Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, November 2, 2015… Toronto’s opera fans are used to surprises from VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and the 2015-2016 season promises to be the most adventurous yet! “Once again” remarked General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin, “our patrons will enjoy a unique lineup of works for the lyric stage sprung from many lands and many languages.”
The season opens on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 2:30 pm with Aleksandr Borodin’s masterpiece, PRINCE IGOR, sung in Russian. The grandly conceived work depicts Igor’s heroic defense of the homeland, which has come under attack by the fearsome Polovtsi. Geoffrey Sirett sings the title role and he is joined by debuting Natalya Matyusheva, Deanna Pauletto and Andrey Andreychik. Also in the cast are Adam Fisher and Giles Tomkins. The esteemed VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert Chorus under Robert Cooper will give voice to the justly famed Polovtsian festival in the second act, all under the guidance of pianist and music director Narmina Afandiyeva.
Borodin’s ‘day job’ was as Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Medico-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg and he described himself as a ‘Sunday composer’. Though highly respected as a scientist, his musical genius asserted itself and he composed some of the most indelible instrumental works in the Russian orchestral canon. His only opera was PRINCE IGOR and – though unfinished at his death – it is packed with magnificent music for soloists and choirs, highlighted by the Polovtsian scene, without doubt, one of the most arresting moments in all opera. PRINCE IGOR was selected as the opening production for the 2015/16 season not only because of the beauty of its melodic score but the opportunities it lends to feature emerging, new generation artists.
On Sunday, February 7, 2016, Kevin Mallon helms the Canadian Premiere of Salieri’s FALSTAFF. Known mainly as Mozart’s rival, Salieri was one of the most popular opera composers of his day and FALSTAFF is recognized as one of the very first operas based on a work by William Shakespeare. Our performance commemorates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The season closes on April 1 and 3, 2016 with two performances of the World Premiere of ISIS AND OSIRIS by Peter Anthony Togni with a libretto by Sharon Singer. Robert Cooper conducts the cast, orchestra and chorus.
Opera in Concert is supported by the Jackman Foundation, Nancy’s Very Own Foundation, Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation, and Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Single tickets are available from the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office, 27 Front St. East, by phone 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 or online at www.stlc.com. The theatre is wheelchair accessible and close to public transit and municipal parking. All Sunday performances are at 2:30 pm at the St. Lawrence Centre.
Illustration: Prince Igor (1151-1202). ©1929 Ivan Yakolevich Bilbin.
2015-11-02
Toronto: Voicebox: Opera in Concert presents Borodin's "Prince Igor" November 22