Ivor Novello was one of the greatest tunesmiths of all time and his musical extravaganzas of the ’30s and ’40s were the biggest hits of the age.  Perchance to Dream premiered on 21 April 1945 at the Hippodrome Theatre in London and ran for more than an astonishing 1,000 performances.  He was known as the handsomest man in England and always wrote the leading parts for himself.  For this musical alone, he composed one of his most well-known songs, “We’ll gather lilacs in the Spring again” in addition to “Love is my reason for Living”.

Toronto Operetta Theatre’s production of Perchance to Dream, led by Music Director Peter Teifenbach will be its Canadian Premiere. Sopranos Lynn Isnar, Caitlin McCaughey, mezzo-sopranos Eugenia Dermentzis, Rosalind McArthur, baritone Austin Larusson, and tenors are Joshua Clemenger and Cian Horrobin star as Novello’s hopeless romantics, caught in a multi-generational tale of love, betrayal and redemption. One performance only at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on March 3, 2019, at 3 pm.

The season finale will be Lehar’s immortal The Merry Widow and stars our own Lucia Cesaroni. Her co-stars will be Michael Nyby, Matt Chittick, Daniela Agostino and Gregory Finney. Larry Beckwith conducts the orchestra with performances: April 24, 26, 27, & 28 (mat), 2019, at the St. Lawrence Centre.

Toronto Operetta Theatre is grateful for the support of the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, Dalglish Family Foundation, The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council. The company counts among its partners Classical 96.3 FM and The Epoch Times.

All performances at the wheelchair accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – Box Office (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. Online sales www.stlc.com. 

For information, call TOT at (416) 922-2912.

Photo: Roma Beaumont and Ivor Novello in Perchance to Dream. © 1945.