Queen Sonja Singing Competition 2023: Semifinal Rounds Tenor: Jose Simerilla Romero Song: Tu ca nun Chiagne - Ernesto de Curtis

Queen Sonja Singing Competition 2023: Semifinal Rounds Tenor: Jose Simerilla Romero Aria: Kuda, Kuda (Lensky's Aria) - Eugene Onegin, P. Tchaikovsky

MUSIKALISCHE LEITUNG James Hendry / Giulio Cilona NACH EINER INSZENIERUNG VON Chris Alexander SZENISCHE EINSTUDIERUNG DER WIEDERAUFNAHME Valérie Junker BÜHNE Kathrin Kegler KOSTÜME Marie-Therese Cramer LICHT Claus Ackenhausen CHOR Lorenzo Da Rio KINDERCHOR Tatiana Bergh MIMÌ Barno Ismatullaeva / Kiandra Howarth MUSETTA Vuvu Mpofu RODOLFO José Simerilla Romero MARCELLO Darwin Prakash / Luvuyo Mbundu SCHAUNARD Richard Walshe PARPIGNOL Peter O'Reilly COLLINE Markus Suihkonen / Yannick Spanier BENOIT John Pickering ALCINDORO John Pickering SERGEANT DER ZOLLWACHE Jakub Szmidt Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Kinderchor der Staatsoper Hannover, Statisterie der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover

Watch the top ten MET Opera Auditions Finalists perform and see who wins the 2022 VERO BEACH OPERA RISING STARS COMPETITION, with cash prizes provided by the Kleinschmidt Family Foundation. 2022 VERO BEACH OPERA RISING STAR: José Simerilla Romero - E La solita storia del pastore, L’Arlesiana, F. Cilea Featuring: Competition & Concert Pianist: Jared Peroune ---------------------------------------------------- President of the Jury ROMáN ORTEGA-COWAN Artistic Advisor, Vero Beach Opera Jurists RANDALL ROMIG Chairman, Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Southeast Region GREGORY BUCHALTER Music Director & Conductor, Varna International, Assistant Conductor, Metropolitan Opera ---------------------------------------------------- Competition Coordinator Dr. Joan Ortega-Cowan President, Vero Beach Opera ---------------------------------------------------- PRODUCTION Russell Franks, Artistic Director Román Ortega-Cowan, Artistic Advisor Karen Wiggins, Stage Manager/Tech Coordinator Tania Ortega-Cowan, Prizes and Awards Announcer SUPPORT Paul & Sue Gauthier, Artist Accommodations Marcia Loewinger & Joanne Webster, Social Events Vero Beach Ushers Society, Ushering Services Thank you, Tocqueville Asset Management, Vero Beach Opera Corporate Sponsor; and Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi of Melbourne, Vero Beach Opera Season Sponsor. For more, visit Vero Beach Opera at: https://verobeachopera.org

“Il Corsaro” - Opera Festival Chicago Performance: July 22nd & 24th, 2022 -Act 1 Scene 1- Verdi’s bombastic 1848 opera plunges us into the dashing world of seafaring pirates. While its popularity was overshadowed by his next operas: Rigoletto, Il Travatore, and La Traviata, this thrilling work is filled with Verdi’s characteristic melodies, rhythms, virtuosic vocal lines, choruses, and large orchestral score. Jose Simerilla Romero as Corrado Christine Arand as Medora Franco Pomponi as Seid Alejandra Sandoval as Gulnara Frank De Vincentis as Giovanni Benjamin Burney as the Eunuch André De Mesquita as Aga Selimo

La bohème, Act 3 Quartet: Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor Nicole Cabell, Mimi Jose Simerilla Romero, Rodolfo Meechot Marrero, Musetta Ryan Speedo Green, Colline Thomas Lehman, Marcello Carlton Ford, Schaunard David Lefkowich, director Puccini: La Bohème: Act I and II La Bohème: Act III and IV He’s a poet. She’s a consumptive. Neither has two dimes to rub together. Follow a group of idealistic young Bohemians as they navigate the challenges of living and loving in Paris with nothing but their dreams to sustain them. Presented in a creative and transportive semi-staged production, Puccini’s timeless classic is the start of a new operatic tradition at Grand Teton Music Festival 2022 season.

“Il Corsaro” - Opera Festival Chicago Performance: July 22nd & 24th, 2022 -Act 1 Scene 1- Verdi’s bombastic 1848 opera plunges us into the dashing world of seafaring pirates. While its popularity was overshadowed by his next operas: Rigoletto, Il Travatore, and La Traviata, this thrilling work is filled with Verdi’s characteristic melodies, rhythms, virtuosic vocal lines, choruses, and large orchestral score. Jose Simerilla Romero as Corrado Christine Arand as Medora Franco Pomponi as Seid Alejandra Sandoval as Gulnara Frank De Vincentis as Giovanni Benjamin Burney as the Eunuch André De Mesquita as Aga Selimo

“Ella mi fu rapita!…Parmi Veder Le Lagrime” - Dress Rehearsal Florida Grand Opera’s 2022 production of Rigoletto First performed: March 11, 1851, Teatro la Fenice, Venice Last performed by Florida Grand Opera in 2012 A beloved staple in the operatic repertoire all over the world, Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto is a timeless story of betrayal, dashed dreams and mistaken identity, worthy of the best cinematic thriller. Rigoletto follows the conquests of the rakish Duke, who survives revenge plots and schemes along the way. Gilda, whom he has betrayed and abandoned, saves him in the final scene of the opera by sacrificing her life, leaving her own father broken and alone. Containing some of the most recognizable arias, a sweeping story and intense emotions, Rigoletto is sure to delight everyone from opera aficionados and newcomers alike. CAST Rigoletto, Todd Thomas Gilda, Sharleen Joynt* The Duke of Mantua, Jose Simerilla Romero* Count Monterone, Neil Nelson* Sparafucile, Matt Boehler* Maddalena, Stephanie Doche Marullo, Michael Pandolfo Matteo Borsa, Charles Calotta Count Ceprano, Erik Danielson Giovanna, Stephanie Doche Countess Ceprano, Amanda Olea A Page, Page Michels* Conductor, Pacien Mazzagatti Director, Kathleen Belcher Set Design, Lawrence Shafer Lighting Designer, Ron Vodicka Costume Designer, Howard Tsvi Kaplan * FGO Debut