On OPERA BY CHRISTOPHER HOILE r---------..., TRYPTYCH Canada's Passion.lilt' Advocate o( the Vocal Arts www.lryplych.org AUDITIONS Musical Theatre Summer Workshop "'l)o11'/ bel1}011r J(afl(ler CIJ/j'7/way" The Art of John Kander and Fred Ebl5 Audition Date: April 23, 2005 Program: Aug 2 -17, 2005 Masterclass with Richard Ouzounian I Call Barbara Goodbody I I (416) 485-8911 I barbara@tryptych.org I I Edward Franko, William Shookhoff, Lenard Whiting I Artistic Directors --------- .. 32 I I I I I I I I LAST YEAR Opera.ea (formerly known as the Professional Opera Companies of Canada) promoted the activities of a number of Ontario opera companies under the aegis of a Spring Opera Festival. Whether it becomes a biannua I festival as was hoped, we will only know next year. Yet, as many have noticed, there has come to be so much operatic activity in Toronto and environs in April and May that the period has come to seem like an opera festival whether promoted as such or not. As it happens, several opera productions are part of the ongoing Metamorphosis Festival that began in Feb: ruary. The brainchild of Alison Mackay, Principle Double Bass of Tafelmusik, and David Fallis, Artistic Director of the Toronto Consort, the interdisciplinary festival has brought together thirty arts groups of all kinds-music, visual art, theatre, film, opera, dance, architecture and storytelling-to celebrate the themes of Ovid's "Metamorphosis" and othet tales of transformation. Complete listings for the festival can be found at www. metamorphosisfestival .ea. The final three of the six listed operatic events are coming up. First, from April 21-30 is Opera Atelier's double bill of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's "Acteon" (1683) and Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" (1689) at the Elgin Theatre. Last seen in Toronto in 1994, OA's production of "Dido" helped make its name internationally with appearances at the Houston Grand Opera, the BBC Proms ·and the Royal Opera House at Versailles. The upcoming production stars Monica Whicher as Dido, doomed to fall in love with the TrojC\ll hero Aeneas played by baritone Curtis Sullivan. Soprano Nathalie Paulin is Belinda, Dido's confidant, mezzo-soprano Laura Pudwell is the Sorceress and tenor Colin Ainsworth is the Sailor. From the 1992 world premiere production of Tapestry's Nigredo Hotel.Sophie: soprano Shari Saunders and Raymond: baritone Jonathan Whiuaker. In 2005 the roles will be played by Patricia O'Crillaghan and Alexander Dobson OA's "Acteon", last seen in Toronto in 1998, features Colin Ainsworth as Acteon, the hunter unfortunate enough to spy the goddess Diana bathing, Nathalie Paulin as Diana, soprano Jennie Sucq as Hyale and Laura Pudwell as Juno. Conductor David Fallis leads Tafelmus i k Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir. Following shortly afterwards (April 26-27 in Toronto, April 29 in Guelph) is Toronto Masque Theatre's production of Purcell's "semi-opera" "The Fairy Queen" (1692). The story is based not on Edmund Spencer's epic poem of that title as one might suppose, but rather on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Following the taste of the English Restoration, the music does not carry the story forward but rather constitutes a series of mini-masques inserted into the spoken play. The TMT production will involve actors including Derek ·Boyes performing excerpts of the play, baroque dancers choreographed by Marie-Nathalie Lacoursiere and singers including Benjamin Butterfield, Tyrsa Gawrachynsky, Lenard Whiting and Daniel Lichti. Larry Beckwith will lead a band of period instrucoNTtNuEs, PAGE 34 APRIL 1 - MAY 7 2005
Canadian Children's Opera Chorus Ann Cooper Gay, Artistic Director presents DIDO & iENEAS Music by Henry Purcell Libretto by Nahum Tate Director: Valerie Kuinka Conductor: Ann Cooper Gay School Performances: May 5 & 6, 10 am and 1:00 pm Public Performances: May 7 & 8, 2 pm and 7:30 pm · April 16. 21 & 23 at Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton April 29 at The Centre In The Square, Kitchener TICKETS ON SALE NOWt 1.800.265.8977 M-F 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm www.o eraontario.com An vening of Musical Theatre Featuring the premiere of "The Best Years" by Leslie Arden, commissioned by VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto with support from the Laidlaw Foundation. Saturday, May 14th, 2005 at 7:00.pm Trinity-St. Paul's United Church 427 Bloor St. West Tickets / at the door AUDITIONS Preparatory Chorus: Ages 4-7 Main Chorus I: Ages 7-11 Main Chorus II: Ages 11-19 Carol Woodward Ratzlaff. Artistic Director Call Laura Menard at 416. 788.8482 for more information. t: 416.788.8482 f: 416.788.0138 e: vivayouth@vivayouthsingers.com 16 Chilton Rd, Toronto, Ont. M4J 3C8 www.vivayouthsingers.com .. • •
