Presenter: Robert W. Butts, Ph.D.

Giuseppe Verdi redefined Italian opera and brought it to
worldwide popularity. In addition to his great music, his
sense of drama and characterization helped create
operas that remain popular today. His involvement with
The Risorgimento (Italian unification) gave an added
philosophical and political element to his operas. His
music helped develop the psychological relationships
and personalities of the protagonists in La Traviata,
Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, Aida, and so many others.
Dr. Robert W. Butts serves as Music Director and Conductor with The Baroque Orchestra of New
Jersey and The New York Classical Music Society. He teaches at The Casperson School of
Graduate Studies at Drew University and at Montclair State University. He has done pre-concert
talks for NJPAC, The New Jersey Symphony, The New Jersey State Opera and The New Jersey
Council for the Humanities. He is the recipient of the 2019 Artist of the Year-New York Classical
Music Society and 2019 Exemplary Leader Award - Morris County Chamber of Commerce. Dr.
Butts has appeared with orchestras in the United States and Europe and is New Jersey’s most
wide-ranging conductor, exploring the operatic as well as the orchestral worlds. As a composer,
Dr. Butts has created popular works for orchestra, voice and chamber ensembles.