OPERA & Music THEATRE
OPERA & Music THEATRE though he has now been dead for · out, this year's edition features a just over a century, the wit of the packed bill including Salome Bey, man born under the name of Fingal Peggy Baker, Taiko drummers and O'Flaherty Wills continues to fas- Jackie Richardson. For tickets, call cinate and delight readers of his 416-944-1740. work. For a surprisingly fresh Next up is the 9th annual glimpse at the swathe he cut across March of Dames, the yearly cavallate Victorian society, you need cade of funny females. The talent look no further than Patience, Gil- · includes Barbara Barsky, Linda bert and Sullivan's thinly-veiled sat- Kash, Kristeen Von Hagen and ire of the aesthetic m~vement. Trisha Williams, among many oth Wilde himself is gently lampooned ers. In honour of their own "nine as the velvet~clad and lily-wielding lives", the Dames are donating a Bunthorne who spurns his "twenty portion of proceeds to Toronto Cat lovesick maidens" to court Pa- Rescue. March of Dames runs tience, a simple shepherdess. ("Do March 20 to 24 in the Tims Sims you ever yearn?" he questions her, Playhouse at The Second City. For to which she responds "I yearn IJ1.Y tickets, call 416-343-0011: living.") The North Toronto Players present Patience from March 1to3 at the Leah Posluns Theatre. SONGS THEY HA VE SUNG FOR A THOUSAND YEARS? Until March 21, The Sing-A-Long COME TO THE CABARET . Sound of M.usic offers die-hard fans Two of Toronto's most popular an- a chance to cheer, boo, and even nual events fall in March; both are compete in a pre"show costume concabarets that mix comedy, music test. (Fancy yourself as "Ray, a and the impossible-to-categorize, Drop of Golden Sun"?) And if and both feature all-female lineups. you're a little low on lederhosen, First, Nightwood 'Theatre present your advance ticket at presents its beloved benefit Malabar Ltd. (14 McCaul Street) for FemCab: The Five-Minute Feminist a 10 % discount on costume Cabaret on March 10 at the Bluma rentals.The show runs at the soon Appel Theatre. Usually a quick sell- to-close-forever Eglinton Theatre. ·--· Call TicketKing at416-872-1212; a lktta Al-ldafr'M.Mus. · portion of proceeds goes to United .Way. Lyric Soprano Sounds like a perfect cue for me A rich and warm voice combined ·to sign off this month's column - with a~ impeccable presentation! "So long, farewell, aufWiedersehen, ·adieu!" . * Available for operas, · oratorios, recitals, orchestral works, etc ... * Great packages for weddings, corporate events or any special occasion! * RCM registered teacher (private lessons for all ages / levels) *Also offering coaching in French diction (416) 630-5786 lauclair@hotrnail.com 'lloice d. fl?iano £essons In your own home given by a qualified teacher -Reasonable Rates -R&B, POP, Classical -Conservatory Grades ' 416-767-8779 Interview: Alexina Louie. continuedfrompage u out a character a bit more, to. get behind the character. I alsci try to match the music with the personality of the character, and determined that I wouldn't set the text only syllabically, but also melismatically at particular locations, which assists in balancing the form. STEENHUISEN: Has your previous work in film informed how you write an opera? Is there any overlap between the genres? LOUIE: I don't think so, although in both you're moving toward dramatic points, and you have to hold yourself back, to weigh the different dramatic moments. The difference is that in film I don't control the structure, I serve the director's vision, whereas with opera, my take is that the composer is driv.ing the bus. That's the other thing that I had to learn how to ~~~~~ -~~~~~~ LISTINGS do, to take charge, because basically the responsibility was mine - shaping the work, asking for certain kinds of arias to allow the characters to reveal themselves more, to cut lines of libretto, and so on. It has required a great deal of commitment, to shape the work and take charge. The storyline, and the fact that it's an opera on a grand scale, required me to utilize all of the musical skills I have developed to date. It represents where I am at this point in my life. I haven't been shy about using my musical language, I haven;t scaled back. It's a highly charged opera, very sensual. In some ways it's an erotic opera. Not only am I using the full range of my musical development, but I'm also using the full range of my experience as a human being. OPERA AND Music THEATRE Artword Theatre. Mangiacake! Charly Chiarelli, performer; Ronald Weihs, director. March 1-24. Fri & Sat: 8:30; Sat: 4:00; Sun: 3:30. 75 Portland. 416·408·2783. Evenings: ,, (child); Sat matinee: ,, (child); Sun matinee: ,, (child). Canadian Opera Company. Handel: Julius Caesar. Ewa Podles, Isabel Bayrakdarian, · Daniel Taylor, Marie·Nicole temieux & other performers; Kenneth Montgomery, conductor. Begins April 6: 8:00~ Pre·performance chat 45 minutes prior to each performance. Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. East. 416·872-2262. -5. Canadian Opera Company. Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov. Gidon Saks, Shannon Mercer, Sonya.Gosse, Vadim Zaplechny & other performers; Richard Bradshaw, conductor.
