{"id":48828,"date":"2017-11-02T20:13:51","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T00:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=48828"},"modified":"2017-11-02T21:44:57","modified_gmt":"2017-11-03T01:44:57","slug":"the-scoop-ontarios-simona-genga-wins-top-prize-at-centre-stage-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2017\/11\/02\/the-scoop-ontarios-simona-genga-wins-top-prize-at-centre-stage-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Ontario’s Simona Genga Wins Top Prize At Centre Stage 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(l-r)
(l-r) Ensemble Studio Competition Second Prize winner Joel Allison, First Prize and Audience Choice Award winner Simona Genga, and Third Prize winner Anna-Sophie Neher, Centre Stage 2017, (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Centre Stage 2017 Crowns Three Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since its launch in 2011, the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition has showcased aspiring operatic talent in Canada. In its first two years, the competition took place in the modest space known as the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre of the Four Seasons Centre. Since 2013, it was rebranded Centre Stage and relocated to the R. Fraser Elliott Hall, the main auditorium, complete with orchestra. Each year, auditions are held across the country, with the best candidates invited to come to Toronto for the finals.<\/p>\n

This year, the seven finalists were sopranos Anna-Sophie Neher, Natalie Image, and Chelsea Rus; mezzo Simona Genga; tenor Matthew Dalen; baritone Jonah Spungin, and bass-baritone Joel Allison. Members of the jury panel were Alexander Neef, COC General Director; Roberto Mauro, Music and Artistic Administrator; Nina Draganic, Director of COC Academy; Liz Upchurch, Head of COC Ensemble Studio; Wendy Nielsen, Head Vocal Consultant; Mary Morrison, soprano and guest jury member.<\/p>\n

The finals took place last evening at the Four Seasons Centre. There were two parts to Centre Stage, a private session that took place with only the jury panel present, followed by the public session, open to the whole audience. Each finalist sang one aria in each session, with full orchestra under the direction of conductor Johannes Debus. The MC this year, same as last, was tenor Ben Heppner. Unlike previous years, the private session was not open to the media.<\/p>\n

As competitions go, the final phase of Centre Stage is relatively short, involving only two arias to be sung by each contestant. Other major competitions like BBC\/Cardiff or Met or Queen Elisabeth or Canada\u2019s own Montreal International Musical Competition, each candidate is expected to sing multiple arias, or there\u2019s a separate song and oratorio division. Sometimes there\u2019s even an imposed piece, usually a new composition commissioned for the occasion.<\/p>\n

\"Ensemble
Ensemble Studio Competition finalists with COC Music Director Johannes Debus (centre), Centre Stage 2017. (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Centre Stage, there are three prizes plus the audience prize. First Prize has a cash value of $10,000; Second Prize $3,000 and Third Prize $1,500. The Audience Choice Award is worth $1,500. \u00a0In addition, this year there\u2019s a performance opportunity for the First Prize winner at the Elora Festival, the annual summer music festival at Elora, Ontario. And of course there\u2019s the unquantifiable \u2013 and invaluable \u2013 benefits of exposure, having one\u2019s voice heard by opera lovers attending the event.<\/p>\n

First up was Gatineau, Quebec soprano Anna-Sophie Neher, currently a Master of Music degree candidate at McGill. Hers is an attractive and bright lyric soprano of good size, and she sang a sparkling Juliette\u2019s Waltz, with excellent high notes. Perhaps one would have liked a bit more dynamic variation and tone colours, and maybe cleaner runs, but overall it was lovely.<\/p>\n

Followed her was U of T Masters student bass-baritone Joel Allison. Toronto opera fans would have heard him in various opera productions and concerts around town. He sang Dapertutto\u2019s Diamond Aria from Hoffmann<\/em>, a very difficult piece for a bass because of the high notes. Even the very fine bass who sang it the last time this opera was staged at the COC omitted it. Allison has the right timbre and gravitas, and he sang it well, except for some tightness in the first high note, due to nerves no doubt \u2014 who wouldn\u2019t if you\u2019ve only got two shots at the can?! But the final high note was terrific.<\/p>\n

The third contestant was BC soprano Natalie Image, singing an aria from Rimsky-Korsakov\u2019s The Snow Maiden. She graduated with a Masters in Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A light lyric soprano with a delightfully crystal-clear timbre, she sang it with purity of tone and expression.<\/p>\n

Next up was Alberta tenor Matthew Dalen, in \u201cSalut! demeure chaste et pure\u201d from Faust<\/em>. A real test piece for a tenor, it takes guts to go up there to sing it in a competition! \u00a0Dalen has a beautiful, warm, ingratiating lyric tenor, just the right sound for Faust. He sang it very well, despite a tempo that\u2019s too slow. The only flaw in his beautiful performance was the cruelly exposed high C, which was produced with too much force, sounding strident and not held long enough given the slow tempo. An \u201cA\u201d for effort never-the-less.<\/p>\n

\"COC
014 – COC Music Director Johannes Debus (at left) with Ensemble Studio Competition finalists and COC General Director Alexander Neef (at right), Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BC light lyric soprano Chelsea Rus, a graduate of McGill, sang Norina\u2019s aria from Don Pasquale<\/em>, with bright, buoyant tone and acted the character very well. Here\u2019s another lyric soprano who has a terrific voice and looks a totally believable Norina.\u00a0 Brava!<\/p>\n

Following Rus was mezzo Simona Genga, singing \u201cAdieu, for\u00eats\u201d from Maid of Orleans (Jeanne d\u2019Arc<\/em>). Hers is an exceptional and rare voice \u2014 a powerful low mezzo, with a dark timbre, and volume to spare. It\u2019s produced farther back, giving it a slightly covered sound, ideal in German and Slavic repertoire. Despite the dark timbre, she has an easy top, and a full range of tone colours. Her Jeanne d\u2019Arc aria was totally compelling.<\/p>\n

How do you follow that, you ask?\u00a0 But baritone Jonah Spungin, a McGill student, made it look and sound easy. His \u201cLargo al factotum\u201d was truly excellent. This must be one of the most iconic arias for a lyric baritone. It shows off his range and flexibility, and offers great opportunity to act. Mr. Spungin was certainly up to the task, and it was beautifully delivered, with absolutely terrific high notes. What a splendid field! I can say in all honesty that all seven singers would be deserving of winning.<\/p>\n

While the jury panel left the auditorium to deliberate, the audience was entertained by COC Artist-in-Residence, soprano Jane Archibald, in \u201cNon mi dir\u201d from Don Giovanni. <\/em>\u00a0Donna Anna is quite new to her repertoire \u2014 I believe she sang it for the first time here at the COC two seasons ago. She delivered it with sparkling tone and uncommon agility that would be the envy of any soprano tackling Donna Anna. This was followed by the blockbuster \u201cE strano\u2026Sempre libera\u201d from La Traviata<\/em>, even more of a coloratura showcase, including a magnificent E flat at the end.<\/p>\n

COC General Director Alexander Neef came onstage with the jury results.<\/p>\n

First Prize and Audience Choice to mezzo Simona Genga; Second Prize to bass-baritone Joel Allison, and Third Prize to soprano Anna-Sophie Neher.<\/p>\n

Since the media was not allowed to attend the \u201cprivate\u201d session this year, it is impossible for me to say whether I agree with the judges. All seven are immensely talented and are capable of winning. Would I had chosen different singers? I\u2019ll never know. My congratulations to the winners. In fact, in my book they are all<\/strong> winners. Bravi tutti!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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