Opera

Montclair State University Opera

The Opera Program at The John J. Cali School is led by Karen Driscoll, Head of Artistic Operations/Opera, and resides within the College of Performing Arts (CART) at Montclair State University.

We believe that opera is the one of the most inclusive and collaborative artforms in existence, bringing music, art, dance, history, and stage craft together holistically to create the highest expression of musical performance. Cali Opera emphasizes the importance of exposing its students to early music repertoire through and including the development of the 21^st Century style in order to embrace the evolution of historical origins to modern styles and trends of opera today.

We offer a variety of performance opportunities spanning from a fully staged large scale opera production with orchestra, a small-scale chamber opera to a robust opera workshop scenes program. We invite participation by all musical degree candidates (Performance, Music Ed., Music Therapy, Music Theater) and all academic levels.

With close proximity to NYC, Cali Opera also draws upon some of the best and most distinguished artists the industry has to offer. Our students also enjoy the tremendous experience of training through master classes, and guest artists in the unique John J. Cali School of Music Immersive Residency Program.

Opera singer on stage with dancers at Kasser Theater

Interested in Opera at Cali?

For questions about the Cali Opera Program, please email Karen Driscoll, Head of Artistic Operations/Opera at driscollk@montclair.edu or follow us at our social pages Facebook and Instagram

To learn more about applying to The John J. Cali School of Music, visit our auditions page or email Linsay Setzer, Audition Coordinator at setzerl@montclair.edu

Opera Seasons

2025/26 SEASON

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
MAINSTAGE OPERA & UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Presents
Die Zauberflöte
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,Composer
Emanuel Schikaneder, Librettist
Janine Morita Colletti, Director
Kyle Ritenauer, Conductor
Valentina Cannao, Scenic & Costume Design
David Orlando, Lighting Design
Lili Federico, Multimedia/Projection Design
Maxine Steinman, Choreographer
Paige Elise Buchanan Stewart, Livestream Production

Alexander Kasser Theater
Saturday, January 31 @ 8:00 PM – Performance 1

Die Zauberflote Performance 1

Program

Sunday, February 1 @ 3:00 PM – Performance 2

Die Zauberflote Performance 2

Program

One of the most beloved operas of all time, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) is a dazzling adventure where fairy tale, comedy, and timeless wisdom meet. With music that soars from the hilarious to the sublime, it enchants audiences of all ages.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP CHAMBER OPERA
Presents
The Medium
Gian Carlo Menotti, Librettist & Composer

Presented with chamber forces, featuring two pianists in place of full orchestra

Karen Driscoll, Director
William Hobbs & Ginny Stephens, Pianists & Musical preparation
Deborah Caney, Costume Designer & Coordinator
Lucas Pinner, Scenic Designer
Paige Elise Buchanan Stewart, Livestream Production

Alexander Kasser Theater
Sunday, December 7 @ 5 PM – Performance 1

The Medium Performance 1

Program

Sunday, December 7 @ 7:30 PM – Performance 2

The Medium Performance 2

Program

A psychological drama filled with mystery, tension, and lyrical intensity, The Medium tells the story of Madame Flora, a fraudulent spiritualist whose world unravels when the line between illusion and reality begins to blur.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP - SECTION 1
Presents
Schemers, Dreamers, Lovers, and Leavers

An evening of captivating opera scenes where passion ignites, ambition conspires, love blossoms, and fate has the final note.

Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnne Overton, music director and pianist
William Hobbs, pianist

Monday, May 4 at 8PM

Van Fossan Theater
BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

Schemers, Dreamers, Lovers, and Leavers Performance

Program

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP - SECTION 2
Presents
Woven
A vibrant pastiche of beloved operatic scenes woven into a cohesive theatrical evening celebrating the richness and variety of the operatic repertoire.

