{"id":117240,"date":"2025-09-04T13:05:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=117240"},"modified":"2025-09-03T21:31:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T01:31:13","slug":"preview-canadian-czech-music-institute-presents-don-giovanni-richmond-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/09\/04\/preview-canadian-czech-music-institute-presents-don-giovanni-richmond-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Canadian Czech Music Institute Presents Don Giovanni In Richmond Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_117257\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-117257\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-117257\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21.jpg\" alt=\"Top Row (l-r): Vocalists Austin Larusson; Stephanie DeCiantis; John Holland; Bottom Row (l-r): Dylan Wright; Grace Quinsey; Christian Matta (Photos courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-117257\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Top Row (l-r): Vocalists Austin Larusson; Stephanie DeCiantis; John Holland; Bottom Row (l-r): Dylan Wright; Grace Quinsey; Christian Matta (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An all-Canadian cast will bring the story of Mozart\u2019s Don Giovanni to life on stage in Richmond Hill on September 12. The concert performance is presented by the Canadian Czech Music Institute.<\/p>\n<p>Seduction and comedy come together in Mozart\u2019s classic Don Giovanni, but as in any good opera, bad behaviour has its price. The opera has been a hit since its premiere in 1787, which took place in Prague. Don Giovanni has a special place in the Czech Republic\u2019s operatic repertoire.<\/p>\n<p>The concert production offers audiences some interesting details, including the inclusion of the seldom performed duet \u201cPer Queste Tue Manine\u201d, a song that adds to the characterization of Zerlina (Grace Quinsey) as a foil to Don Giovanni (Dylan Wright).<\/p>\n<p>Many among the cast have direct ties to the Richmond Hill community, including baritone Dr. John Holland, artistic director of Chorus York, who is also, along with a few of the other cast members, a regular in Opera York productions. Holland also serves as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/07\/03\/scoop-toronto-classical-singers-name-john-holland-new-artistic-director\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artistic Director of the Toronto Classical Singers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>The Cast<\/h3>\n<p>Presented in concert with piano at Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, with English supertitles. The cast for the performance names Toronto audiences will recognize, along with emerging artists;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don Giovanni: Dylan Wright<\/li>\n<li>Leporello: John Holland<\/li>\n<li>Donna Anna: Sara Papini<\/li>\n<li>Donna Elvira: Stephanie DeCiantis<\/li>\n<li>Zerlina: Grace Quinsey<\/li>\n<li>Don Ottavio: Christian Matta<\/li>\n<li>Masetto: Austin Larusson<\/li>\n<li>Commendatore: Mikhail Shemet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pianist <strong>Narmina Afandiyeva<\/strong> performs Mozart\u2019s score. Dylan Wright sings the role of Don Giovanni after many performances as Leporello; John Holland performs in his 13th production as Leporello.<\/p>\n<h3>Performers<\/h3>\n<p>Bass-baritone <strong>Dylan Wright<\/strong> is an opera, oratorio, art song, and drag performer who has sung with New Opera Lyra in Ottawa, and Toronto City Opera. He was a guest octavist with the Tallis Choir of Toronto for their performance of Rachmaninoff\u2019s \u2018All-Night Vigil\u2019. Other upcoming performances include Colline in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/07\/24\/preview-la-boheme-on-tap-opera-supports-daily-bread-food-bank-on-september-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">La Boh\u00e8me at the Redwood Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Czech-Canadian bass-baritone <strong>John Holland<\/strong> has a career that spans opera, oratorio, and art song. He has performed as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Kecal in The Bartered Bride, Purkrabi in Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Jakob\u00edn, and recently as Belcore in L\u2019Elisir d\u2019amore. He is also a frequent performer with The Mississauga Symphony, and with Opera York.<\/p>\n<p>Italian-Canadian dramatic soprano <strong>Stephanie DeCiantis<\/strong> previously sang the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart\u2019s Don Giovanni with Brott Opera. She has performed as a soloist with the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Burlington Symphony and York Symphony Orchestras. Her operatic repertoire includes Norma, Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), Aida, Leonora (Il trovatore), Senta (Der Fliegende Holl\u00e4nder), and the Overseer (Elektra).<\/p>\n<p>Soprano <strong>Grace Quinsey<\/strong> is a native of Windsor, Ontario. She recently performed Josephine in HMS Pinafore with Opera York, in the role of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/03\/12\/scrutiny-effervescent-bartered-bride-marks-opera-requests-first-2024-presentation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ma\u0159enka in Smetana\u2019s Prodan\u00e1 nev\u011bsta<\/a>, and as Terinka in Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Jakob\u00edn, the latter two as part of the Year of Czech Music Opera Festival. She has performed with the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and in the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s noon concert series.<\/p>\n<p>Italian-Canadian tenor <strong>Christian Matta<\/strong> is pursuing his Master of Music in Operatic Performance at<br \/>\nthe University of Toronto, and building a varied repertoire of opera, concert, and contemporary pieces. In 2024, Christian performed in concert at the National Gallery of Siena as part of the SienAgosto Festival. In the summer of 2025, he joined the Interplay: Opera Singers &amp; R\u00e9p\u00e9titeurs program at the Banff Centre in Alberta. There, he sang the role of the Evangelist in Bach\u2019s St. Matthew Passion, and performed in the world premiere of A Stranger\u2019s Case, a new song cycle by Karim Al-Zand.<\/p>\n<p>Baritone <strong>Austin Larusson<\/strong> has performed in a wide variety of roles, including the High Priest in Alceste, and Priest in Robert le Diable with Opera in Concert, Don Alhambra del Bolero in The Gondoliers, Peni\u017eek in Countess Maritza and Carretero\/Corregidor in El Huesped del Sevillano with Toronto Operetta Theatre. He has also performed with White Mills Theatre, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, and Opera York. His work is often praised both for its dramatic as well as its musical ability, particularly in comedic roles.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find more details for the performance [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/canczechmusic.ca\/mozart-don-giovanni-in-concert.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>] and tickets [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/myevent.com\/dongiovanni\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An all-Canadian cast will bring the story of Mozart\u2019s Don Giovanni to life on stage in Richmond Hill on September 12, presented by the Canadian Czech Music Institute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":117257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,19,43,4557,63],"tags":[42233,42027,41030,40846,41019],"yst_prominent_words":[11974,8138,14169,6886,12938,7943,10751],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-FEATURE-21.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-uuY","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117240"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117240"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117260,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117240\/revisions\/117260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117240"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=117240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}