The dead rich uncle, the greedy relatives eager for a piece of the inheritance pie; the alarming rumors, the Will and Testament, the disappointments, the fury, the indignation, the outrage, the schemes, the trickery, treachery, bribery, bickering, deceit, the settling of old scores and of course, the triumph of true love.

Yes, it’s all here…the components that make Gianni Schicchi, Puccini’s only comic opera, a timely and relevant masterpiece.

The cast of characters includes; Baritone, Robert Garner as Gianni Schicchi the sly Neapolitan lawyer with crafty ideas; Soprano, Elizabeth Hillebrand as his lovesick daughter, Lauretta; Soprano, Rosemarie Serrano as Zita the stuck-up cousin; Tenor, John Viscardi as her lovesick nephew, Rinuccio; Bass, Steven Fredericks as the other  cousin, Simone a former Mayor of Fucecchio; Baritone, Andrew Walsh as Marco, Simone’s greedy son; Soprano, Natasha Uspensky as Ciesca, Marco’s greedy wife; Tenor,  Emmanuel Mora as Gherardo, Buoso’s nephew; Soprano, Roza Tulyaganova as Nella, his wife; Baritone, Jack White as Betto of Signa the greedy, poor relation, and a host of sundry other characters.

The production which will be performed in a brand new English translation by Robert Hess is staged by director, Rina Elisha. Rockland Opera Orchestra is under the baton of Artistic Director, Haim Elisha.