0 Begins April 5: 8:00. Pre·performance chat 45 minutes prior to each performance. Hummingbird Centre for the Per.forming Arts, 1 Front St. East. 416·872-2262. ·5. Canon Theatre. Blue's Birthday Party. Songs, story & new characters. Family entertainment. March 8: 7:00; March 9 & 10: 11:OOam,2:00 & 5:00. 244 Victoria. 416·872-1212. ,. Canon Theatre. Cats. Music by Lloyd Webber. To March 3. 244 Yictoria St. 416· 872-1212. ·. Civic light Opera Company. Stop the World! I Want to Get Off. By Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley. Joe Cascone, Julie Lennick, Stephanie Douglas, Carol Kugler, Linda MacDonald & other performers; Joe Cascone, artistic director. March 1: 8:DO; March 2: 2:00 & 8:00. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Drive. 416-469·8450. .50, (sr/st), $.12.50(Wed & Thurs special). Geordie Productions. A Promise is a Promise. Adaptation of a famous Arctic legend with puppetry, music & dance. Recommended for ages 4 & up. March 9, 10, 12· 17. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young · People, 1.65 Front St. East. 416·862·2222.· . Hamilton Place. Funny Girl March 7: 8:00. 1 Summers Lane, Hamilton. 905·527· 7666. Harbourfront Centre. Isis: Egyptian Dance and Music, Past and Present. 20th century traditional music & dance; ancient interpretive dance &music. March 14-17. Thurs·Sat: 8:00; Sun 3:00. Lakeside Terrace, 235 Queens Quay West. 416·973-4000. . Heritage Theatre. Forever Plaid. Musical · tribute to the 50's. March 1: 8:00. 86 Main St. North, Brampton. 905·874·2800. .50. Hummingbird Centre/I anglewood Family Concerts. Little Bear & the Enchanted Wood. Based on the books by Maurice Send~k and · Else Holmelund Minarik. Mar 8: 6:30; Mar 9: 10:30am, 2:00 & 5:30. Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. East. 416· 872-2262. ;. I Furiosi Baroque Ensemble. Furieux. Cantatas of Bach and Monteclair. Stage direction and production by Gui_llaume Bernardi; Brian McMillan, bass baritone. March '15 & 16: 8:00. Artword Theatre, 75 Portland St. 416-652·5483. ,. living Arts Centre. A Promise Is A Promise. Based on Robert Munsch's adaption of an Arctic legend; puppetry, music, dance. Mar 24: 2:00. Hammerson Hall, 4141 Living Arts . OPERA & Music THEATRE Drive, Mississauga. 905·306·6000. ,. .. Mirvish Productions. Mamma Mia! Musical based on the songs of ABBA. Music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus; book by Catherine Johnson; direcled by Phyllida Lloyd. To June 30. T ues·Sat 8:00; Wed, Sat & Sun 2:00. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West.416·872-1212. to . Mirvish Productions. The Lion King. Stage musical of Disney's 1994 animated feature. To September 8. Wed-Sat: 8:00; Wed & Sat: 2:00; Sun: 1 :00 & 6:30. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. West. 416·872-1212. · to$.115. Music ·Theatre Mississauga. Oliver. Music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart. March 22,23,28,29,30: 8:00; March 24: 2:00. Meadowvale Theatre, 6315 Montevideo Rd .. Mississauga. 905·821 ·0090. ,. Necessary Angel/Factory Theatre. Murphy: The Piper. Richard Rose, director. Based on Browning's poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin, with music, verse & cast 0! over 20 actors. To . March 3. T 4es·Sat: ·8:00;.Sunday 2:00. Mainspace, 125 Bathurst St. 416·504·9971. North Toronto Players. Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience. March 1,2: 8:00; March 3: 2:00. Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst. 905· 727·2209. , (sr on March 3), (children), (opening night special). Oakville· Centre for the Per:forming Arts. L 'Atelier lyrique de L 'Opera de Montreal Mozart: Casi Fan T utte. Bernard Uzan, director. Apr 5: 8:00. 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905·815·202l ·. Opera in Concert. Handel· Semele.' Tracy Dahl, Catherine Robbin, John Tessier, Alain Coulombe, Giles Tomkins, performers; Aradia · Ensemble, Kevin Mallon, conductor; Opera in. Concert Chorus, Robert Cooper, director; Pre· concert chat with lain Scott 45 minutes prior to performance. Mar 16: 8:00; Mar 17: 2:30. