P . 10 | APRIL 2022 | THE HAMMONTONIAN
Tomasello Winery Opera Galas feature Hymel , future stars
by KRISTIN GUGLIETTI
The Opera Galas in Hammonton are one of the town ’ s “ best kept secrets ” according to winery owner Charlie Tomasello .
He talked about the origins of the Opera Galas at Tomasello Winery , located at 225 N . White Horse Pike , during the March 27 Winter Opera Gala . “ The Opera Galas started 24 years
MUSICALLY SPEAKING
ago , and my mom who passed , Peggy Tomasello , was a big opera fan . We were approached about doing an opera and I said , ‘ That ’ s the most ridiculous thing I ’ ve ever heard of . No one will come .’ One-hundred-fifty people came . Ever since then , we ’ ve been affiliated with the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia , kind of like the Julliard of Opera . They send their singers over . They do the Opera Gala . It ’ s a good opportunity for them to hone their trade and build very good relationships ,” Tomasello said .
Hammontonians love opera because of its roots in Italy , and Hammonton is one of New Jersey ’ s most Italian town .
“ Our Italian heritage has a lot to do with opera . Most operas are in Italian ,” Tomasello said .
According to San Francisco ’ s Opera ’ s website , opera started in Florence , Italy more than 400 years ago when Jacopo Peri composed Dafne in 1597 , which many consider to be the first opera .
There are four opera galas at Tomasello Winery every year : the Winter Opera Gala , Totally Tenors Gala , Harvest Gala and Holiday Gala . Each Opera Gala includes a gourmet four-course meal paired with Tomasello wine .
“ Every Opera Gala we serve four wines . A sparkling wine to start and then either a premium red or white to go with the entrée . And then usually some kind of sweeter wine for dessert .”
At the Winter Opera Gala , guests enjoyed wild mushroom bisque for soup , and mixed greens with crumbled blue cheese , apples , dried cranberries and balsamic vinaigrette for salad paired with Tomasello Blanc de Blanc Brut . For the entrée , guests had two options : chicken sorrento , sauteed chicken with mushrooms , tomatoes and fontinella cheese in a Tomasello white wine and light marinara sauce paired with Tomasello 2021 Outer Coastal Plain Sangiovese or crab stuffed flounder paired with Tomasello American Pinot Grigio . For dessert , guest enjoyed tiramisu with kahlua whipped cream paired with Tomasello 2021 Vintage Port .
Donna and John Perry of Toms River said they have been going to the Opera Galas for almost 10 years .
“ Someone told us about it , and we ’ ve been going ever since ,” Donna Perry said .
“ We enjoy it . It ’ s a nice day out ,” John Perry said .
Andrea Stefanelli , Kristin Hand , Theresa Woolley and Rosie Camoosa came from Monmouth County near Asbury Park to see the Opera Gala .
“ I had a friend who lives down here and she brought me
BRYAN HYMEL SINGS AT TOMASELLO WINERY
to one years ago , and we thought it ’ d be a nice thing to do for my grandmother [ Woolley ] for Christmas in place of just material possessions ,” Hand said .
“ I love them for everything they do for me , my children , my grandchildren ,” Woolley said .
Guests enjoyed listening to the performers from the Academy of Vocal Arts , which included Bryan Hymel ( tenor ), Anne Marie Stanley ( mezzo-soprano ), Benjamin Dickerson ( baritone ), Yihan Duan ( soprano ) and Jose Melendez ( piano ).
“ It ’ s great to have you back and thank you ever so much for coming and all of you . And I hope when the three of you are famous as Bryan is , you ’ ll come back too ,” Tomasello said .
For his first performance of the night , Hymel sang Recondita armonia from Tosca by Giacomo Puccini . He said it was one of the first arias he performed .
“ It was probably one of the first ones I sang here , so I thought fitting to do that again ,” Hymel said .
Hymel , an international opera star who performed at the winery 15 years ago said he loves Hammonton .
“ I love it ! Absolutely . It ’ s been a long time since I been here , but it was great . I actually drove in today and it ’ s a really cute place ,” Hymel said .
After the performance , guests visited the tasting room to purchase their favorite Tomasello wines .
“ Every opera Sunday is a special day . It ’ s here in this wonderful town . To see all these people — most of these patrons have been coming for a number of years ,” Tomasello said .
The next Opera Gala on May 22 is sold out . Tickets are available for the Harvest Gala on October 16 and the Holiday Gala on December 11 . To make a reservation , call ( 800 ) 666-9463 or order online at tomasellowinery . com .