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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (ALL MEDIA)

BARN OPERA’s first post-COVID,

multi-venue performance of Puccini’s TOSCA.

Isham Family Farm (Williston, Vermont)

Cedar Meadow (Castleton, Vermont)
Estabrook Park (Brandon, Vermont)

August 18, 20, and 21, 2021

Ticketing information at www.barnopera.com

After a year of deafening silence, as Vermont (and the world)

grappled with Covid-19, BARN OPERA is thrilled to bring live opera
back to Vermont with a remarkable cast for Puccini's thrilling
masterwork, Tosca.

Perhaps most widely recognized by Maria Callas’ interpretation of the title role, Puccini’s Tosca, travels
from one breathtaking moment to the next in break-neck speed, filled with all the passion, romance, and
intrigue that one could possibly want in just under two hours.

New to BARN OPERA and the Vermont audience, Nigerian-American soprano,

Andrea Chinedu Nwoke, will spellbind as the red-hot, titular operatic actress, with
BARN OPERA’s Artistic Director and tenor, Joshua Collier, singing her lover, the
painter, Mario Cavaradossi. Ms. Nwoke, a native of NYC has sung in opera houses
spanning the eastern seaboard and beyond, singing much of the dramatic soprano
repertoire including Santuzza (Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana) Luisa (Verdi’s Luisa
Miller), and Agnes Sorel (Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans.) This is her role debut as
Tosca.

Mr. Collier is no stranger to the Vermont audience, having performed many times
with the Opera Company of Middlebury, Capitol City Concerts, Southern Vermont
Lyric Theatre, and other producing organizations throughout Vermont and New
England singing significant romantic tenor repertoire on the operatic and concert
stage.

Similarly portraying the Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia,

BARN OPERA’s music director, baritone Cailin Marcel
Manson was seen as Sharpless in the inaugural production of Madama
Butterfly with BARN OPERA, as well as Opera Under the Stars in 2020. In
addition to his singing one of opera’s most notorious villains, Mr. Manson is
currently Director of Choral Activities and Music Performance at Clark
University in Worcester, MA; Artistic Director of the Germantown Concert
Chorus in Philadelphia, PA; Music Director of the Bennington County Choral
Society; and Music Director of The Keene Chorale in
New Hampshire.

One of BARN OPERA’s favorite baritones, and associate director of the company,
Nicholas Tocci, sings the comedic and pivotal role of the Sacristan. BARN
OPERA audiences will remember him as the director of The Barber of Seville;
Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte; King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors; and
his stellar performance as Escamillo in Carmen in 2019.
 Other newcomers to the BARN OPERA
community are baritone Miguel Angel
Vasquez, and Pianist/Composer Felix
Jarrar. Mr. Vasquez, known throughout
New York City as one of the most
sought-after crossover artists, will assay the
role of Angelotti, the catalyst to the drama
in the production, and the first voice that we
hear in the opera. Mr. Vasquez most
recently performed in a concert of Mr.
Jarrar’s music at Vermont’s Marlboro
College (Jarrar’s Alma Mater) but has not had an opportunity to sing for
the Vermont community at large. Jarrar, often referred to as the “Mozart
of the 21st century,” has composed approximately 119 works: over 100
art songs, 10 operas, 2 string quartets, and a cantata. One of his most
recent micro-operas, Patience & Pearl, was given its world-premiere by
BARN OPERA in October 2020.

Ever conscious of the pandemic, but optimistic about the future, BARN OPERA will present Tosca in three
locations throughout the state; two in Rutland County and one in Chittenden County. Residents of Rutland
County will have an opportunity to enjoy the opera al fresco at the beautiful Cedar Meadow venue in
Castleton, or Brandon’s own Estabrook Park. Chittenden County will be able to hear Puccini’s glorious
music at Isham Family Farm in Williston as part of their inaugural “First: Earth Concert Series.” Tickets for
all three events will be available at the beginning of April 2021 at www.barnopera.com.

The ​doors will open at 6:30 pm for all events​in order to reduce queue at the door and ​the performance
will begin at 7:30 pm​, with brief intermissions in between acts. There will be no concessions or distribution
of wine, as many ​BARN OPERA​goers are accustomed to, but any legal refreshments may​be brought to
all locations and enjoyed outside the performance venue at Isham Family Farm..

With some of his most famous arias including “Vissi D’Arte” and “E Lucevan le Stelle,” Puccini provides a
visceral musical backdrop for this passionate and intriguing operatic thriller. It is no wonder that it is one
of opera’s best-loved masterworks.

Tickets to attend the performance will be delivered electronically by visiting ​BARN OPERA’s New Ticket
Site​. Unlike previous ​BARN OPERA​productions, there will be assigned seats, so please pay specific
attention to the ticket that you are purchasing, concerning date and venue, as they are non-negotiable.

Net proceeds from this benefit event will be used to support​BARN OPERA’​s future endeavors and the grand opening
of the ​BARN OPERA House (expected October 2021)​, as well as furthering the goal of the BARN OPERA to provide
opportunities for the youth of Vermont to achieve artistic development without socio-economic division.

All donations to ​BARN OPERA​are tax-deductible so far as permitted by law.

To learn more about this event or ​BARN OPERA​, contact Edna Sutton, Acting Executive Director for the Compass Foundation via
email at ​barnopera@brandon-music.net​or at (802) 247-4295.

Compass Music and Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Organization established with a mission to enrich the community’s
experience by providing access to a myriad of fine arts and to inspire people of all ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds to
appreciate the arts and learning, through high-quality performances and educational programs.

*”Fog on the Tiber” by Thomas Schaller is used for BARN OPERA’s Tosca publicity with special permission from the artist.