Pagliacci

This event goes on sale to current  Benefactor members ($100 donors) and above on Thursday, October 9 at Noon. Producer & Benefactor benefits include advance purchase periods, before the general public on- sale date of Friday, October 10 at 10 am.  To join “Friends of the Garde” click here, or call the Box Office Tuesday through Friday between 10 am and 5 pm at 860-444-7373 ext 1, or email boxoffice@gardearts.org.  Thank you for your support.

Immerse yourself in a bold new staging of Pagliacci performed in the Garde’s Historic Lobby.
Opera in the round —  with live accompaniment.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra & 2025 Greve Opera Academy presents:

Pagliacci

Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci is a gripping masterpiece that blends raw emotion, unforgettable music, and timeless drama. Audiences should not miss the chance to experience what resonates across generations: love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge—all set within a traveling performing troupe. The famous aria “Vesti la giubba,” where the lead character Canio sings of hiding heartbreak behind a painted smile, is one of the most iconic moments in operatic history.

Pagliacci is a perfect entry point for newcomers to opera and a thrilling favorite for seasoned fans. Its compact structure—just two acts—makes for a fast-paced, emotionally intense evening. The music is lush and dramatic, with soaring melodies and gripping orchestration that heighten every twist of the plot. Visually, productions of Pagliacci often feature vibrant costumes that contrast the colourful world of performers with the dark undercurrents of their personal lives. It’s a story that asks: what happens when the mask comes off?

Whether you’re drawn by the music, the drama, or the spectacle, Pagliacci offers a cathartic, unforgettable experience. It’s not just opera—it’s human emotion laid bare, and it will leave you breathless.

Canio – José Heredia

A 1st Prize Winner of the 2014 NJ Association of Verismo Opera International Vocal Competition, and a finalist/encouragement award winner of the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition in 2015 and 2017, Dominican tenor José Heredia has thrilled audiences with his voice of “Pavarottian shimmer.” Son of a Merengue singer, Heredia grew up surrounded by music. Although he enjoyed all genres, he had a special love for classical music. After debuting as “Rodolfo” in Puccini’s La Boheme with the NJ Association of Verismo Opera in 2014, continued

Nedda -Emily Tate Daniel

Hailed for her “powerful, rich voice with great control”, Emily Tate Daniel is an American soprano on the rise in a wide variety of vocal repertoire. Emily’s 2024 – 2025 season begins with two European concert debuts. In Mosset, France, Emily performs scenes from Tosca, Adriana Lecouvreur, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in concert; in the Netherlands, Emily performs in a concert of arias at the Centrale Bibliotheek Den Haag (The Hague Central Library). Emily makes her role debut as Nedda in Pagliacci with Greve Opera in July 2025, continued

Tonio – Robert Garner

Robert Garner has earned high praise from critics for his “deep, rich voice,” “mellifluous baritone,” and “highly accomplished characterization.” His career features standout performances in title roles such as *Eugene Onegin* and *Nabucco* at Union Avenue Opera of St. Louis, receiving critical acclaim. Other notable roles include Ford in *Falstaff* for Mississippi Opera and Opera Southwest, Marcello in *La Bohème* for Opera Roanoke and Mississippi Opera, and Mercutio in *Roméo et Juliette* for Opera Carolina and Connecticut Opera. continued

Stage Director – Rosemarie Danziger

Rosemarie Danziger Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Rosemarie Danziger studied at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and the Hartt College of Music in Connecticut. She earned her degree in Theater from Cornell University and worked as a playwright at the Tåstrup Theater in Denmark while continuing to perform in concerts and operas. She collaborated with major Danish orchestras, including the Sjællands Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony, and Aarhus Symphony. In 1989, she moved to Canada, performing with the  continued

Adrian Sylveen – Artistic Director / Conductor:

Award-winning musician, Adrian Sylveen enjoys a performing career in the United States and Europe. He is a founder and artistic director of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra (USA) and the Greve Opera Academy and Chamber Music Festival (Italy). He also appears frequently with Teatro Lirico D’Europa (USA) and Camerata Gdynia (Poland). Mr. Sylveen has conducted approximately 35 operatic titles and has an extensive orchestral and oratorio repertoire. He has conducted and performed concerts in the United States, Poland, Italy, Israel, continued

Greve Opera Academy

Founded in 2015, the Greve Opera Academy and Music Festival is a collaborative effort between the American performing organization Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and the municipality of Greve-in-Chianti in the province of Florence. The inaugural festival featured a fully staged production of Le Nozze di Figaro performed in the Teatro Boito in Greve, the Teatro Niccolini in San Casciano and in the public square – Piazza Metteotti – of Greve, as well as additional performances in Greve and else wherei. 2016 saw performances of “La Boheme” in Greve and San Gimignano and of “Don Giovanni” in Greve, with additional concerts and recitals in Florence and Greve; and 2017 saw performances of both “Tosca” and “Cosi fan Tutte” in San Gimignano and Greve, with additional concerts and recitals in Florence and Greve. In the first three seasons, attendees have come from the US, Italy, Canada, China, Austria, Poland, Cypress and Australia.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra

Established in 1997, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is Connecticut’s premier professional chamber orchestra, based in the Greater New Britain area, and dedicated to presenting both traditional and contemporary works to the public. As artists, the Virtuosi strive to be cultural leaders and teachers and to inspire our audiences to recognize the beauty and quality of classical music in any form.

The Orchestra, led by founder and artistic director Adrian Sylveen, presents approximately ten critically acclaimed concert and opera programs each season. Virtuosi also presents eight school concerts for the New Britain Department of Education. The group performs thirty times a season in New Britain, Hartford, New London, Middletown, New York, and Waterbury. Virtuosi also presented occasional concerts in Mystic, Meriden, New York City, and Pennsylvania.