Fall Performances ∙​​ September 13, 2025 ∙​​ 8:00pm

Divaria Opera: WE ARE CARMEN SOMOS CARMEN

Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Carmen's premiere and its inspiration on the music and dance of the Spanish-speaking world. 

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Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Carmen’s premiere and its inspiration on the music and dance of the Spanish-speaking world. A multidisciplinary piece featuring, opera, zarzuela, dance with selections from Carmen supplemented by other works set in the Spanish-speaking world (including zarzuela). Featuring Spanish mezzo-soprano Olivia Gomez, Sol y Sombra Dance Company and New Asia Chamber Orchestra.

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Featured Cast

Ashley Galvani Bell

Soprano

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Olivia Gomez

Mezzo Soprano

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Elisabet Torras Aguilera

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New Asia Chamber Music Society

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Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co

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What's On

  • Ashley Galvani Bell

    Soprano

    Soprano Ashley Galvani Bell has performed as a soloist in the US, Italy, Spain, France & Russia. This season, among other things, she was thrilled to make her role debut as Leonora in Il Trovatore with Boheme Opera New Jersey, her debuts in Denmark and Germany and to sing Cio Cio San in Palm Desert, California. Her 2023 appearances alone included her debut with ABAO Bilbao Opera(Spain) as Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte; her debut with Teatro Perez Galdos in Gran Canaria(Spain) as the title role of Klara; Cio Cio San with both Boheme Opera NJ and Daytona Beach Symphony Society; her debut in Milan, Italy, as soprano soloist in Exultate Jubilate with Orchestra UNIMI and Violetta in La Traviata, the title role in the world premiere of Penelope's Dream & soprano soloist in Zemlinsky's Lyrische Symphonie, all with Spain’s Musica en Villafranca. Ashley is a Phi Beta Kappa Graduate of Yale and speaks five languages fluently.

    Olivia Gomez

    Mezzo Soprano

    A versatile mezzo-soprano of wide-ranging operatic and symphonic repertoire, in recent seasons Ms. Gomez has performed roles such as: Dorabella (Cosí fan tutte), Siebel (Faust), Flora y Annina (La Traviata), Carmen (Carmen), Petra (La Regenta), Mamma Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana), Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), Mercedes (Carmen), Luisa Fernanda (Luisa Fernanda), Aurora Beltran (Doña Francisquita), Suor Zelatrice (Suor Angelica) etc. in theatres such as: Teatro Real, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Opera of Oviedo, ABAO, Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, Teatre Principal in Palma, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro Amazonas in Manaus (Brazil) AND Festival of Carcassone. She has shared the stage with some of the most brilliant voices of today including: Elina Garanca, Michel Fabiano, Nadine Sierra, Javier Camarena, etc., and her performances have been highly praised by reviewers for their excellence both vocally and dramatically, thanks to her initial training as an actress. She been awarded the First Prize of the Concorso Elsa Respighi in Verona (2015), Second Prize in the Concurs de Les Corts de Barcelona (2019), Special Jury Prize in the Concours de chant Canari in France (2017), Premio Ópera de Saõ Paulo in the International Opera Competition of Tenerife (2017), the Best Performer Award for Zarzuela (2016) in the Concurso Internacional Ciudad de Logroño and the scholarship from the International Opera Awards Foundation of London.

    Elisabet Torras Aguilera

    Elisabet Torras Aguilera was born and raised in Barcelona (Spain) where she earned her B.A. in Spanish Dance and Flamenco from the Conservatory of Dance and Theater. Her training was based on Flamenco, Classical Spanish Dance, Escuela Bolera, Spanish Folklore, The Emma Maleras Castanet Method, Ballet and Contemporary Dance. She continued her studies in Madrid. Amongst her teachers were La Chana, Carmen Talegona, Concha Jareño, Belén Cabanes, Carlos Lérida, Gala Vivancos, Javier Latorre, Miguel Ángel Rojas, Carlos Rodríguez, Cristina Casanova, Nuria Truco, Eli Truco, La Lupi, Eva Yerbabuena, Belén Maya, Alfonso Losa.. and others.Elisabet has toured Europe and Asia with Flamenco, Classical Spanish Dance and Zarzuela companies. In 2009 she was a guest artist at the Flamenco Festival “Viva España” in Moscow and the “Presidence Belge”- Festival in Brussels. She toured Spain and China with Flamenco pianist Manolo Carrasco’s company, performed several seasons with Javier Latorre’s Somorrostro Dansa Flamenca Company and worked with Rojas & Rodriguez Company in Madrid in 2011. Since 2013 Elisabet performs frequently in New York City and across the USA as a solo artist and with NY based Flamenco companies such as “Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana”, “A Palo Seco”, “American Bolero Dance Company”, “Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca” and Latin Grammy Award Winner Hernan Romero. She participated as a solo castanet artist at Dance Heginbotham, performed with opera singers Anna Tonna and Larissa Martinez as well as with different classical orchestras, chamber orchestras and smaller classic ensembles dancing Escuela Bolera and Spanish Classical Dance. In 2016 she was invited to the prestigious Carnegie Hall as a special guest for the 31st Annual Gala of Zarzuelas in New York City.

    New Asia Chamber Music Society

    Founded in 2010 by a group of passionate young Asian-American musicians who wanted to create more opportunities for Asian artists and bring fresh energy to chamber music. Since then, NACMS has won the 2016 Huang-Yu-Ting Memorial Award and a New Music USA grant. The members, graduates of prestigious schools like Juilliard and Curtis, have performed around the world and are dedicated to delivering high-quality, memorable concerts. NACMS made its sold-out debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2011 and continues to perform at iconic venues across New York, such as Alice Tully Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They also bring their music to unique spaces like Ellis Island and Queens Museum and have toured internationally, including Paraguay and a memorable trip to Taiwan for performances and master classes.

    Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co

    Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co, was established over 35 years ago to promote the exciting art of Hispanic/Latin music & dance. Under founder & artistic director Maria Loreta Celitan, the company presents programs of Flamenco, Spanish Classical & Folk, Mexican, Argentine Tango and Latin Dance styles as well as traditional dances from throughout the Hispanic/Latin world for concert series, arts-in-education programs, colleges, cultural and entertainment centers Sol y Sombra's Principal members are recognized as outstanding professionals in the field of Hispanic music & dance and have performed extensively both nationally and internationally. In recognition of its quality, value, and achievements, Sol y Sombra has been the recipient of numerous grants from NYSCA, the New York State Legislature, the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development, the Suffolk County Office of Cultural Affairs, Dance NYC, the NY State Dance Force and JP Morgan Chase Bank.

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    Merrill Lynch Wealth Managment
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