{"id":96484,"date":"2023-05-31T11:02:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T15:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=96484"},"modified":"2023-05-31T11:02:25","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T15:02:25","slug":"scoop-opera-atelier-announces-2023-24-season-stuff-legends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/05\/31\/scoop-opera-atelier-announces-2023-24-season-stuff-legends\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Opera Atelier Announces 2023\/24 Season \u2018The Stuff Of Legends\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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L-R: Artists of Atelier Ballet Eric Ce\u0301sar de Mello da Silva, Rena Seeger, Julia Sedwick and Xi Yi in All Is Love (Photo: Bruce Zinger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opera Atelier\u2019s founding Co-artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski<\/strong> and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg<\/strong> have announced the company\u2019s 2023\/24 season. Opera Atelier is Toronto\u2019s baroque opera specialist, and their 38th season gives audiences a chance to experience two very different approaches to the art form.<\/p>\n

The 1774 French version of Gluck\u2019s Orpheus and Eurydice was written specifically for Marie Antoinette. It launches the season in October 2023. April 2024 sees the return of All Is Love, the company\u2019s mixed program that was well received<\/a> on its premiere in 2022.<\/p>\n

The Productions<\/h2>\n

Orpheus and Eurydice (Gluck)<\/h3>\n

Gluck\u2019s reform opera\/ballet Orpheus and Eurydice launches the season on October 26, 28 and 29, and November 1 at the Elgin Theatre.<\/p>\n

Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth<\/strong> returns to star as Orpheus in a role he first sang for the company in 2007. Soprano Mireille Asselin<\/strong> will sing the role of Eurydice, and soprano Anna-Julia David<\/strong> makes her company debut as Amour.<\/p>\n

\u201cFew singers are able to sustain the extraordinary vocal range required of the tenor in the 1774 French version of Orpheus and Eurydice,\u201d says Marshall Pynkoski in a statement. \u201cWe are honorued to have Mr. Ainsworth return \u2014 his talent in full bloom \u2014 to interpret this role, which has been an ambition of Opera Atelier for more than a decade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gluck wrote a great deal of dance music for the piece, as was the custom in late 18th century France, including a balletic finale. It creates an opportunity to showcase the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet in Lajeunesse Zingg\u2019s choreography.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Artists of Atelier Ballet, who have reached an internationally acclaimed level of finesse, are thrilled to be involved in a production in which they can explore the stylistic links between baroque dancing and 19th century Romantic ballet,\u201d adds Lajeunesse Zingg.<\/p>\n

All Is Love<\/h3>\n

All Is Love explores romantic themes with a mixed program in Koerner Hall on April 11 to 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll Is Love expands the very definition of period performance, featuring repertoire by Handel, Lully, Purcell and Rameau opposite that of Reynaldo Hahn, and Act One of Debussy\u2019s symbolist masterpiece \u2014 Pelleas et Melisande,\u201d says Music Director David Fallis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Love and desire impact our lives in so many ways, a theme that the company delves into via music. Love as a character is played by Artist of Atelier Ballet Eric da Silva, formerly of the Royal Danish Ballet. Read our interview with Eric about the role at its debut in 2022 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The cast includes audience favourite Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee<\/strong>, with Artist of Atelier Ballet Eric da Silva<\/strong>, tenor Colin Ainsworth<\/strong>, baritone Jesse Blumberg<\/strong>, soprano Anna-Julia David<\/strong>, soprano Meghan Lindsay<\/strong>, mezzo soprano Danielle MacMillan<\/strong>, soprano Cynthia Akemi-Smithers<\/strong>, and bass baritone Douglas Williams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Opera Atelier Music Director David Fallis<\/strong> conducts Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra<\/strong> for both productions, with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale<\/strong> (Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Founder and Artistic Director).<\/p>\n