s LA BOHÈME, Don José in CARMEN and Sam Polk in Carlisle Floyd’s SUSANNAH.

Nathan is equally at home on the concert stage, singing the tenor solos in Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Bruckner’s TE DEUM, and Stravinsky’s IN MEMORIAM DYLAN THOMAS, just to name a few. He recently sang the part of the archangel Uriel in Haydn's CREATION with the Laramie Choral and Mozart’s REQUIEM with the University of Wyoming.

Nathan has also achieved high praise for his work in musical theatre, most recently in Loveland Opera Theatre’s production of BRIGADOON, where Marlow’s Musings said “Nathan Snyder’s vocals in the role of Tommy Albright are Magnificent! His “Almost Like Being in Love,” is worth the price of admission all on its own!!!" Nathan has performed, in concert, the role of Billy Early in NO NO NANNETTE and in Loveland Opera Theatre’s Rodgers and Hammerstein Jubilee.

A Colorado native and University of Northern Colorado alumnus, Nathan competed as a finalist in both the Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition and the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. Some of Nathan’s other roles have included King Kasper in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS, Count Almaviva in BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI, Belmonte in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL, Ferrando in COSI FAN TUTTE, Cassio in OTELLO, Nemorino in L’ELISIR D’AMORE,  both Eisenstein and Alfred in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Frederic in PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Martin in THE TENDER LAND, and Albert Herring in ALBERT HERRING.

Ashley Kay Armstrong - Suzuki

Praised for her “velvety voice” (Chicago Tribune) and “rich resonant sound”, “powerhouse mezzo-soprano” Ashley Kay Armstrong’s “star power” “lights up the stage” while “delivering riveting performances” to audiences throughout the nation.

In the 2024/2025 season, Ms. Armstrong returns to Boheme Opera NJ to debut the role of Dinah in TROUBLE IN TAHITI. She also reprises the role of Suzuki in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Teatro Lirico D’Europa,

and performs the role with NJ Association of Verismo Opera, and Light Opera NJ. In recent seasons, she has been seen as Suzuki with both Teatro Lirico D’Europa and Boheme Opera NJ, Hannah After in Kaminsky’s AS ONE both with Opera Santa Barbara and as a guest artist with Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Třetí žínka in RUSALKA with Opera Idaho, The Mother in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS with North Shore Music Festival, and as Hansel in a filmed production of HANSEL AND GRETEL with Bel Cantanti Opera. Other recent career highlights include Olga in EUGENE ONEGIN, Rebecca Nurse in THE CRUCIBLE, and Véronique in LE DOCTEUR MIRACLE with Opera Santa Barbara; Javotte in MANON with Opera Idaho, Jenny Diver in THE THREEPENNY OPERA, and Meg Brockie in BRIGADOON with Cedar Rapids Opera. She has been a Semi-Finalist for the American Prize in Art Song and is managed by Encompass Arts.

Michael Nansel - Sharpless

Michael Nansel is an award-winning singer and actor. Best known as an opera singer, he is also an accomplished recitalist and concert artist and appears frequently in musical theater classics. Between Opera and Musicals, Mr. Nansel has over 80-roles to his credit. He sings music from the Mozart to Sondheim, from Verdi to Rodger & Hammerstein. He was the Wichita Grand Opera Singer of the Year in 2012 and was the dual winner in 2003 of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. He has also twice been a member of Casts nominated for Helen Hayes Awards.

His voice has been described as “stentorian”, “rich” with “great vocal and emotional power”. Reviewers have also remark that his acting “communicates deep humanity”, can be “tender and anguished” and that he is “the top banana”. Mr. Nansel possesses a diverse repertoire ranging from the comedic Figaro (BARBER OF SEVILLE), Don Giovanni (DON GIOVANNI) and Falstaff (FALSTAFF) to the dramatic Count di Luna (IL TROVATORE), Scarpia (TOSCA) and Macbeth (MACBETH). Among his most widely acclaimed roles are the Di Luna, Iago (OTELLO), Figaro, as well as Danilo (THE MERRY WIDOW), and the title Character in SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET as well as Germont in LA TRAVIATA. His concert credits include MENDELSOHN’S ELIJAH, HAYDN'S CREATION, MOZART'S REQUIEM, FAURE'S REQUIEM, HANDEL'S MESSIAH, BRAHMS’ REQUIEM, BEETHOVEN’S MASS IN C MAJOR, and Block’s SACRED SERVICE (Avodat Hakodesh).

