Opera at Florham Honors Warren Residents Susan Quittmeyer and James Morris

On October 15, 2017, Opera at Florham honored Warren, New Jersey, residents Susan Quittmeyer and James Morris, recognizing them for their impressive careers and continued dedication to Opera.

Legendary American Bass-Baritone James Morris is world famous for his performances in opera, concert, recital, and recording. With a repertoire including works by Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Offenbach, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Mozart, Gounod and Britten, Mr. Morris has performed in virtually every international opera house and has appeared with the major orchestras of Europe and the United States. Considered one of the greatest interpreters of the role of Wotan in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, Mr. Morris has appeared in this role at the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera and many others. He is also considered the world’s leading interpreter of the title role in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer and has appeared as Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in the major houses of the United States and Europe.

American Mezzo-Soprano Susan Quittmeyer has performed in America, Europe, Japan and more. She has performed in operas, with orchestras and at recitals, and she has appeared regularly with the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera companies. Quittmeyer also sang with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Opera Theater, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Canadian Opera Company, Opéra de Montréal, San Diego Opera, Portland Opera, Dallas Opera, Denver Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Miami Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. She has performed with numerous symphonies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Arena di Verona Symphony, and the Oakland Symphony. Quittmeyer can be heard on recordings of Verdi’s Falstaff with Sir Colin Davis conducting, on the BMG label, and Wagner’s Das Rheingold with Bernard Haitink conducting, from EMI.

In celebration of its 35^th Anniversary Opera at Florham held an all-star gala at Lenfell Hall, The Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. Hosted by former PBS and WQXR broadcaster Midge Woolsey, the event began with an afternoon concert featuring operatic favorites performed by distinguished singers, soprano Maria Natale, tenor Fanyong Du, and baritone Ricardo Rivera, led by pianist Mary Pinto. The repertoire, carefully chosen for the occasion, consisted of arias and ensembles from La Bohème, I Puritani, Faust, Eugene Onegin, Simon Boccanegra and Le Nozze di Figaro, all Operas the two honorees have sung throughout their careers.

About Opera at Florham

Founded in 1982 as an extension of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Music Department, Opera at Florham began by providing recitals in Lenfell Hall and two annual operas at the campus theatre, Dreyfuss. In 1995, Opera at Florham became a separate, incorporated 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization. Since then, it has graced the community with world-class, affordable performances by professionally trained operatic vocalists in a variety of settings: Opera recitals, called “Musicales;” fully staged Operas with orchestra; semi-staged Operas in concert; an annual Vocal Competition; and outreach programs.

Opera at Florham presents professional vocalists in recital, concert, and competition from Opera to American Songbook. Its Musicale Series is the only long running Opera recital series in the state of New Jersey. Each Musicale features three accomplished vocalists from across the United States. Artists perform classics and rarities of Opera and American Songbook enhanced by stories, history, and facts about the music. In addition, Opera at Florham presents its Annual Opera at Florham Vocal Competition, honoring founder Violetta DuPont, in which the best young talents in Opera compete for large cash prizes in front of a panel of renowned judges and a live audience. Competition winners regularly go on to achieve decorated international careers. The highlight of the organization are staged Operas, special events that showcase the best of what Opera has to offer: drama, passion, musical excellence, and story. To learn more about Opera at Florham, visit www.OperaAtFlorham.org.