Volume 24 Issue 7 - April 2019

BRUCE ZINGER
Beat by Beat | On Opera
The Ponies Among
The Operatic
Warhorses!
CHRISTOPHER HOILE
In most years, April is the month with the single highest
concentration of opera presentations in Toronto and environs. In
past years there have often been so many examples of opera from
all periods that the month’s offerings could form a survey of the genre.
This month, for unknown reasons, there is a high concentration of
operatic warhorses which will certainly please those who primarily
enjoy familiar works. Yet, two companies are presenting works out
of the ordinary to help spice up a month heavy on household-name
composers.
Idomeneo and Atelier
The first on offer is a remount of Opera Atelier’s stunning production
of Mozart’s Idomeneo (1780), first seen in 2008. Famed soprano
Measha Brueggergosman made her Mozart operatic debut and her
debut with Opera Atelier in this production. Now she returns to OA to
sing the role of Elettra again. The cast includes tenor Colin Ainsworth
in the title role, mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta as Idamante and
soprano Meghan Lindsay as Ilia. David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik
Baroque Orchestra and Marshall Pynkoski directs.
Because the Mirvish production of the hit musical Come From
Away has taken over OA’s traditional venue, the Elgin Theatre,
Idomeneo will be performed in the Ed Mirvish Theatre, a block or so
north of the Elgin. Audiences will have to decide whether performing
in an auditorium with 700 more seats than the Elgin has any effect on
the acoustics. The opera runs from April 4 to 13.
Opera Atelier’s Idomeneo
Opera by Request
Opening next is familiar Mozart on a smaller scale in the form of his
Così fan tutte in concert only on April 5 by Opera by Request. Deena
Nicklefork sings Fiordiligi, Erin Armstrong is Dorabella, Conlan
Gassi is Ferrando, Anthony Rodrigues is Guglielmo, Danie Friesen is
Despina and John Holland is the cynical Don Alfonso. Claire Harris is
the pianist and music director.
Vera Causa
In April even the new company Vera Causa Opera, which presented
A scene from the Canadian Opera Company production of La Bohème, 2013
the world premiere of Dylan Langan’s Dracula last month and will
present a selection of arias from Canadian operas in June, has chosen
a work from the standard repertory for April. This is Donizetti’s
L’Elisir d’amore from 1832 that the company, as per its mandate, will
present in three cities in Southern Ontario. Allison Walmsley will sing
Adina, James Smith will be Nemorino, Jorge Trabanco will be Belcore,
Michaela Chiste is Giannetta and Camilo Rodriguez-Cuadrado is the
wily Dr. Dulcamara. Dylan Langan conducts the Vera Causa Opera
Chorus and Orchestra and is also the stage director. The production
opens in Cambridge on April 5, moves to Waterloo on April 6 and
finishes its run in Guelph on April 7.
Opera Belcanto
Filling out the crammed first week of April, running April 4 and
6 at the Richmond Hill Centre, is the blockbuster opera Carmen
presented by Opera Belcanto of York. Mila Ionkova sings the title role,
Stanislas Vitort is Don Jose, Michele Pearson is Micaela and Andrew
Anderson is Escamillo. David Varjabed conducts the Opera Belcanto
of York Chorus and Orchestra and Edward Franko, co-artistic director
of TrypTych Concert and Opera which has now moved to Kenora,
will direct.
Caird’s La Bohème at COC
In mid-April the spring season of the Canadian
Opera Company opens with Puccini’s La
Bohème, the opera that vies with Carmen
as the world’s most popular. The production
(which runs from April 17 to May 22) directed
by John Caird was first seen in Toronto in 2013.
It features Angel Blue as Mimi, Atalla Ayan as
Rodolfo, Andriana Churchman as Musetta, Lucas
Meachem as Marcello, Brandon Cedel as Colline
and Phillip Addis as Schaunard. On May 5, 11
matinee and 22 the cast is Miriam Khalil as Mimi,
Joshua Guerrero as Rodolfo, Danika Lorèn as
Musetta, Andrzej Filończyk as Marcello, Önay
Köse as Colline and Joel Allison as Schaunard.
Fans of the opera may wish to see both casts. The
conductor will be Paolo Carignani.
The COC follows La Bohème with yet another
work from the standard repertory, Verdi’s
Otello, but one not seen in Toronto since 2010.
The production will be directed by David Alden, creator of such other
COC productions as The Flying Dutchman, Rigoletto and Lucia di
Lammermoor. Alden’s production is most notable for relocating
the action from the Renaissance to around the time of the opera’s
premiere in 1887. The COC fields its first African-American Otello in
the person of Russell Thomas. Canadian Gerald Finley is Iago, Tamara
Wilson is Desdemona, Andrew Haji is Cassio and Carolyn Sproule is
Emilia. COC Music Director Johannes Debus conducts the opera that
runs from April 27 to May 21.
MICHAEL COOPER
34 | April 2019 thewholenote.com