He has been conducted by several Maestros of note including Julius Rudel, Plácido Domingo, Eugene Kohn, Marin Alsop, Steven Mercurio and Gregory Buchalter. Directors of note include Stephen Lawless, Jonathon Loy, Jayme McDaniel, James Marvel and Scott Schwartz. He has shared the stage with Joyce DiDonato, Salvatore Licitra, Yunah Lee, Denise Graves, Lucas Meachem, Samuel Ramey and Paul Plishka. Currently, Mr. Nansel resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife of 38 years. He is represented by Randsman Artists Management and studies voice with Andrea DelGiudice.

Tai Collins - Goro

Tenor Tai Collins is well-known for his jack-of-all-trades lifestyle and effervescent stage presence. Tai has performed in the US & Italy, debuting roles and concerts in the Lyric & Bel Canto repertoire. He is known for his principal roles as Rodolfo in LA BOHEME, Rinuccio in GIANNI SCHICCHI Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLOTE, Pedrillo in ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO & Edgardo in Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR as well as his character roles, including Knusperhexe (HÄNSEL UND GRETEL) Goro (MADAMA BUTTERFLY) and Pong & Pang (TURANDOT).

Vladimir Hristov - Bonze

Bulgarian bass Vladimir Hristov has been a soloist with Teatro Lirico D'Europa in performances in the USA and Europe since the winter of 2003. His roles include the Bonze in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Monterone in RIGOLETTO, Sciarrone in TOSCA, Fiorello in BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, the King in AIDA, Dr. Grenvil in LA TRAVIATA and the High Priest in NABUCCO with Opera De Massy – Paris.

Jeremy Sivitz - Yamadori

Jeremy Sivitz, tenor, is a burgeoning young artist with a particular propensity for comedy and character. A dedicated singing actor, Sivitz has had the pleasure to sing such roles as First Brother in Kurt Weill’s SEVEN DEADLY SINS (Dell’Arte Opera, 2024), Ralph Rackstraw in G&S’s HMS PINAFORE (Utopia Opera, 2023), Jupiter in Handel’s SEMELE (NEIU Opera Theater, 2023), Dr. Caius (Salt Marsh Opera, 2023) and Bardolpho (IU Opera Theater, 2021) in Verdi’s FALSTAFF, Pedrillo in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL (Opera in the Ozarks, 2019), Don Basilio/Don Curzio in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Westminster Opera Theater, 2019), Monostatos in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (Westminster Opera Theater, 2018), and Ali IN ZÉMIRE ET AZOR (Westminster Opera Theater, 2018).

Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Sivitz received his BM from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and his MM from IU Jacobs School of Music. Outside of music, Sivitz is an avid dancer, aerial acrobat, and painter.

C. Page Porter - Kate Pinkerton

Paige Porter is an active performer and voice teacher in the greater NYC region. She has been performing with Light Opera New Jersey for many years, in both mainstage productions and with Savoy Faire, their outreach troupe as well as with Teatro Lirico D’Europa. Recent appearances include DIE FLEDERMAUS, COSI FAN TUTTE, and ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD, RIGOLETTO and MADAMA BUTTERFLY as well as concert performances in Handel’s MESSIAH, and Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR. Ms. Porter holds a Bachelor of Music from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music.  Outside of performing and teaching, she also is a founding member and Associate Director of Clarum Sonum, a community choir based out of Boonton, NJ.

Jason Tramm – Musical Director

Maestro Tramm currently holds the following musical positions: Artistic Director/Principal Conductor, MidAtlantic Artistic Productions (with whom he made his Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium) debut in 2015). Executive Director, Light Opera of New Jersey, Music Director, the Taghkanic Chorale, and Music Director, Putnam Chorale.
He served as Artistic Director of the New Jersey State Opera from 2008 to 2012, where he collaborated with some of the finest voices in opera, including Samuel Ramey, Vladimir Galouzine, Angela Brown, Gregg Baker, and Paul Plishka. His 2009 HDTV broadcast with PBS affiliate NJN of VERDI REQUIEM: LIVE FROM OCEAN GROVE, garnered an Emmy Award nomination. The busy maestro is entering his 19th season as Director of Music, in Residence, of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in the summer months, where he leads the choral, orchestral, and oratorio performances in the historic 6,500-seat Great Auditorium. In addition to the Ocean Grove Choir Festival, a beloved event in its 64th year and attended by thousands, he has appeared on two National Public Radio broadcasts live from the Great Auditorium. An accomplished educator, he serves as an Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Seton Hall University where he leads the University Chorus, Chamber Choir, Orchestra and conducting. In 2017, Seton Hall University Awarded him the University Faculty Teacher of the Year. He is also actively sought as a clinician and regularly presents lectures on a wide variety of musical topics. A sought-after guest conductor, he has led symphonic and operatic performances in Italy, Romania, Hungary and Albania. Engagements for the 24/25 season include: Teatro Lirico D'Europa TOSCA performances in SC and FL at major presenting venues, New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera performances of MADAMA BUTTERFLY at theaters in in NJ and NY, Camerata Bardi (Manhattan), and a concert tour of Italy with performances in Rome, Assisi and Venice in May of 2025. 

