1970: A postage-stamp-sized stage in a church youth center, a tinny upright piano, and dedicated, opera-loving neighbors were the initial ingredients for the Regina Opera Company thirty-two years ago. Marie Cantoni and Nicholas Tierno, long-time members of the parish of Regina Pacis Shrine in Boro Park, Brooklyn, decided to found a small amateur opera company so that Nick's brother Frank, a talented tenor, would have a place to sing opera. With the participation of a number of singers from local church choirs, the fledgling company put on little recitals, and the community loved it. Then soprano Sandra Alesi joined the company, and it began to produce full opera performances, with piano accompaniment by the talented Vincent Gaudioso, who unfortunately passed away in November 1996, and with great-looking sets by Frank Fontana. In 1971, the company presented its first full opera, La Traviata, with Sandy starring as Violetta. Marie Cantoni's daughter Linda, then 12, sang soprano in the chorus. In 1973, the inimitable soprano Francine Garber-Cohen and her husband, baritone Barry Cohen, joined the company.

Soon, as the audience grew, it became clear that the company would have to grow with it. Productions of Cavalleria Rusticana, Rigoletto, Die Fledermaus, Madama Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi, and La Bohème attracted not only larger audiences, but also more and more talented professional singers from all over the area. It was time for better facilities, so in 1976, when the parish offered the company the use of Regina Hall, the auditorium in Regina Pacis School, the company moved down the block and enjoyed a larger stage, better lighting, set, and storage facilities, greater seating capacity, and a baby grand piano. The company reorganized itself into a non-profit corporation with a board of directors: Marie Cantoni, her husband Matthew, and Fran Garber-Cohen. Sandra Alesi became general manager; Gianni Simone became principal stage director (both have since moved on to other projects). The amateur days were fading away into a new era of professionalism, marked by the acquisition of a full orchestra in December 1982, with Regina's production of Carmen. Singers from all over the region delighted our audiences, and some eventually moved on to great heights, most notably Dolora Zajick, who early in her career sang Santuzza in a Regina production of Cavalleria Rusticana and went on to become an international opera star.

The key to Regina's success since then has been the talent, dedication, and unpaid hard work of Marie Cantoni and Fran Garber-Cohen, who wear many hats in the running of the company.  (Read Brooklyn.About.com's profile of Marie.)  As producers, they are responsible for every aspect of every production.   Fran, who is Chairman of the Board, produces the Sunday Matinee, Community Outreach, and other concerts, coordinates the principal singers, chorus, and support staff, and is responsible for fundraising and publicity for the company -- the last a full-time job in itself, although Fran already has a full-time job with the New York State Department of Labor. Fran has also sung many roles with the company, and regularly sings with the chorus. Marie, a Board member, keeps the books (with the volunteer assistance of accountant Peter Orlandi, CPA), runs the Guild, coordinates reservations and the mailing list, manages (and often makes) the props, and decorates the stage. Both Marie and Fran also sit on the casting committee. It is impossible to list the many, many other things they do to make Regina one of the best small opera companies in New York, but they are quietly working away behind the scenes.

Principal Conductor José Alejandro (Alex) Guzman joined the company for its production of Il Trovatore in March 1983, and nurtured the orchestra into the tight ensemble that it is today. Linda Cantoni eventually became principal stage director, secretary/legal advisor, and, upon her father's death in 1993, a member of the Board. She married Alex in 1992, and the husband-and-wife team has been responsible for many Regina productions, including the first Mozart operas the company has ever done: Così fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, and Don Giovanni, as well as new productions of Hansel and Gretel (reprised in November 2003) and The Mikado.

Many others have given their time and talent to Regina in various capacities. Robert DeFelice, who sadly passed away in 1999, started as a Guild member, became Vice President in 1996, volunteered his time at every rehearsal and performance as a production assistant, repairman, concessions manager, photographer (check out his great performance shots in our Photo Gallery) and supernumerary, and designed the sets for the 1998 production of Hansel and Gretel.  Associate Conductor Gregory Ortega has conducted many Regina productions in his over 10 years with the company. Guest Conductor Scott Jackson Wiley made his debut with us in the 1995-96 season and led off the 2004-05 season with Carmen.  Associate Stage Director Linda Lehr has directed many productions for us, including this season's productions of Carmen and Otello, and up-and-coming stage director Savannah Stevens debuted with us last season with Don Pasquale.  Set artist and flutist Richard Paratley enhances the beauty of our stage and our music.  Add to these the many generous people who volunteer for our box office, concession staff, costume staff, and technical staff, and it is clear why Regina Opera Company maintains its high artistic standards.

Although Regina receives some government funding, it depends mainly on ticket sales and private donations to keep up its work. The efforts of all our volunteers would be for naught without the generosity of our audience. Bravo to all our supporters who have kept us alive and well for the past 35 years!