Two of the Upper West Side of Manhattan's most renowned Cantors ? Rebecca Garfein, Senior Cantor of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, and Dan Singer, Cantor at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue ? will perform at the Enrico Caruso Room at the Grotta Azzurra Ristorante in Little Italy on Tuesday, August 28, at 8 p.m. in what is being billed as "The Battle of the Cantors." Both singers are opera-trained and have performed on operatic and concert stages all over the world. Their performances are part of the Enrico Caruso Room's Tuesday Night Opera Series which began this past April in the very same room where the legendary Neapolitan tenor Enrico Caruso frequently sang after his performances at the Met nearly 100 years ago. Cantor Rebecca Garfein, a mezzo-soprano, is the first female Cantor ever to hold the position as Senior Cantor at Congregation Rodeph Sholom. She has also performed in numerous recitals throughout the United States, Israel and Europe, and has also performed at Carnegie Hall and the Aspen Music Festival, among other venues. Dan. Singer, Bass-Baritone, is known to many Upper West Siders in New York City as the Senior Cantor at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. What many of the members of his congregation may not know is that he is also an award-winning internationally recognized vocal artist with a very broad range of rare vocal talent, and has performed in everything from opera to light musical theater. He is currently pursuing M.A. in Performing Arts Administration at NYU. "This might be the first time that two Cantors from Manhattan's Upper West Side have appeared together in a secular performance of moistly operatic music," said Singer. "It should be a lot of fun and I hope that members of our congregation will turn up to cheer us on." Cantor Garfein added, "If many of our congregations attend, it will be like a wedding? your supporters will be seated on one side of the room, and mine will be on the other. I agree. It will be a lot of fun and I think Dan and I will make great music together! There is a $20 cover charge associated with the event. Food and drinks are available in the room starting at 7 p.m. There is no food or drinks minimum. For reservations: 212-925-8775. [caption id="attachment_55292" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Dan Singer"](http://nypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DanSinger1.jpg)[/caption]
