Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Leonard Bernstein was one of the most important musical figures of the last century and according to music critic Donal Henahan, “one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history”. Born in August of 1918, he conquered the world’s opera, Broadway and concert stages as a composer, conductor and pianist. Twenty-seven years after his death, his influence is still felt through recordings, compositions in many genres and in the world of music education through his ground-breaking TV series, Young People’s Concerts, direct from the Lincoln Center where he was the conductor of the New York Philharmonic.
During the Bernstein Anniversary, Toronto Operetta Theatre is first out-of-the-gate in celebrating his genius, with performances of CANDIDE presented in a new production at the St. Lawrence Centre from Dec. 28 – Jan. 7, 2018. CANDIDE is one of greatest masterworks from the pen of Leonard Bernstein and the composer himself called the show a ‘comic operetta’. It has all the features of this beloved artform including great choral finales reminiscent of Strauss and Lehár but also with the sassy kick of the Broadway tradition. “For our production, we chose the Broadway version with all its raucous appeal”, says TOT chief Guillermo Silva-Marin “and I’m really happy to have Derek Bate as our conductor for this show.” Uniquely at home in the operetta, musical and opera worlds, Bate most recently conducted Opéra de Québec’s RIGOLETTO and was the maestro for both LES MISERABLES and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. “Derek’s energy and obvious love for music theatre will add an extra spark to our Holiday presentation.”
Bernstein and the great playwright Lillian Hellman based their work on Voltaire’s satiric tale of love, loss, redemption and self-knowledge to create a unique piece of music theatre. The cast is headlined by Elizabeth Beeler as a worldly bawd known only as the old lady, who sings the show-stopping ‘I am easily assimilated’. The two lovers, Cunegonde and Candide, will be Vania Chan and Tonatiuh Abrego. Singing the stratospheric tune ‘Glitter and be gay’ Vania glittered last season as Mabel in TOT’s PIRATES OF PENZANCE, while debuting Canadian Abrego – Salvadoran heritage - is making a name for himself as one of the new generation of leading tenors. Last season’s Pirate King, Nicholas Borg takes the role of the idealist Dr. Pangloss, who proclaims that this is ‘the best of all possible worlds’. The fully-staged production by Guillermo Silva-Marin, opens on Dec. 28, with further performances on 30, Jan. 5, 6, 2018 at 8 pm and Dec. 31 and Jan. 7 at 3 pm.
The Bernstein celebratory year will be filled with performances of his works, which range from CANDIDE, WEST SIDE STORY, FANCY FREE and ON THE TOWN for Broadway to his operas such as TROUBLE IN TAHITI and A QUIET PLACE to symphonic and choral works such as MASS, KADDISH SYMPHONY and an acknowledged masterpiece, THE CHICHESTER PSALMS. TOT is delighted to be the ‘the lead-off act’ in honouring the genius of this great man of music.
Toronto Operetta Theatre is grateful for the support of the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, the Dalglish Family Foundation, the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council. Media sponsorship by Classical 96.3 FM and EPOCH Times. All performances are at the St. Lawrence Centre’s Jane Mallett Theatre, which is wheelchair accessible and close to public transit and municipal parking facilities. For packages at great savings and single tickets, call 416-366-7723, 1-800-708-6754, online at www.stlc.com, or in person at the Box Office, 27 Front St. East. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.
Photo: Leonard Bernstein. ©Jack Mitchell.
2017-12-22
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre celebrates Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday with "Candide"