{"id":99911,"date":"2023-10-25T14:27:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T18:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=99911"},"modified":"2023-10-25T14:27:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T18:27:21","slug":"scoop-torontos-grain-theatre-opera-sustenida-among-finalists-2023-awards-digital-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/10\/25\/scoop-torontos-grain-theatre-opera-sustenida-among-finalists-2023-awards-digital-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Toronto\u2019s Against The Grain Theatre, Opera Sustenida Among Finalists For 2023 Awards for Digital Excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_99915\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-99915\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-99915\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6.jpg\" alt=\"Baritone Elliot Madore in Identity: A Song Cycle (Photo courtesy of Against the Grain Theatre)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-99915\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Baritone Elliot Madore in Identity: A Song Cycle (Photo courtesy of Against the Grain Theatre)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The finalists for the 2023 Awards for Digital Excellence were recently announced by OPERA America, including three Toronto-based projects. AtG\u2019s Identity: A Song Cycle was nominated in the category of Artistic Creation, and its BOUND under Noteworthy Projects. Opera Sustenida\u2019s Date with the Divas (Vol. 2) was nominated in the category of Education\/Enrichment.<\/p>\n<p>Awards are offered in four different categories: Artistic Creation, Education\/Enrichment, University\/Conservatory Projects, and Noteworthy Projects.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MZPI2bwamZg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>The Awards<\/h2>\n<h3>Artistic Creation<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Identity: A Song Cycle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Produced by <strong>Against the Grain Theatre<\/strong>, <strong>Joel Ivany<\/strong>, <strong>Robin Whiffen<\/strong>, <strong>Jason Charters<\/strong>, and <strong>Liam Romali<\/strong>, the filmed vocal work revolves around the weighty themes of identity and belonging. Baritone Elliot Madore explores his personal journey through songs and original poetry by Wijeratne and Shauntay Grant. Brought together over a social media post by Madore talking candidly about his biracial identity, Joel Ivany and the celebrated vocalist developed the work with an innovative sense of storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>Other finalists include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>BEYOND a film by Marina Viotti | Produced by: The Dallas Opera; Marina Viotti and Karim Hachemi \u2014 Avinarts<\/li>\n<li>The First Bluebird in the Morning | Produced by: LA Opera<\/li>\n<li>In a Grove world premiere video broadcast | Produced by: Pittsburgh Opera, Christopher Cerrone, Stephanie Fleischmann, RLG Creations, Evan Chapman, Mike Tierney, Kristian Tchetchko<\/li>\n<li>Medusa\u2019s Children | Produced by: OperaQ<\/li>\n<li>Handel: Orlando | the Baroque opera performed in a New York City community garden | Produced by: Opera Praktikos, H Paul Moon Films, Opera Essentia<\/li>\n<li>Svadba | Produced by: Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Bradley Vernatter, Jessica Johnson Brock, David B. Devan, Anderson Nunnelley, Hannah Shepard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Noteworthy Projects<\/h3>\n<p><strong>BOUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Against the Grain Theatre<\/strong>, <strong>Joel Ivany<\/strong>, and <strong>Robin Whiffen<\/strong> produce this opera\/film hybrid that poses the question, \u201cHow welcoming are we as a country, as a city, as a community?\u201d The libretto by Ivany takes its inspiration from recent headlines, using the structure of interviews with four Canadian citizens of diverse backgrounds. Each has a story to tell about their way into Canadian society from the outside. The storytellers are represented by musical avatars in the film, and their real-life stories are transformed into songs. Composer Kevin Lau uses bits from Handel&#8217;s operas and oratorios to create a moving soundtrack, performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n<p>The other finalists are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jess | Produced by: Rebecca Gray and Rachel Gray<\/li>\n<li>THE WEB OPERA | Produced by: Michael Roth<\/li>\n<li>Whiteness: Part One | Produced by: CultureHub<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"style-scope ytd-watch-metadata\"><em>Nicole Whitney Dubinsky performs &#8220;Quando m&#8217;en vo'&#8221; (Puccini) in Opera Sustenida&#8217;s Date with the Divas (Vol. 2):<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LohU5qMpnzs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Education\/Enrichment<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date with the Divas (Vol. 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Opera Sustenida\u2019s Date with the Divas (Vol. 2)<\/strong> is the second of the company&#8217;s online concert series that explores the art form&#8217;s history. Vol. 2 looked at the Romantic era, including works by Wagner, Puccini, Verdi and more. The Divas (sopranos Stephanie DeCiantis and Nicole Whitney Dubinsky, and mezzo-soprano Daniella Theresia), are joined by pianist Suzanne Yeo, and guests Natalya Gennadi, soprano, and mezzo-sopranos Meagan Reimer, Jennifer Routhier, and Monica Zerbe.<\/p>\n<p>The other finalist:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>About In Song, Playground Opera&#8217;s Hansel and Gretel | Produced by: Opera on Tap, Dennis Whitehead Darling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>University\/Conservatory Projects<\/h3>\n<p>Finalists list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Operas [in Place] | Produced by: Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Cleveland Opera Theater, On Site Opera<\/li>\n<li>Purcell\u2019s Dido and Aeneas: A Cinematic Opera | Produced by: Dean Southern, Alexander E. Tennant, Eric S. Vaughan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why Is Digital Opera Important?<\/h2>\n<p>Any debate over the value of live vs. digital opera misses the obvious: for many of us, there is no need to choose one over the other. For many others, however, there are real physical barriers to attending an opera in person, even if it\u2019s in the same city. Digital opera is a lifeline to those who live outside the large centres that have regular opera performances.<\/p>\n<p>The digital realm allows creators to explore dimensions that aren\u2019t possible in a live performance, and to transmit their work far beyond the usual physical confines of a city or region. Innovative multimedia art forms are being developed as we speak.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>OPERA America 2023 Awards for Digital Excellence<\/strong> will be given out on December 4 at 7 p.m., live and livestreamed from the National Opera Center in New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Tickets to both [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.operaamerica.org\/industry-resources\/2023\/202312\/2023-awards-for-digital-excellence-in-opera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The finalists for the 2023 Awards for Digital Excellence were recently announced by OPERA America, including three Toronto-based projects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":99915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40430,5,23,35,39,63],"tags":[186,40835,5424,39780],"yst_prominent_words":[26297],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-NEWS-6.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-pZt","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99911"}],"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\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99911"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99916,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99911\/revisions\/99916"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99911"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=99911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}