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Join us in May 2012 as we wrap up our second season with a masterpiece of grand opera, accompanied by chamber orchestra.
Alcina
G.F. Handel
Toronto: Trinity St. Paul’s, 427 Bloor St. W, May 25, 2012, 7:30 PM
New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts: Thursday, May 31, 2012, 7:30 PM
What happens when a pair of sister sorceresses fall in love with the wrong men? Handel tells the story of Alcina, a sorceress who gives up her powers for the love of a handsome knight, and her sister Morgana, who has to choose between a faithful lover and a mysterious stranger. Dramatic and heartbreaking in true opera seria style, with quests, betrayals, and love conquering all.
Cast:
Alcina (a sorceress): Erin Bardua, soprano
Morgana (a sorceress; sister of Alcina): Maureen Batt, soprano
Ruggiero (a knight; Alcina’s lover, Bradamante’s fiancé): Vilma Vitols, mezzo-soprano
Bradamante (a young woman; Ruggiero’s fiancée): Vicki St. Pierre, mezzo-soprano
Oronte (Alcina’s guard; Morgana’s lover): Cory Knight, tenor
Melisso (Bradamante’s mentor): James Levesque, baritone
Oberto (a young boy on a quest): Julie Ludwig, soprano
Music director: Vicki St. Pierre
Orchestra:
Violin 1 – Alexis Brett
Violin 2 – Elizabeth Loewen Andrews
Viola – Mary McGeer
Cello – Laura Jones
Harpsichord – Lysiane Boulva
Oboe 1 – Gillian Howard
Oboe 2 – Daniel Brielmaier
Sung in Italian with English translation
Details, meet the cast
Info about our Season 2 opening production:
Chérubin
J. Massenet
7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 12th, 2011
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, ON
Continuing the hilarious (and sexy!) exploits of the exuberant page Chérubin, last seen making trouble in The Marriage of Figaro. Now he’s off to enjoy the privileges of his officer’s commission in the army, but not before sampling all the pleasures Spain has to offer. Written in the sumptuous, frivolous style of Paris’ Opera-Comique, Massenet’s light-hearted romance follows Chérubin while he trades the temptation of the beautiful Countess Almaviva for the passion of an exotic dancer (yes, that kind of does mean what you’re thinking), and finally falls for the girl next door… but has she really fallen for him?
Info about our inaugural production:
Le Nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart
7:30 PM, Saturday, February 26, 2011
Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Avenue, Toronto, ON