Stage Door News
Stage Door News
In 1967 George Ryga’s searing drama THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE premiered at the Vancouver Playhouse and signalled a new era for Canadian theatre. His wrenching exploration of the Indigenous experience caused a national cultural examination that is ongoing today.
Now Canadian composer Victor Davies has written an opera adapting Ryga’s play as his libretto. “I am honored that George Ryga's heirs have allowed me to compose an opera inspired by his great masterpiece.”
The World Concert Premiere will be presented by VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert on Saturday, March 24 at 8 pm with a further performance on Sunday, March 25 a 2:30 pm at the St Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
“Our company has been at the forefront in the promotion of Canadian operas and Canadian talent” commented General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin, “and we are pleased that the second Stuart Hamilton Memorial Award winner, baritone Evan Korbut, is featured in our cast”. Marion Newman will be heard in the title role of Rita Joe and Korbut will be Jaimie Paul. Also featured are Michelle Lafferty, Everett Levi Morrison, and Rose-Ellen Nichols, completing an ensemble of top Indigenous Canadian artists who currently have important careers in the field of Opera and Music Theatre. VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert is delighted to have been permitted to use celebrated Dakota Sioux artist Maxine Noel’s painting “Not Forgotten” as the central image for all of THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE promotion.
Robert Cooper C.M., the founding director for the VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert Chorus will conduct the cast, chorus and orchestra with Guillermo Silva-Marin as Dramatic Advisor.
Opera in Concert is supported by the Jackman Foundation, Nancy’s Very Own Foundation, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and Classical 96.3 FM. Single tickets are available from the St. Lawrence Centre 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.
Illustration: Not Forgotten by Maxine Noel.
2018-03-08
Toronto: VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents the world premiere of "The Ecstasy of Rita Joe"