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. East. 416· 366-7.723. ,. Opera Mississauga. Puccini: Tosca. Maria Dragoni, soprano; Dwight Bennett, conductor. March 2: 8:00. Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Centre Drive. 905· 306·6000. ·, ·(sr/st) . . Royal Conservatory of Music. Opera Night. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas; Bernstein: Trouble in Tahiti. Brahm Goldhamer, artistic director; Roxolana Rosiak, stage director. Mar 23 & 25: 8:00. Ettore Mazzoleni Concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. West. 416-408·2824 ext.321. Royal Ontario Museum/Columbus Centre. Verdi: Rigoletto. Concert version of high.lights from the opera. Giuseppe Macina, director. 1'00 Queen's Park. March 10: 2:00. 416·586· 8000. Free with museum admission: , O(srfst), (ages 5· 14), childre~ 4 & under ·free. Stage Blue Productions. Jesus Christ Superstar. Lyrics by Tim Rice; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. March 14· 17 & 20·23: 8:00. Isabel Bader T~eatre, 93 Charles St. · West. 416·946 ·777~. ,, group rates. Toronto Consort. Monteverdi: The Return of Ulysses. Laura Pudwe.11 and William Hite, vocalists; 17th century orchestra; David Fallis, music director. April 5 & 6: 8:00. Trinity·St. Paul's Church, 427 Bloor St. West. 416·964· 6337. ·; ·(srfst). Toronto Opera Repertoire. Puccini: Tosca. Giuseppe Macina, director. March 1: 8:00; March 3: 2:00. Bickford C~ntre Theatre, 777 Bloor St. West.416 · 698·9~72. ,. Toronto Opera Repertoire. Strauss: Die Fledermaus. Giuseppe Macina, director. March 2: 8:00. Bickford Centre Theatre, 777 Bloor St. West. 416·698·9572. ,. TrypTych Productions. Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffmann. Workshop production. Edward Franko, stage director; William . Shookhoff, music director; Lenard Whiting, chorus director; Ross Darlington, Danijel Varga, Heather Shaw & other performers. March 2.~.4 & 5: 8:00. Victoria·Royce Church, 190 Medland. 416·763·5066. ,. Unionville Theatre Company. TM Wizard of Oz. Music by Arlen; Doug Manning, conductor. To March 2. Evenings 7:30; Saiur.day 1 :00. Markham Theatr-e For. Performing Arts, 171 Town Centre Blvd. 905· MIKROKOSMOS 305}469. University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Offenbach: Bluebeard. Raffi Armenian, conductor; Michael Patrick Albano, director. March 8,9, 15, 16: · 8:00. MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen's Park.416·978-3744. ,. York University Department of Music. Opera in Concert. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas. Catherine Robbin, director. March 13: 12:30. Mclaughlin Performance Hall, 050 Mclaughlin College, 4700 Keele St. 416·736· 5186.Free. Rea.lly good J ood that · just happens to be ~ @ vegetarian! ff)) Before your concert join us for dinner. Pay-by-weight delicio~s, healthy buffet tc. : save you time & money. French country kitchen atmosphere and serene ambience. Licensed for wine and beer. Open daily. 200/o pjj on your first visit with ad 655 Bay St. (enter off Elm) (416) 596-9364 We are a l 0 -minute walk from many theatres. Inquire about .00 parking for dinner & show. 31 4. Churchill Ave Toronto. 'ontario M2R 1 E7 Canada Tel: (1) 416-224-1956 Fax: (1) 416-224-2964 www.mikrokosmos.com We buy your classical LP collection (classical, such as Beethoven. Mozart, Stockhausen) we travel anywhere for good collection ···-----------·-·-·-····+' ·---------·-------- -- ---·--·-- ·-- b t. - b 1- ey~~~l~uttL~sJ~a.!fi~J L;t••" . . . . Sibelius In Amerka®...:'\tour sourtefor Sibelius sales & 'support since 1995. You may be eligible /or a discoqnt price. Call fordetails. • · · --_-_-_--_-_-_-_·_LJ _-_-_-___ ; ---- :;-_- _·: r ;f&~iiD~f~YRkfregt~~; -·-~S:Wi~t~~~~T1~.~ic~I?~•--- -_- ,9. ·
