Russell Cusick, known locally for his panoramic photographs of the Hudson Valley, has another identity: opera singer. He will be singing a program of opera and musical selections on at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Howland Cultural Center. Special guests will be soprano Theresa Cincione and pianist Ed Bak. Repertoire (subject to change) will include selections by Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, Gershwin, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Cusick started singing in high school. His mother cheered him on, in hopes that he would become a gospel singer. He began performing in musicals and then in small roles in operas at the Nevada Opera Company in Reno. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, he performed in several musicals.
Two of these shows, Guys and Dolls and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, were chosen by the Department of Defense to tour as USO shows and were performed for the troops at military bases throughout Southeast Asia. Cusick moved to New York City after finishing undergraduate studies in 1988 and attended the Manhattan School of Music, following that with a four-year apprenticeship at Juilliard. After Juilliard, he performed in Europe, the Middle East and in the U.S.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door on the evening of the concert or by calling 845-831-4988.
