Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Imagine, on a cold winter’s night, the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse transformed into a summer bower lit by candlelight.
Toronto Masque Theatre returns with our popular mid-winter cabaret. This season we present George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece of love and transformation, Acis and Galatea, the story of a sea nymph, her shepherd lover and their encounter with a jealous giant.
The original production of Acis and Galatea took place in an English stately home. It is hard to imagine a more perfect location than the historic Enoch Turner Schoolhouse – a venue rich in history and charm – to help us imagine what that original 17th century production must have felt like.
Artistic Director Larry Beckwith had this to say:
"Acis and Galatea is a near-perfect musical masterpiece of proportion, grace, humour and beauty. I am excited about this production because it brings together a strong cast of compelling singers, a dream-team of instrumentalists and a historic venue, dripping with atmosphere, warmth and a crystalline acoustic."
The production will feature some of Canada’s finest singers, including:
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor, as Acis
Teri Dunn, soprano, as Galatea
Peter McGillivray, baritone, as Polyphemus
Graham Thomson, tenor, as Damon
An orchestra with some of the best performers specializing in historically-informed performance practice from Toronto, Montreal and Amsterdam.
The chorus will feature members of the Daniel Taylor’s Schola Cantorum from the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, some of Toronto’s most promising young singers.
For our pre-show event, members of Schola Cantorum will perform short solo pieces drawn from the music of Handel and his contemporaries. Join us at 7:15 and hear these budding artists perform and set the scene for a thrilling production of Acis and Galatea.
The designers for Acis and Galatea are Lindsay Squire, scenic design, and Gabriel Cropley, lighting design.
What
Acis & Galatea, George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece of love and transformation presented in the candle-lit, cabaret environment of the beautiful Enoch Turner Schoolhouse.
When
January 15, 16 & 17, 2015, 8:00 pm; special pre-show lecture & recital at 7:15 each night.
Where
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, 106 Trinity Street
How
Tickets: $50 for regular; $43 for seniors; $20 for those 30 and under. Available as part of Toronto Masque Theatre's subscription series. Single tickets available online via Toronto Masque Theatre or by calling 416 410 4561.
Who
For more information on Toronto Masque Theatre please go to our website.
Join us on what no doubt will be a cold winter night, enjoy a glass of wine and be charmed by a tale of eternal love as told by a group of acclaimed artists.
Illustration: Aci e Galatea, 1761, by Pompeo Batoni.
2014-12-04
Toronto: Toronto Masque Theatre presents Handel's "Acis and Galatea" January 15-17, 2015