{"id":125150,"date":"2026-06-15T12:55:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=125150"},"modified":"2026-06-15T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:00:02","slug":"scrutiny-toronto-opera-festival-parelios-operatic-lament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/06\/15\/scrutiny-toronto-opera-festival-parelios-operatic-lament\/","title":{"rendered":"SCRUTINY | Toronto Opera Festival \u2014 Par\u00e9lios: An Operatic Lament"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Left
Left to Right: Voices: Robert Busiakiewicz, Joshua McFaul, David Yung, Paul Oros; Wind: Miyeko Ferguson; Voices: Len Crino, Natasha Fransblow, Natasha Ho, Elizabeth Fast, Brenden Lengsfeld, Patricia Wrigglesworth, Andrea Ludwig, Brielle Cha in the Opera 5 production of Par\u00e9lios (Photo: Emily Ding Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opera 5\u2019s Toronto Opera Festival: Par\u00e9lios by Cecilia Livingstone (music) and Duncan McPherson (libretto). Jennifer Nichols, director & choreographer; Evan Mitchell, music director; Rachel Krehm, festival producer; Carlyn Rahussar Routledge, set designer; Nathan Bruce, projection designer; Siobhan Sleath, lighting designer; Chris Faris, costume designer. Featuring TorQ Percussion Ensemble: Richard Burrows, Adam Campbell, Jamie Drake, Daniel Morphy. Solo voices: Len Crino (Wanderer \u2014 soprano), Brenden Lengsfeld (Memory \u2014 alto), Ryan Nauta (Witness \u2014 tenor), Aaron Dimoff (Guide \u2014 baritone), Keira Beasley (Child). Dancers: Sully Malaeb Proulx (Helios), Jarrett Siddall (Boreas), Miyeko Ferguson (Wind\/Woman). Choir: Leader Robert Busiakiewicz, tenor and leader of nine voices. Presentation of Opera 5 @ Theatre Passe Muraille, June 12-14, 2026.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

An Ecological Opera<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s clear to caring, thoughtful people everywhere that the world is in crisis brought on by acute climate change caused by humanity\u2019s abuse of the planet. The duo of composer Cecilia Livingston<\/strong> and librettist Duncan McFarlane<\/strong> are so concerned that they have written Par\u00e9lios, a dark and intensely moving opera on this devastating situation, which debuted last weekend at Theatre Passe Muraille to a packed opening night audience.<\/p>\n

People experience \u201cparelios\u201d when they look at the sun too closely, creating a \u201csun dog\u201d effect, which means seeing light to the side of the galaxy\u2019s brightest star.<\/p>\n

Livingston and McPherson have crafted a piece that does that, too \u2014 having us consider the side views of our condition: the effects of migration, the degrading of our environment and concerns over what unthinking, unfeeling corporations and governments will do to the planet.<\/p>\n

\"Left
Left to Right: Boreas: Jarrett Siddall; Voice: Robert Busiakiewicz; Witness: Ryan Nauta; Helios: Sully Maleab Proulx; Voice: Paul Oros; Boreas: Jarrett Siddall in the Opera 5 production of Par\u00e9lios (Photo: Emily Ding Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Musical Structure<\/h3>\n

Par\u00e9lios is a contemporary opera, which combines older forms \u2014 loosely robed singers and dancers that remind one of earlier times \u2014 with modern elements: screen projections and sensually oriented activity with implied nudity (there are body stockings) which are totally up to date.<\/p>\n

Daringly, Livingston\u2019s and McFarlane\u2019s music is only for voice and percussion, with nary a wind or string instrument employed. The over-all effect is extraordinary; the TorQ Percussion<\/strong> ensemble, masters of instruments ranging from cymbals and gongs to marimbas and xylophones, accompany vocals that evoke liturgical performances.<\/p>\n

The merger of past and present movingly makes a case for the vast common members of the world, whose voices aren\u2019t being heard by the powers-that-be in a decaying world.<\/p>\n

\"L:
L: Wind: Miyeko Ferguson; Boreas: Jarrett Siddall; Helios: Sully Maleab Proulx; Middle: Left to Right: Boreas: Jarrett Siddall; Memory: Brenden Lengsfeld; Helios: Sully Maleab Proulx; R: Wind: Miyeko Ferguson in the Opera 5 production of Par\u00e9lios (Photo: Emily Ding Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Staging<\/h3>\n

Opera 5\u2019s extraordinary visual and design team \u2014 Jennifer Nichols<\/strong>, director & choreographer; Carlyn Rahussar Routledge<\/strong>, set designer; Nathan Bruce<\/strong>, projection designer; Siobhan Sleath<\/strong>, lighting designer; Chris Faris<\/strong>, costume designer \u2014 have created a dark, poetic world in which humanity struggles to connect with each other.<\/p>\n

Mirroring the music and overall intention of the work, Opera 5\u2019s artistic assemblage place the cast in a shadowy world, where only the brave survive. Clothed in garb that worked for peasants in the past and artists today \u2014 loose, dark, communal \u2014 they move in unison, as they sing of their crisis in the world.<\/p>\n

Nichols, as choreographer, places the dancers in the midst of this tragic world, asserting themselves beautifully in an environment beyond their control. A trio embrace and engage as duos and triplets in sensual discoveries of each other. Every move, every gesture is a reminder of the fallible sensitivities of human beings.<\/p>\n

The audience on opening night was moved by the staging and choreography which meshed so lyrically with the music.<\/p>\n

The Inspiration<\/h3>\n

Much of great contemporary art tends to be provocative and political, whether it\u2019s Ai Wei Wei or Banksy or Jenny Holzer. That\u2019s the case with Olafur Eliasson, the Icelandic\/Danish artist, whose work is inherently democratic and inclusionary. More than 20 years ago, in 2003, Eliasson made The Weather Project, a huge installation that filled England\u2019s Tate Modern\u2019s Turbine Hall, creating an environment where one felt close to the sun, with the ability to see and feel the power of the sky.<\/p>\n

This critic was fortunate enough to experience The Weather Project back then, as did the composers of Par\u00e9lios. Eliasson\u2019s work was humbling, shocking and political. It\u2019s wonderful to see and hear an opera inspired by the work.<\/p>\n

\"Left
Left to Right: Voices: Andrea Ludwig, Natasha Ho, Patricia Wrigglesworth, Brielle Cha, Natasha Fransblow, Robert Busiakiewicz. Background: Wind: Miyeko Ferguson in the Opera 5 production of Par\u00e9lios (Photo: Emily Ding Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Experiencing Par\u00e9lios<\/h3>\n

A truly modern piece, Par\u00e9lios demands to be experienced.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not staged simply as an opera or a dance or a theatre piece or an art installation. The work is not easy to embrace. The composers and creative team demand engagement with the piece. Par\u00e9lios demands respect for it and the planet.<\/p>\n

Opera 5 has produced a work that is intense \u2014 and intensely engaging. One hopes that it will be produced soon in locations in Canada and abroad.<\/p>\n

Those who saw it are unlikely to forget Par\u00e9lios.<\/p>\n

By Marc Glassman<\/a> for Ludwig Van<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you looking to promote an event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n

Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em>HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Par\u00e9lios, by Cecilia Livingston and Duncan McFarlane, Opera 5 has produced a work that is intense \u2014 and intensely engaging.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":125155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,18,20,41357,43,52,59,63],"tags":[4452,42547,2493,42080],"yst_prominent_words":[20865],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-REVIEW-2026-06-15T125227.730.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-wyy","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125150"}],"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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125150"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125163,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125150\/revisions\/125163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125150"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=125150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}