Boheme Opera NJ

From grass-roots to critically-acclaimed.

As it completes its 21st season - a season of snowstorms and continued economic challenges - Boheme Opera NJ takes stock of its unique history and begins  to redefine its vision.  Although Boheme is known for its creative and carefully crafted opera stagings, it is important that the company continue to present events that introduce and teach new and broader-based audiences about the tremendous benefits and relevancy of the art form. During Boheme's evolution, it has crossed a generation of changing tastes and trends in opera theater that have secured its artistic reputation and longevity.  From the fledgling days -  exploring repertoire, identifying artistic and technical colleagues, and growing a fan base - through changing performance venues, structuring governance and discovering technological resources, Boheme has truly experienced the pains and triumphs of a successful company.

Boheme associates with several of Manhattan's prestigious artist management agencies, and presents many of the emerging stars of opera's national circuit.   Exciting debuts have dotted Boheme's history from the very start, with remarkable careers thus blossoming:  baritones Mark Delavan, Daniel Sutin and Constantinos Yiannoudes, tenors Allan Glassman, Antonio Nagore and Benjamin Warschawski, sopranos Paula Delligatti, Lorraine Ernest, Adina Aaron, Othalie Graham and Olga Chernisheva, and mezzos Grace Echauri and Mika Shigematsu, among others.  Legendary 20th century artists from the Metropolitan Opera have graced Boheme's stage and have collaborated in gala and special events, including the late and legendary bass Jerome Hines, the late and legendary tenor Franco Corelli, sopranos Licia Albanese and Roberta Peters.

In recent seasons, Boheme has shown its stage versatility by presenting works that embody the spectacle of opera, but are not recognized as traditional opera, including the American opera, Susannah of Carlisle Floyd, the American sensation West Side Story of Leonard Bernstein (for which Boheme received American Masterpieces funding from the NEA) and The Pirates of Penzance of Gilbert and Sullivan. 

Boheme Opera NJ has been recognized by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts with three Citations of Excellence.  The company has consistently featured unprecedented diversity in its casting, and has offered main stage opportunities to persons with disabilities.