A Sunday Afternoon at the Opera, St. John the Evangelist Church

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels”
Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881)

Throughout the ages the church has both influenced and nurtured the arts. From Michelangelo's David to Handel's Messiah great masters have found inspiration in church history and for centuries, people everywhere have delighted in their works.

St. John's Church has a proud tradition of supporting the arts through our work, with the Riverside Symphonia and continues that tradition Sunday Afternoon at The Opera.

Sunday Afternoon at The Opera, brings the magic of opera and some of today's great opera stars to Lambertville, NJ. Created to enhance the diverse arts and cultural portfolio of the Hunterdon and Bucks County arts community, the opera is also a benefit fundraiser for St. John the Evangelist Church.

Sunday Afternoon at the Opera was conceived by Countess Lucienne von Doz. It rose from two thoughts: that the Church of St John the Evangelist had some of the finest acoustics in the area, and the existence of the promising young operatic voices with a desire to showcase their talents. These young stars are sponsored by such organizations as The Singers Development Foundation (SDF)—a not for profit organization co-founded by the Countess to help sponsor the careers of talented young opera singers.

In last year's sold out Sunday Afternoon at The Opera benefit concert several of the SDF grantees performed. This year the Countess has arranged to have Metropolitan Opera star Marcello Giordani as the featured artist and several of his colleagues to perform for the January 9th, 2011 Sunday Afternoon at the Opera benefit concert.

The Countess is a patron of the Arts with an extensive musical background in dance, voice, and piano. She studied at the Juilliard School of Music and Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Sunday Afternoon at the Opera is currently the major fundraiser for St. John the Evangelist Church and events such as this require a great deal of planning and coordination. In addition to the Singers Development Foundation and the Countess Lucienne von Doz this event is made possible by a devoted committee, who contribute their talents, their love of opera, of St. John's and the community.

Sunday Afternoon at the Opera Committee

• Countess Lucienne von Doz
• Dr. Mary Ellen Hecht
• Rev. Robert Kolakowski
• Ginger Welsh
• Elizabeth Griffin
• Richard McDonough
• George Evans
• Patricia Busso-Campana
• Judy Rudderow
• Benita Ryan
• Jeanne Colalilo
• Jannie & Nick Gialias

The Singers Development Foundation

The Singers Development Foundation was launched in 1991. Its mission statement includes the granting of funds as well as practical help for young opera singers at a particularly needful period in their career.-that between academia and a full career on the opera stages of the U.S. and Europe.

The practical help includes grants for coaching, vocal lessons, and audition tours. Between 2008 and 2009 more than eight of its grantees appeared in major roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and there were numerous such performances on the opera stages of Europe and South America.

The Foundation is fortunate in its artistic board which includes among others:

• Marilyn Horne
• Luciano Pavarotti (in memoriam)
• Dame Joan Sutherland
• Renata Scotto
• Thomas Hampson
• Natalie Dessay

Who are both friends and hands on advisors for the young singers.

This year Maestro Giordani has launched his own foundation in aid of the musical careers of young operatic voices.

The Church of St John the Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist Church was built in 1892, designed by the famous Philadelphia architect Edwin Forest Durang. Built in the German Gothic design, correct in every detail of Scotch Granite and trimmed in Indiana limestone. The magnificent construction and beautiful interior of the church, with its organ loft creates an acoustic chamber of rare resonance. Instruments and voice alike are 'alive and sonant' in its Nave. The experience of hearing opera at St. John's is unlike any other. A highly accomplished organist plays for Sunday services, frequently accompanied by solo instruments or voice.