Giorgio Lalov - Artistic Director / Stage Director

Born in Bulgaria, Giorgio (Gueorgui) Lalov has been the stage director and artistic director of Teatro Lirico D'Europa, an international opera touring company with over 6,000 performances worldwide since 1986. He was appointed as the new Artistic Director and GM of NJ Association of Verismo Opera in summer 2019. After covid delays, he was at last able to organize performances for Verimso Opera under his new leadership in winter 2023. Teatro Lirico D’Europa has completed 20 consecutive years of USA tours and over 5,000 performances at major venues WORLD-WIDE. Lalov has been performing in and directing full-scale opera productions with international casts since his debut at La Scala, Milan at the age of 25. He speaks English, French, Italian, Bulgarian, and Russian fluently. Since 1988, his productions have been presented at major venues in France, Belgium Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Italy, Sicily, Denmark, South America, the Island of Martinique, and the USA including performances for Opera Dijon, France, Opera De Massy - Paris, Salle Pleyel - Paris, Pavillion Baltard - Paris, Okinawa Performing Arts Center - Japan, Tivoli Gardens - Copenhagen, Theatre Carre, Amsterdam, Congresshaus, Zurich, Theatre Trinidade, Lisbon, Teatro Atlantida, Barcelona, Salida de La Compania, Madrid, Teatro Cervantes, Madrid, Teatro Bueno Vallejo, Madrid, Teatro Lope de Vega, Seville, Le Cirque Royale, Brussels, LʼAtrium Theatre on the Island of Martinique and over 150 major performing arts venues throughout the USA including Cerritos, CA Center for Perf. Arts, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Vilar Center for the Arts, Beaver Creek, CO, Boston’s Emerson Majestic Theatre, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Stanley Perf. Arts Center, Utica, NY, The Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Moran Theatre, Jacksonville, FL Naples Philharmonic Center, Naples, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Van Wezel Perf. Arts Center, Sarasota, FL, Barbara Mann Perf. Arts. Hall, Ft. Myers, FL, Broward Center for the Perf. Arts, Ft. Lauderdale, Touhill Perf. Arts Center, St. Louis, MO, Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME, Koger Center, Columbia, SC, Galliard Auditorium, Charleston, SC, Peace Center for the Perf. Arts, Greenville, SC, Peabody Auditorium, Daytona, FL, The Kravis Center, West Palm Beach, FL, the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD, Corinado Theatre, Rockford, IL, Shea’s Perf, Arts Center, Buffalo, NY, The Lila Cockrell Theatre, San Antonio, TX, Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE, and performances of opera for over a dozen American regional opera companies: Syracuse Opera, Opera Rochester, Buffalo Opera, Opera Delaware, Augusta Opera, Palmetto Opera,  Opera New Hampshire, Golden Gate Opera, Springfield Regional Opera, Palm Desert Opera Guild, Shreveport Opera, Opera Asheville, Opera Tampa Bay, Gold Coast Opera, Baltimore Opera Theatre, Wichita Grand Opera, Light Opera NJ, and NJ Verismo Opera.

Mr. Lalov has also designed sets and costumes and staged full-scale opera productions for: Puccini's LA BOHEME, TOSCA and MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Verdi's LA TRAVIATA, IL TROVATORE, RIGOLETTO, AIDA, and NABUCCO, Mozart's DON GIOVANNI, LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAI, and DIE ZAUBERFLOTE, Bizet's CARMEN, Wagner's LOHENGRIN, Lehar's MERRY WIDOW, Donizetti's LUCIA DI LAMMERMORE and L'ELISIR D'AMORE, Strauss’s DIE FLEDERMAUS, Rossini's IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Mascagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, Leoncavallo's I PAGLIACCI and Mussorgsky's BORIS GODUNOV to outstanding critical acclaim from both European and American critics.