Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto Operetta Theatre’s Whirlwind of Entertainment season continues on Sunday, November 5, 2017 with Calixa Lavallée’s operetta, The Widow, starring Julie Nesrallah, host of CBC’s Tempo. TOT honours Canada’s Sesquicentennial with this new production of a Canadian operetta classic written by the composer of our national anthem. A Spanish diva, a philandering husband-to-be and a faked obituary all lead to a happy end amid melody and screwball comedy! Featuring Diego Catalá, Lynn Isnar, Julie Obermeyer, Michael McLean, Rosalind McArthur and Gregory Finney with Michael Rose as Music Director.
“TOT is delighted to honour Canada’s Francophone music theatre heritage with this charming and entertaining operetta”, said General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin, “especially during this celebratory year!” Calixa Lavallée was born in Vercheres, Quebec in 1842, son of a blacksmith and village bandmaster. His musical gifts were recognized and Lavallée enjoyed a distinguished career as pianist, composer and educator both in Canada the USA. The music for The Widow, which premiered in New Orleans in 1881, was hailed as ‘extremely lively and brilliant, with chorus sections that are melodious and rich in harmony…the cavatinas have the seal of elegance and virtuosity in the best tradition of French opera comique.’
Mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah makes her TOT debut as Dona Paquita in Lavallée’s comic romp. On stage, Julie is renowned for her production of Carmen on Tap, seen in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, while on air she is the host of one of the CBC’s most popular programmes. Her fickle fiancée is Diego Catala, last seen on the TOT stage in the Spanish zarzuela Los Gavilanes while Gregory Finney - hilarious in TOT’s The Chocolate Soldier - plays the pivotal role of Duc de Trop. Michael Rose, composer of the recently premiered A Northern Lights Dream for Summer Opera Lyric Theatre is Pianist and Music Director.
Toronto Operetta Theatre is supported by the Jackman Foundation, the Dalglish Family Foundation, Bedolfe Foundation, Nancy’s Very Own Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Classical 96.3 FM. Partners also include Huziak Graphic Design, EPOCH TIMES and MZ Media. All performances take place at the wheelchair accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, situated in the downtown theatre district, close to public transit and municipal parking. For information, call the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office at 416-366-7723, 1–800-708-6754 or online at www.stlc.com.
Illustration: Calixa Lavalée (1842-91).
2017-10-02
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre presents Canada's "The Widow" by Calixa Lavalée on November 5