{"id":60458,"date":"2019-05-09T14:46:01","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T18:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=60458"},"modified":"2019-05-12T00:21:21","modified_gmt":"2019-05-12T04:21:21","slug":"scrutiny-cocs-opera-for-toronto-initiative-goes-all-in-with-la-boheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2019\/05\/09\/scrutiny-cocs-opera-for-toronto-initiative-goes-all-in-with-la-boheme\/","title":{"rendered":"SCRUTINY | COC’s Opera For Toronto Event Spotlights Canadian Talent With La boh\u00e8me"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Canadian Opera Company’s Opera For Toronto free community event underscores the wealth of operatic talent in Canada with Puccini’s La boh\u00e8me.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"COC
COC Ensemble La boheme (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Puccini: La boh<\/em>\u00e8me. Lauren Margison (Mimi), Andrew Haji (Rodolfo), Lauren Eberwein (Musetta), Samuel Chan (Marcello), Neil Craighead (Colline), Joel Allison (Schaunard), Doug MacNaughton (Benoit\/Alcindoro), Taras Chmil (Parpignol), Jan Vaculik (Customs Officer), Gene Wu (House Sergeant). Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and Chorus, Paolo Carignani, conductor. Four Seasons Centre, May 8, 2019.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Confession time \u2014 I am a La boh<\/em>\u00e8me<\/em> Junkie. In over fifty years of attending live opera, I have seen this Puccini warhorse more times than I could count. But I think I\u2019ve outdone myself this time.\u00a0 This Ensemble performance last evening was my fifth this season! \u00a0I was moved each and every time I see this piece, by the performers, and most of all by Puccini\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n

Last night’s performance was a special initiative called Opera For Toronto<\/a>. It represents COC\u2019s education and outreach efforts in the GTA. Tickets were given for free to various community organizations, to bring people to experience opera, many likely for the first time.\u00a0 The attendance was very good, with more than the usual number of young people \u2014 after all, they are the ones who hold the key to the future of this august art form.<\/p>\n

For me, the primary interest was the Canadians in the cast, all of them I had heard previously. For several years, there was an annual mainstage Ensemble performance, but it ended a couple of seasons ago, probably due to financial constraints. It\u2019s great to see the opportunity made available once again for young singers to tackle principal roles on the mainstage, an important step in their development.<\/p>\n

\"A
A scene from the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s production of La Boh\u00e8me (Opera for Toronto, 2019) (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tenor Andrew Haji (Rodolfo) is a shining example of how a young artist program like the COC\u2019s can play a vital role in a singer\u2019s development. I\u2019ve seen him as Nemorino, Alfredo, Tamino, and Cassio previously, and he\u2019s singing better than ever. As Rodolfo, his bright, sweet, clarion tenor sounded gorgeous, his unaffected and sincere stage persona engaging.\u00a0 His is definitely a success story of the COC Ensemble Studio.<\/p>\n

Equally remarkable was soprano Lauren Margison as Mimi. I first heard her some eight years ago in a concert at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre \u2014 as a folksinger! Now she is, like her father tenor Richard Margison, an opera singer. Possessing a beautiful lyric soprano with the ideal timbre for Mimi, her \u201cDonde lieta usci\u2026addio, senza rancor\u201d was truly lovely. \u00a0She also has volume to spare, and I predict more dramatic roles in her future.<\/p>\n

Mezzo-turned-soprano Lauren Eberwein was a stylish Musetta, looking lovely and singing with power and flair in \u201cQuando m\u2019en vo.\u201d As Marcello, Samuel Chan offered a naturally produced, warm baritone and vivid acting.\u00a0 As Schaunard, bass-baritone Joel Allison made the most of his moments in the sun, with rich, firm tone and strong stage presence. His is a voice to sit up and take notice.<\/p>\n

\"Lauren
Lauren Margison as Mim\u00ec and Andrew Haji as Rodolfo in the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s production of La Boh\u00e8me (Opera for Toronto, 2019) (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cast also included two \u201cold-timers\u201d \u2014 former Ensemble bass-baritone Neil Craighead returning to the COC as Colline, singing an affecting Coat Song \u2014 for once the audience didn\u2019t sit on its collective hands and applauded. The other was baritone Doug MacNaughton, acting up a storm as Benoit\/Alcindoro. He has had to shave off his long beard and cut his hair short for the two buffo characters \u2014 we\u2019re glad he did!<\/p>\n

The performance last evening underscores the wealth of talent right here in Canada; they are no longer \u201cpromising\u201d,\u00a0 but have \u201carrived.\u201d I look forward to hearing them again in the future, perhaps not in Boh<\/em>\u00e8me<\/em>, given I\u2019ve OD\u2019d on this opera for a while.\u00a0 Uh\u2026I think I may have spoken too soon. \u00a0I do have one more coming up this summer, at the Santa Fe Opera Festival. Canadian soprano Kirsten MacKinnon is Musetta.\u00a0 As they say,\u00a0Viva Puccini<\/em>!<\/p>\n

LUDWIG VAN TORONTO<\/i>
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n

Want more updates on classical music and opera news and reviews? Follow us on\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/span>,<\/i><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>for all the latest.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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