{"id":876,"date":"2012-01-21T08:48:26","date_gmt":"2012-01-21T13:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=876"},"modified":"2012-01-21T08:48:26","modified_gmt":"2012-01-21T13:48:26","slug":"tonight-small-scale-opera-with-big-smiling-appeal-from-toy-piano-composers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2012\/01\/21\/tonight-small-scale-opera-with-big-smiling-appeal-from-toy-piano-composers\/","title":{"rendered":"Tonight: Small-scale opera with big, smiling appeal from Toy Piano Composers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
"Cake," by Monica Pearce, features, Katherine Watson, flute, (offstage) and, from left, Wesley Chen, Marta Herman, Jeremy Ludwig and Maureen Batt, tonight at Heliconian Hall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don’t be misled by the Toy Piano Composers. They are not a one-note joke, but a cheerful, creative group of musical collaborators that embody the creativity, dynamism and enterprising nature of a new generation of Toronto artists.<\/p>\n

Right after the Canadian Opera Company<\/a> presents the opening performance of Tosca this afternoon at the Four Seasons Centre, the Toy Piano Composers present Opera Scenesters tonight at Heliconian Hall in Yorkville. It is a collection of six brand-new opera scenes, and there isn’t a toy piano in sight.<\/p>\n

I popped by a rehearsal last night to see what Opera Scenesters is all about, and came away with a big, happy smile on my face.<\/p>\n

The three opera scenes I saw displayed cleverness and craft from both the composers and librettists. The singers — soprano Maureen Batt, mezzo Marta Herman and baritone Jeremy Ludwig — are excellent. Pianist Wesley Chen is a great accompanist (at Heliconian Hall’s full-size Steinway grand).<\/p>\n

The staging by director Erik Thor is rudimentary, but just enough to give each piece the right mood and motion.<\/p>\n

I was impressed with the dynamics of everyone involved. They’re friends, they love new music and are keen to share it. Everything is being done in a cheerful spirit of collaboration that lends the project a lot of positive energy.<\/p>\n

It helps that everyone has a great sense of humour.<\/p>\n

As an example, take composer and librettist Fiona Ryan’s description of her opera scene, “The Best of ‘Nosy Nate’ “:<\/p>\n

Nathan (alias Nosey Nate)
\nThinks his blog is pretty great.
\nHe shares his brilliant observations
\nOf other people’s conversations.
\nHis task in this scene is retrospective;
\nA ‘best of’ blog is his objective.<\/p>\n

Okay, I guess you realise Nate is fake,
\nBut, my dear audience, make no mistake:
\nThese quotations were actually overheard!
\nAs the one who transcribed them, I give you my word.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Check out all the details at the Toy Composers’ website, which includes substantial audio clips of their previous work, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To help share a taste of what’s to come tonight, I snuck in my first iPhone video during the rehearsal. Here are the opening 90 seconds of Ludwig singing “Like a Dog,” by composer Glenn James and librettist Tamara Chandon (Batt has a mute role):<\/p>\n