Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – Toronto opera company Opera 5 launches their production season with an evening of operas based on the works by Edgar Allan Poe. Timed to coincide with Halloween, the evening will begin in the lobby of the Arts and Letters Club with a Haunted House by local visual artist Nicholas Comeau. Halloween-themed cocktails will be served, and closing night will include a costume contest and dance party. The three works featured will be The Cask of the Amontillado by Daniel Pinkham, La chute de la maison Usher fragment by Debussy, and the world premier of Canadian composer Cecilia Livingston’s The Masque of the Red Death. All three pieces will be directed by Opera 5 Artistic Director Aria Umezawa, with Musical Director Maika’i Nash, and Production Design by Matthew Vaile.
This production marks a return to the stage for Toronto-based soprano Lucia Cesaroni. Joining her is American baritone and recent Tanglewood fellow David Tinervia; and COC Ensemble graduate Adrian Kramer. The adaptation of The Masque of the Red Death will be accompanied by the Toronto Pop-Up-Orchestra, with movement coaching by Natalie Brucker – Co-Artistic Director of GeoMetriX Dance Crew.
“Edgar Allan Poe’s stories are very theatrical, and lend themselves well to the operatic medium.” says Opera 5 Artistic Director, Aria Umezawa. “Even his dialogue reads like a libretto, so the transition from the page to the stage feels very natural. What with his stories being so eerie, and because of his reputation as a horror writer, it seemed like a great fit for a Horror-themed evening at the opera – elegant, but spooky. What better way could there be to spend Halloween?“
Opera 5 is quickly establishing itself as one of the top producers of opera in Toronto. It is currently run by three operatic GTA musicians: Rachel Krehm, General Director; Aria Umezawa, Artistic Director; and Maika’i Nash, Music Director, with a goal to find new audiences through the engagement of the five senses & other art forms. The company is known for its popular web series titled “Opera Cheats,” which deconstructs opera plots and opera-going rules with a humorous twist. You can check them out at http://www.youtube.com/user/OperaFive.
In Pace Requiescat
Opera 5 Returns With Edgar Allan Poe-Based Operas in a Haunted House
October 27th, 30th, 31st/7:30PM/Arts and Letters Club/14 Elm Street
Tickets Online $25.00 Students/$30.00 Adult http://o5inpace.eventbrite.ca
Tickets at Door $25.00 Students/ $30.00 Adult (Cash and Credit)
Photo: Sheldon Neil and Shahi Teruko. ©2013 Promise Productions.
2013-10-24
Toronto: Opera 5 presents a triple-bill of operas based on Edgar Allen Poe October 27, 30 & 31