Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO, ON – Tapestry New Opera is pleased to announce that four leading playwrights, including Toronto starlet Hannah Moscovitch, and four composers including American composer Lembit Beecher who was appointed for a three-year term as the first Composer In Residence of the Opera Company of Philadelphia, will be part of Opera Briefs 2012. The 16th annual instalment of Opera Briefs, a performance of scenes resulting from its 16th annual Composer-Librettist Laboratory (LibLab), takes place September 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm and September 23 at 3pm at the Ernest Balmer Studio.
Opera Briefs is a unique opportunity to be the first to see freshly created opera scenes. A selection of some of Canada’s leading writers and composers will present their new collaborations publicly for the first time.
The elite writers selected for the 2012 Composer-Librettist Laboratory are Hannah Moscovitch, Liza Balkan, Katherine Koller, and Amy Lee Lavoie. Joining them will be local and international composers Ivan Barbotin, Lembit Beecher, Benjamin Pesetsky, and Benton Roark.
Tapestry has a long history of attracting the very best candidates to our creative dating laboratory. This year, judged solely on the merit of the submissions, the LIBLAB was sexually polarized, admitting four female playwrights and four male composers. The elite individuals who meet at our LIBLAB have often remained with one lifetime partner, following their final night out at Opera Briefs. Through Opera Briefs, you can see they have juggled multiple partners and in some cases have produced dramatic offspring with more than one partner. This year’s artists hold great promise, bringing a wealth of diversity and specialization.
The love doctors that make the magic possible include director Michael Mori, artistic director Wayne Strongman and musical directors Dr. Christopher Foley and Jennifer Tung, two of Canada’s premiere collaborative pianists, working with the refined elements of tenor Keith Klassen and mezzo-soprano Andrea Ludwig, and fresh catalysts: soprano Allison Cecilia Arends and baritone Geoffrey Sirett.
Since the very first LibLab in 1995, over 50 creative teams have continued to collaborate, many of whom currently have full length operas in development, including: Julie Salverson and Juliet Palmer (Shelter, world premiere November 2012 with Edmonton Opera) and Colleen Murphy and Aaron Gervais (The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G.). Creative artists who have premiered their works at Opera Briefs have also gone on to successfully premiere their new works. Composer Chan Ka Nin and librettist Mark Brownell met at the inaugural 1995 LibLab. Their opera Iron Road had its world premiere in April 2001 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Linda Catlin Smith and Don Hannah also met at the 1995 LibLab and their Arctic drama, Facing South, premiered as part of the World Stage Festival in April of 2003. James Rolfe and Camyar Chai met at the 2003 LibLab and their opera Elijah’s Kite, which addresses bullying and children’s relationships, was developed by Tapestry in partnership with the Manhattan School of Music. It had its world premiere in April 2006 in New York City, its Canadian premiere at Rideau Hall in October 2006 and has toured to over 30,000 Ontario students in the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. Marjorie Chan and Abigail Richardson met at the 2003 LibLab and their opera for all ages, Sanctuary Song, premiered as part of the 2008 Luminato Festival after being developed in partnership by Tapestry and Theatre Direct. Alex Poch-Goldin and Omar Daniel met in the 2001 LibLab and premiered The Shadow with Tapestry in May 2009.
Ticket Details:
Subscriptions: 4 shows for only $125 / $110 Renewal Rate (includes HST)
Single Tickets: $29 (includes HST)
www.tapestrynewopera.com/the-work/tickets
416.537.6066 x222
subscriptions@tapestrynewopera.com
Opera Briefs PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
September 21, 22 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm) and September 23 at 3pm (doors open at 2:30pm)
*NEW TO TAPESTRY?: Try us out with a special Pay-What-You-Can show September 20 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm), seating first come first served
Studio location:
Ernest Balmer Studio, Distillery Historic District
9 Trinity Street, Studio 316
Writers: Liza Balkan, Katherine Koller, Amy Lee Lavoie, Hannah Moscovitch
Composers: Ivan Barbotin, Lembit Beecher, Benjamin Pesetsky, Benton Roark
Director: Michael Mori*
Musical Directors: Christopher Foley, Jennifer Tung
Cast: Keith Klassen, Andrea Ludwig, Allison Cecilia Arends and Geoffrey Sirett.
*Michael Mori’s Associate Artistic Director internship position at Tapestry is generously supported by the Metcalf Foundation
The Composer-Librettist Laboratory is generously supported by Mr. Roger D. Moore
Opera Briefs is not recommended for children under the age of 12 as there is strong language and suggested sexual content.
Photo: Wayne Strongman.
2012-09-14
Toronto: Tapestry New Opera announces Opera Briefs 2012