Creative OPERAtions is launching an exciting new series designed to break down the barriers that often surround opera and invite new audiences in. Bite-Sized Opera reimagines the art form through immersive, concert-style performances of iconic moments from beloved operas — presented in an unexpected, community-centered setting: 3BR Distillery in Keyport.
Opera has a reputation for being long, expensive, and intimidating. Bite-Sized Opera flips that script. These performances offer a curated taste of opera’s most powerful music and drama in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where curiosity is encouraged and first-timers feel right at home.
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Stay tuned. Opera is about to be served in a whole new way.
Save the date:
Friday, September 18 at 7:00 PM
3BR Distillery | Keyport, NJ
A New Look at Carmen
In this original adaptation, each of the opera's four principal characters is represented by a tarot card, revealing the beliefs, choices, and forces that shape their journey. As the story unfolds, the cards weave together music, narration, and drama, until fate reveals the final card.
Meet Our Cast
Laura Virella
Carmen
Hailed by the LA Times as “a capable singer and actor, compelling on stage,” mezzo-soprano sanjuanera Laura Virella has performed at Carnegie Hall, Long Beach Opera, Festival de Santa Fiorentina, Theater Rudolstadt, Wolf Trap Opera, Puerto Rico's Teatro de la Ópera, San Diego Opera, Detroit Opera and Teatro GALA in DC. She's known operatically for her collection of strong, fiery women –Carmen, Frida, Maddalena, Luisa Fernanda, Desideria, Mari Pepa– and impassioned young men –Hänsel, Niklausse, Idamante, Octavian. An avid storyteller and champion of chamber and song repertoire, she has performed with ArtsAhimsa, the Queens New Music Festival, and the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico, with recital programming that often weaves in Puerto Rican works. Virella is a recipient of the Peabody Opera Award, a Helen Hayes Award winner and two-time nominee, and was Runner-Up for Best Actress in Opera (second to Patricia Racette) in the DC Theatre Scene Awards. You can find her on streaming platforms worldwide.
For more information please visit: www.lauravirella.com
Edward Washington II
Don José
American tenor Edward Washington II was born in England and raised in Saudi Arabia. He is celebrated for his compelling tenor voice, lightning-fast coloratura, and unwavering dedication to the art form.
Mr. Washington has performed with Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, Florida Grand Opera, Lyric Opera, Opera Orlando, Annapolis Opera, the International Festival of the Voice, Syracuse Opera, New York City Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera—earning three Grammy nominations and two Grammy wins. His concert career includes appearances with the United States Air Force Band, Alexandria Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Britain’s Got Talent finalist group Vox Ventura, New Philharmonic Chorus, and the American Spiritual Ensemble, among others. He has performed works by seven American composers, including numerous spirituals, art songs, one cantata, two song cycles, and two operas. Recently, he was featured as a soloist in Solange Knowles’ curated El Dorado Ballroom at Jones Hall in Houston, Texas.
A brother of Phi Mu Alpha and an accomplished clarinetist, Edward has conducted choirs, musical theater, and opera professionally. He also served as Music and Education Director of the nonprofit Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University and his Master’s degree from Morgan State University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
For more information please visit: www.edward2know.com
Corinne Schaefer
Micaëla
Soprano Corinne Schaefer is celebrated for her versatility and dynamic performances. She performed in the German production of The Phantom of the Opera at Stage Theater Neue Flora, Hamburg, where she played Carlotta 114 times. Her roles include The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Beth in the European premiere of Little Women in Brugge, Belgium, Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Nanetta in Falstaff, Musetta in La Bohème, Clotilde in Norma, and Norina in Don Pasquale. As a concert soloist, Corinne has performed with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Polizeichor Hamburg, Bucks County Symphony, and others, with appearances across Germany, Austria, Italy, and the US.
Corinne holds a BM in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and is an alumni of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Corinne’s awards include 1st prize in Haßloch Meisterkurs La Primavera, 2nd place in the National Opera Association Vocal Competition, and encouragement awards from the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, and the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition.
In 2022, she founded Creative OPERAtions, a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit bridging classical music genres and communities who do not have regular or easy access to the art forms.
For more information please visit: www.corinne-schaefer.com
Eliam Ramos
Escamillo
Eliam Ramos is a Puerto Rican singer with a rich bass-baritone voice who has performed opera and concert works with companies in the United States, Spain, Israel, Puerto Rico and Mexico. His artistic engagements range from traditional opera and symphonic concerts, to zarzuelas and modern compositions. The Metropolitan Opera Guild featured Mr. Ramos in their Verdi’s Baritones Serie in their 2022-2023 season in which he also made his Carnegie Hall Debut with Clif Hardin’s Requiem.
Mr. Ramos engagements for 2024-2025 include Alfio from Cavalleria Rusticana with Regina Opera, Bach’s Cantata No. 33 with Bach in Baltimore, the Doctor in the world premiere of The Extinctionist with Heartbeat Opera, Hayden’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, various roles with the American Opera Project’s Opera Lab, the role of Cascada and the cover of Baron Zeta in Lehar’s Die Lustige Witwe (Merry Widow) with Geneva Light Opera, Pap (Fannie Lou Hammer’s husband) in the world premier of Is This America with White Snake Projects, Scarpia in Tosca and Silvio in I Pagliacci both with Regina Opera and Bach’s Cantata 82 with Bach in Baltimore, soloist in the world premier of Paul Aiken’s Missa Pro Terra at Carnegie Hall, Beethoven’s 9th with the New Britain Symphony Society, Dumas in Rossini Perduto with the Long Island Concert Orchestra, Dulcamara in L'Elisir D'Amore with Boston's Bar Harbor Festival, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Soo Theatre Projects well as different concert in the NYC area.
For more information please visit: www.eliamramos.com
Marel Hidalgo
Guitar
Seventeen-year-old guitarist Marel Hidalgo started his musical journey at the age of four, when he started taking lessons at a music school in his birthplace, Neptune, New Jersey. Soon after, at the age of five, he formed his first band, Marel Hidalgo and Friends, a multi-generational and multi-cultural formation that played extensively in local festivals and venues. As the lead guitarist of his own band, Marel started to gain recognition and call the attention of larger festivals and media that would land him multiple performances at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, The Denver Day of Rock in Denver, Colorado, appearances on Univison, Channel 12, Channel 9, and an appearance on National TV on the Harry Connick Jr. Show, along with multiple national press articles including the USA Today and the Scholastic magazine to name some. While his approach to music has been very eclectic from playing progressive rock, blues, flamenco, jazz fusion, reggae, and Latin rock, his main focus lately has been the jazz guitar, inspired by the likes of Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Ernest Ranglin, and Tal Farlow.
David Maiullo
Piano
David Maiullo, acclaimed by Opera News as “a pianist of sentiment, discretion, and style,” is a distinguished accompanist, coach, and conductor based in the New York City metropolitan area. With a remarkable track record of over 4,000 recitals and performances, he has graced the stages of prestigious US venues including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. His international engagements have taken him to renowned locations in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Hungary, Poland, and Japan.
Mr. Maiullo had the honor of performing the European premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti’s MASS for the composer in Spoleto with the Ars Musica Chorale and has appeared at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He completed a notable twenty-year tenure as Music Director and Chairman of the Board for Bravo Alliance of Performing Artists. Additionally, he served as Music Director for Nyack College’s opera workshop, assistant chorus director at Kean University, and Conductor/Music Director for Eastern Opera, Opera Fest NJ, and Opera Fest Italy in Tolentino, Italy.
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