Rebecca Jo Loeb, director
William Hobbs, pianist
Victoria Schwartzman, pianist

Sunday, May 3 at 5PM

Van Fossan Theater
BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

“Woven” Performance

Woven Program

2024/25 SEASON

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
MAINSTAGE OPERA & UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Presents
La Calisto
Francesco Cavalli, composer
Rebecca Jo Loeb, director
Kyle Ritenauer, conductor

Donna Scro-Samori, Choreographer

Tyler Herald (Scenic Designer) Stacey Boggs (Lighting Design) Paul Deziel (Projections Design) Matsy Stinson (Costume Design) Alexa Tabbacchino (Sound Design) Andrew Bullock (Poster Art) Jordy Monegro-Ventura (Livestream Production) Coccia Institute, co-sponsor Inserra Family, co-sponsor

La Calisto Promo Video

Saturday, February 1, 8PM

La Calisto Performance 1

Program
Production Bios

Sunday, February 2, 3PM

La Calisto Performance 2

Program
Production Bios

La Calisto is a witty and poignant opera by Cavalli that follows the innocent nymph Calisto as she becomes entangled in the romantic schemes, jealous gods, and comic mischief of Greek mythology after attracting the attention of Zeus. As love, deception, and divine vengeance collide, Calisto must endure heartbreak and transformation before discovering whether her destiny lies among the stars or under the wrath of the gods.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP CHAMBER OPERA
Presents
Hansel & Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck, composer
Karen Driscoll, director
William Hobbs, conductor
Ginny Stephens, musical preparation, pianist
Deborah Caney, costume designer & coordinator
James Conrad Smith, scenic designer
Paige Elise Buchanan Stewart, livestream production

Saturday, December 7, 3PM

Hansel & Gretel Performance 1

Program

Saturday, December 7, 6PM

Hansel & Gretel Performance 2

Program

Hansel and Gretel is a beloved fairy-tale opera that follows two siblings who lose their way in an enchanted forest and stumble upon a tempting gingerbread house hiding a wicked witch with sinister plans. Through courage, cleverness, and a touch of magic, Hansel and Gretel outwit the witch, free themselves from danger, and are joyfully reunited with their family.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP - SECTION 1
Presents
Fairy Tales, Fantasy, and Fiction

Fairy Tales, Fantasy, and Fiction Performance

Program

A beautiful night of opera scenes exploring love & literature.

Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnn Overton, music director
Virginia Stephens, pianist

Van Fossan Theater
BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP - SECTION 2
Presents
A Night of Opera Magic

A Night of Opera Magic Performance

Program

A wonderful program of opera scenes spanning 300 years of opera fantasy.

Malena Dayen, director
William Hobbs, pianist
Victoria Schwartzman, pianist

Van Fossan Theater
BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

2023/24 SEASON

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
CALI MAINSTAGE OPERA
Presents
Dialogues des Carmélites

Music and libretto by Francis Poulenc
Kyle Ritenauer, conductor
Malena Dayen, director
Victoria Schwartzman and William Hobbs, musical preparation

Saturday, January 27, 8PM
Sunday, January 28, 3PM
Alexander Kasser Theater

Dialogues des Carmélites Trailer

Based on the true story of an order of Carmelite nuns who was executed by the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites is both an epic historical tragedy, and an intimate philosophical exploration of faith and humanity.

Program and Bios

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
CALI CHAMBER OPERA
Presents
The Ghosts of Gatsby
Music by Evan Mack
Libretto by Joshua McGuire
William Hobbs, conductor
Karen Driscoll, director
William Hobbs and Ginny Stephens, musical preparation

December 9, 2023, 6PM and 8PM
Alexander Kasser Theater

The Ghosts of Gatsby Performance

Program

The Ghosts of Gatsby explores the turbulent marriage of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald as ambition, jealousy, and artistic obsession unravel their lives on the French Riviera during the creation of The Great Gatsby. Trapped between memory and reality, Zelda confronts haunting visions of her younger and older selves in a poignant journey through identity, love, and the fragile boundaries of the mind.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
OPERA WORKSHOP
Presents
The Consequences of Love
Leshowitz Recital Hall

Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnn Overton, music director
Michael S. Caldwell, pianist

Summary

An evening of operatic scenes exploring pivotal moments when life-changing decisions shape the course of destiny.

