The Barcarolle was conceived over drinks with friends discussing the future of Opera. Then, much like its subject, an unexpected visit from the Muse sparked a flame, which became a script. While filming in the fall of 2019, we had no idea that the looming pandemic was about to erase our performance calendars for most of the next year and then some. I thank the Muse for the inspiration that kept me creating during this time.

I am eternally grateful for all those who came together to make this dream of mine a reality, and who supported me all along the way. To Laura, my forever Partner-In-Crime, who always has the chutzpah to say “do it!” and the generosity to help with every step on the way. To John, who was my Hoffmann from the moment of conception, and who played the part exactly as I imagined he would. To the most fabulous Dyana, the incomparable Miriam, my lovely neighbors Darek and Danielle, my multi-talented niece Cordelia, and especially my husband Richard, for joyfully transforming the backyard into a Venetian Carnevale. To Juhi, who instantly read my mind and expertly translated my imaginings on film with her expert camerawork. To Luis, for his phenomenal work in sound mixing. And, to Mark and Susan Adams, and the Anna Sosenko Assist Trust, whose financial support made this project possible.

THANK YOU!

Hailed by Opera News as “the very picture of youthful optimism and potential,” John Kaneklides’ “tenor voice cuts through all others with its richness and warmth” (Broadway World). This season he made his Carnegie Hall debut performing World Premieres of orchestrated works by Georgia Shreve. He recently reprised three of his now-signature roles, Alfredo in La traviata, the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann, and Rodolfo in La bohème. Recent engagements include The Guide turned Narciso Borgia in Blumenfeld’s Borgia Infami, Laurie in Adamo’s Little Women, Micah in Floyd’s Slow Dusk, Villers in Floyd’s Prince of Players, Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Henrik in A Little Night Music, and Lt. Joseph Cable in South Pacific. His concert appearances include the tenor soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Handel’s Messiah and most recently, Orff’s Carmina Burana with The Florida Orchestra.

The LA Times called Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella an “instantly believable Frida, a capable singer and actor, compelling on stage” after her debut in the title role of Robert Xavier Rodríguez’s masterpiece at Long Beach Opera. Canada's Daze Magazine raved of her Carmen, "Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella hits all the right notes—she’s flirtatious, sensual, sympathetic, full of fire and delivers a stellar vocal performance." Virella has appeared on stages and in concert throughout Europe and the US as Frau Reich, Carmen (hailed as “fabulous,” “powerful” and “excellent” in Catalunya), Octavian, Luisa Fernanda, Cherubino, Serse, Prince Charmant, Hänsel, Desideria (The Saint of Bleecker Street) and Maddalena, among others. She’s a strong proponent of the recital experience and chamber music, championing new works and lesser-known Puerto Rican art song. This year she debuted as Alicia in Some Light Emerges with the New York Opera Fest, premiered two chamber pieces at the Queens New Music Festival, and re-visited Carmen with Mercury Opera in Alberta, Canada.

From Left to Right:

Miriam Browning-Nance, former operatic soprano and current opera advocate, has extensive performing arts experience on and off the stage, from stage management, to box office coordination, to diction coaching. She is also Associate Director of Social Intelligence at Horizon Media.

(John Kanaklides, Hoffmann)

Danielle Montagnino is an outdoorsy dog mom who never thought she would appear in a film.

Darek Dudzinski is a fun loving dog dad and aspiring traveler.

Richard Pearson, bass, has been a fixture at Lincoln Center for over 30 years, performing with both New York City Opera and The Metropolitan Opera. He has also performed with various opera companies nationwide in roles such as Sarastro, Leporello, and Raimondo Bide-the-Bent.

Dyana Neal has been the midday host at WBJC-FM since 1993, but her varied resume also includes work in opera, musical theater, plays, film, television, and voice-overs.

Cordelia Anne Wilson is a captivating, young coloratura soprano. Her multifaceted career progression extends beyond performing to directing and costume design. More at www.CordeliaWilson.me

Juhi Sharma is a New York, Dallas and Chennai based filmmaker working in documentaries, fiction films, music videos and branded content. She has an MFA in Cinematography and a Diploma in Digital Photography. Her work in documentary and AD films has taken her all across the world and won her multiple awards for the same. Her focus drives her to understand the universal thread of emotion that unites us all.

In 2005, Luis Herrera founded Masterhead Lab Mastering, in NYC. On his way to becoming a Latin GRAMMY Award-winner engineer, he spent most of his time recording, mixing and mastering for musicians, producers, directors and ad agencies from all over the world. His credits cut across multiple genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, EDM, traditional/folk and classical; this include artists like Avishai Cohen, Thalia, Cuarteto Lationoamericano, Eugenia León, Santa Sabina, Renee Mooi, Orquesta Típica de la Cd. de México, among many others. Out of the four Latin GRAMMY Nominated projects he's participated on, two of them have won the renowned award.