Leporello

Brian J. Alvarado’s ‘liquid baritone of great charm,’ ‘precise patter elocution,’ and ‘highly attractive legato’ (Parterre Box) has featured recently as Eugene Johnson in the Colorado premiere of Blind Injustice (Opera Theatre of the Rockies), Leporello in Don Giovanni (Long Island Lyric Opera), Tom in Un ballo in maschera (Opera Project Columbus), and Frank in Die Fledermaus (New Rochelle Opera). Other traditional roles have included Dandini (La cenerentola), Papageno and the Sprecher (Die Zauberflöte), Schaunard (La bohéme), Simone and Betto (Gianni Schicchi), and the title roles in Venus and Adonis, The Sorcerer, and Sweeney Todd. He resides in his native Bronx.

Masetto / Commendatore

Christian Arencibia is excited to make his debut with Off-Brand Opera! Hailing from Old Tappan, New Jersey he will be performing the roles of Masetto and Commendatore. Other previous roles include Baron Douphol (La Traviata), Father (Hänsel und Gretel), and The Cat/The Clock (L'enfant et le sortilèges). Thank you for coming out to see this performance and please enjoy the show!

Zerlina

Nicole Eve Goldstein is an NYC-based crossover artist with an affinity for both Opera and Musical Theatre. Nicole has had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Opera America and more. Credit highlights include: Iolanthe (Celia) and Anyone Can Whistle (High Soprano Soloist) at Carnegie Hall, Dogfight (Rose) and The Light in the Piazza (Clara u/s) at Red River Lyric Opera, & Aeterna (Aeterna) world premiere at The Narnia Vocal Arts Festival, On the Right Track (The Woman u/s) at AMT Theatre, Pietà (Francesca) with Off-Brand Opera, and singing with New York City Opera for the American premiere of Vessels of Light by Lera Auerbach. Nicole received her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, as well as a Graduate Certificate from the Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre at The New York Film Academy. Nicole is thrilled to be singing her first Zerlina with these wonderful people!

Don Giovanni / Director

Brendan Hartnett is an accomplished educator, director, and singer. Brendan has directed up and down the coast of California with companies including Opera Parallele and the Pacific Opera Project. Favorite projects include The Gondoliers and The Yeomen of the Guard with Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, The Tragedy of Carmen and Down in the Valley with Opera UCLA, The Araboolies of Liberty Street and Xochitl and the Flowers with Opera Parallele’s ‘Family Opera’ program, and The Center Cannot Hold with Pacific Opera Project. ​Brendan holds an MFA in theater from UCLA’s School of Theater Film and Television, and a Bachelor’s of Music from UC Santa Cruz.

Donna Elvira

Veronica Shea is a singer, actor, producer and digital marketer passionate about storytelling and sharing authentic onstage connection with audiences. Recent roles include Musetta in Light Opera of New Jersey’s production of La Bohéme, Juno in & Aeterna at the Narnia International Vocal Arts Festival, Rosalinda in Eccentric Theater Company’s Die Fledermaus, Mabel in both Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan’s and Summit Chorale’s The Pirates of Penzance, and Julie Jordan in Off-Brand Opera’s Carousel. She is a Founder of Eccentric Theater Company and Off-Brand Opera, and the Director of Marketing at The York Theatre Company. veronicashea.com

Donna Ottavia

California-born mezzo soprano Devony Smith is known for her command of a wide variety of operatic and concert repertoire. Last season held many role debuts for Devony, including the title role in Rossini's Cenerentola with Opera Modesto, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with New York City Opera, Sesto in Clemenza di Tito with Bronx Opera, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas at Teatro Commuale di Giuseppe Manini di Narni. Devony collaborates frequently with composers, and last season premiered Little River Songs by Grammy-award winning composer Jennifer Higdon with LyricFest Philadelphia. This coming season, she sing the alto soloist in the premiere of Benjamin Wenzelberg's Christmas Oratorio with Lyric Fest and will also solo in the world premiere of Luna Pearl Woolf’s new oratorio at the new Perelman Performing Arts Center. Devony recently made her Carnegie Hall debut as the alto soloist in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo.

Donna Anna

Lena Yasmin, soprano, has recently relocated to New York after earning a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at UCLA, under the instruction of Professor Juliana Gondek. She performed the role of Anne Trulove in Opera UCLA’s production of The Rake’s Progress in collaboration with the UCLA Philharmonia, and sang the role of Adina in UCLA’s production of L’elisir d’amore, directed by James Darrah. As a Southern California native, she has performed with organizations such as Pacific Opera Project, Guild Opera Company and Independent Opera Company. She is a proud recipient of Opera Buffs’ Career Grant and was recently featured in its young artist showcase. In recent years, Lena placed as a semi-finalist in the Pasadena Vocal Competition, the Southern California Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, and the Lyra New York Competition.