SAS Performing Arts Company is celebrating our 5th anniversary season and proudly invites you to experience "An Afternoon at the Opera: The Radio Days." This extraordinary program celebrates the rich heritage of legendary broadcasts like The Saturday Afternoon Metropolitan Opera Texaco Broadcasts, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Menotti Radio Hour, which have captivated and enlightened audiences for decades. Our two-part program is a heartfelt tribute to this era of opera broadcasts. The program featured a complete performance of Gian Carlo Menotti's delightful comic radio opera, "The Old Maid and the Thief." Lara Michole Tillotson sings Miss Todd, Clara Luz Iranzo sings her maid Laetitia, Monica Camafreita sings the town busybody Miss Pinkerton, and Chris Drago Fistonich sings the mysterious Bob. Maestro William Hicks is Music Director, Maria Giorgio coordinated the costumes and designed the hair and makeup, and Stephen Scovasso directed this production based on the original radio performance of 1939.

For many opera lovers, their first exposure to this art form was through influential Radio Broadcasts. The long-standing commitment of the Metropolitan Opera company, in particular, played a crucial role in sparking a passion for opera in countless hearts nationwide, shaping the history of opera as we know it today. Furthermore, exceptional programs like the Bell Telephone Hour and The Menotti Radio Hour have not only entertained but also educated. They have showcased remarkable performances by icons such as Marian Anderson, Ezio Pinza, and Helen Traubel, and focused on American operas, offering invaluable resources for vocal enthusiasts, voice students, and young conductors to witness the evolution of opera performance. SAS is proud to celebrate these remarkable eras with An Afternoon at the Opera: The Radio Days. We are transforming our stage into a nostalgic radio studio, recreating the atmosphere of those golden days. This program pays tribute to The Bell Telephone Hour and presents promising an unforgettable afternoon of opera that resonates with history, comedy, and nostalgia. The date was Sunday March 30 at 3:00pm at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church. The cast featured Sopranos's Monica Camafreita and Clara Luz Iranzo, Mezzo Soprano's Annie Chester, Perri Sussman, and Lara Michole Tillotson and Baritone Chris Drago Fistonich. Our Hosts are Deborah Surdi and Paul Fraccalvieri, Musical Collaborative Pianist Eric Malson. Maria Giorgio was make and costume coordinator and Artistic Director Stephen Scovasso was Producer and Director.

To honor the 100th anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, here is a performance of The Humming Chorus from his opera Madama Butterfly as performed by members of SAS Performing Arts Company and Studios, Inc. as part of the Puccini Gala in September 2024. Mary Pinto is collaborative Pianist.

SAS Performing Arts Concert Opera presented A Century of Puccini a remembrance of the centennial of the death of Giacomo Puccini. Christ and St. Stephen's Church 120 West 69th St NYC Sunday September 29, 2024 3:00pm. In this program, we payed a reverent tribute to the centennial of Puccini's death with excerpts from all his famous operas Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Fanciulla del West, La Rondine, and Turandot. The exciting cast gave an incredible performance and the near capacity audience were very appreciative. Participating Artists: Sopranos Rebecca Kidnie, Kirsten Chambers, Gillian Watson, Monica Camafreita and Melanie Spector Mezzo Soprano Annie Chester Tenors: Eric Sebek and Christopher Trapani Baritones Jonathan Green and Muir Inglis, and Collaborative Pianists Mary Pinto and Nick Stamatakis.

SAS Performing Arts Concert Opera presented Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti on September 29, 2024 at Christ and St. Stephen's Church 20 West 69th St. This is a unique opportunity to explore Bernstein's 'Americanness' through his 1952 opera Trouble in Tahiti. This opera, a portrayal of a dysfunctional married couple, Dinah and Sam, in the 1950s, a reflection of Bernstein's own parents, takes us through a day in their life. Sam's obsession with money and superiority and Dinah's struggles as a wife and mother are beautifully depicted in the score, infused with Jazz, a testament to Bernstein's musical genius. The exciting cast gave an incredible performance and the near capacity audience were very appreciative. Cast in Order of Vocal Appearance: Jazz Singer # 1 : Monica Camafreita - Soprano Jazz Singer # 2 : Eric Sebek - Tenor Jazz Singer # 3 : Jonathan R. Green Baritone Sam : Muir Ingliss Baritone Dinah : Annie Chester Mezzo Soprano Collaborative Pianist: Nick Stamatakis Maestro Stephen Scovasso conducted the Bernstein work and Jenna Stewart co-directed the Bernstein work with Stephen Scovasso. Trouble in Tahiti is presented by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Sole Agent for Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, publisher and copyright owner.

SAS Performing Arts Company Concert Opera presents Wagner Die Walkure Act 1 on June 2, 2024. Sieglinde: Kirsten Chambers, Siegmund; Jon Janacek, Hunding: Virdell Williams and Collaborative Pianist: Eric Malson.

Bass Baritone Virdell Williams at SAS Performing Arts Compay Concert Opera during our Wagner Gala honoring American Dramatic Soprano Luana DeVol with Wotan's Act 3 Farewell accompanied by Eric Malson on 6-2-24.

Tenor Jon Janacek makes his debut with SAS Performing Arts Compay Concert Opera during our Wagner Gala honoring American Dramatic Soprano Luana DeVol with Parsifal's Act 3 Nur eine Wafe taugt accompanied by Eric Malson on 6-2-24.