The Consequences of Love Performance

2022/23 SEASON

MONTLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
CALI MAINSTAGE OPERA
Presents
Gianni Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost
Music by Giacomo Puccini and Michael Ching

Kyle Ritenauer, conductor
Anna Rebek, director
Victoria Schwartzman and William Hobbs, musical preparation
January 28, 2023 at 8PM
January 29, 2023 at 3PM
Alexander Kasser Theater

Set in medieval Florence, the established Donati family are grieving around the deathbed of their patriarch, Buoso Donati. But when they find out he’s left their inheritance to the church – mourning turns to rage. They rope in a lower class fix-it guy, Gianni Schicchi, to change the will, in exchange for his daughter Lauretta marrying their young Rinuccio. Schicchi finds the perfect solution, executes the plan, and gets the Donati exactly what they deserve.

In the sequel to Puccini’s masterpiece, Michael Ching’s Buoso’s Ghost, Schicchi discovers a dark Donati secret. When they come back to haunt him, Schicchi screams for mercy, until he conjures up a new plan, and summons the ghost of Buoso for a little help.

Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost Performance

Program | Bios

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
CALI CHAMBER OPERA
Presents
The Beautiful Bridegroom
Music and Libretto by Dan Shore
Karen Driscoll, director
Beth Robin and Ginny Stephens, musical preparation

December 10, 2022 at 6 and 8PM
Alexander Kasser Theater

The Beautiful Bridegroom Performance

A charming, award-winning comedic chamber opera about a widow who longs to marry again and her ambitious pursuit of a new, much younger husband by retaining the services of the local matchmaker. The matchmaker devises a clever plan–where twists and turns lead up to an unexpected ending for everyone!

Program

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2023 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
Presents
Trials & Triumphs of Love

An evening of opera scenes navigating the ever changing terrain of love, from families, friends, foes and fiancées, to a few pirates along the way!

Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnn Overton and Michael S. Caldwell, musical preparation
May 8, 2023 at 8:00 PM
Leshowitz Recital Hall

Trials & Triumphs of Love

Program

2021/22 SEASON

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2022 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
Presents
Looking Back Moving Forward
Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnn Overton & Michael S. Caldwell, musical preparation
May 12, 2022 at 8PM
Leshowitz Recital Hall
An evening of opera and musical theater scenes where we explore the past to find the key to our future.

Looking Back Moving Forward Performance

RECORDED ARIAS PROJECT - Spring 2022
Le Nozze Di Figaro
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
William Hobbs, conductor
Jeffrey Gall, director
Rob Davidson, recording

“Giunse al fin’ il momento….Deh vieni non tardar”, Yejin Lee, soprano
“Aprite un po’ quegli occhi”, Jason Zacher, bass-baritone
“E Susanna non vien,…Dove sono i bei momenti”, GaDa Lambert, soprano
“Hai gia vinta la causa”, Seungchan Hong, baritone

FALL 2021 OPERA WORKSHOP

Preview from Le Nozze Di Figaro

2020/21 SEASON

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2021 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
Presents
Unmasking Opera
Karen Driscoll, director
LeAnn Overton & Michael S. Caldwell, musical preparation
June 6, 2021 at 8PM
Offsite video projects

From Handel, Mozart, Massenet and more, our performances look beyond the stage and discover our characters’ lives both inside and out as we uncover their stories creatively through video storyboarding projects.

Unmasking Opera Performance

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
FALL 2020 OPERA SCENES PREVIEW
with works by Jonathan Bailey Holland and Jake Heggie
Jeffrey Gall, director
William Hobbs & Grant Wenaus, piano

Fall 2020 Opera Scenes Preview

“At Cali Opera, I’m singing at a level I never knew was possible. The faculty and my colleagues have offered endless support, encouraging me to develop my voice and artistry. I never imagined how much I could grow here so quickly.”

— Kailey Diggs ’27, Artist Diploma, Performance Major, Voice