This Week in Toronto (Oct. 27 - Nov. 2)

My concert picks for the week of October 27 to November 2 - Joseph So


The big news in opera this week is Opera Atelier's Alcina, which opened last Thursday at the Elgin Theatre.  Given OA's specialty is baroque opera, it doesn't seem possible that this is OA's first staging of a Handel opera. Well, apparently it is, but better late than never!  I attended the opening night last Thursday Oct. 23, and it was a knockout of a production. For the first time, OA is using video projections to augment its excellent painted tableaux expertly executed by Gerard Gauci. Given its a fantastical story about the sorceress Alcina, moving images make it that much more visually striking. The subtle transformation of landscape and architectural columns into male nude bodies create quite a sensation in the media, although it must be said that there is really no more nudity than one would find in an evening at the ballet!  The true sensation of the evening was the singing.  I will write a full review of this show for a future issue of the British magazine, Opera. For now, I can say this is a show not to be missed!  Excellent singing from everyone, but particularly Allyson McHardy (Ruggiero), Meghan Lindsay (Alcina), Wallis Giunta (Bradamante), and Mireille Asselin (Morgana). Three more shows this week on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at the Elgin Theatre.  http://www.operaatelier.com/season/14-15-season/



At the Toronto Symphony Orchestra this week is a comparative rarity, Elgar's "oratorio" Dream of Gerontius.  I put oratorio in quotation marks as it was said that Elgar didn't want this label for the work, but if truth be told, that's what it is, given its strong Catholicism. This is considered to be among the finest of the genre of British choral music.  Canadian heldentenor Ben Heppner was originally scheduled to sing the title role, but he announced his retirement last April.  In his place is a very suitable replacement in terms of the vocal demands of this dramatic tenor role, Australian tenor Stuart Skelton.  Joining him are British mezzo-soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers, and Canadian bass John Relyea, one of the finest basses in the world today, although he's still relatively young at 42,  I recall with pleasure seeing his Figaro last August in Ravinia.  Compared that to the first time I saw his Figaro in Santa Fe Opera when he was only 28, he's better than ever.  This is a superb trio of soloists and this is a show not to be missed by all Elgarians. Peter Oundjian conducts the TS forces, Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers. http://roythomson.com/eventdetail/TSODreamGerontius

The Canadian Opera Company's fall season comes to an end this week, with its production of Falstaff and Madama Butterfly. The last Falstaff  is on Nov. 1, your last chance to see and hear the magnificent Falstaff of the great Canadian bass baritone Gerald Finley. There are three more performances of Madama Butterfly on Oct. 28, 30 and 31.  http://www.coc.ca/Home.aspx

Ukrainian bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka is no stranger to Toronto audiences, having appeared with distinction in several leading roles with the Canadian Opera Company back in the Richard Bradshaw era. In recent years, Hunka continued his association with Toronto (and Canada) through his Ukrainian Song Project. Hunka's goal is to commit to recording the vast repertoire of songs by Ukrainian composers. Back in 2011, I interviewed Hunka about this project, the article, together with a review of the Lysenko recordings, can be found below (click to enlarge image). On Sunday Nov. 2 3 pm, Hunka and several Canadian artists - soprano Monica Whicher, mezzo Krisztina Szabo, baritone Russell Braun, and pianist Albert Krywolt, will be giving a recital at Koerner Hall. This concert, Galicians 1, presents the recently discovered compositions of four Ukrainian composers - the late romantic Denys Sichynsky, post-romantic Stanyslav Liudkevych, impressionist Vasyl Barvinsky and the modernist (and also Ukraine's first female composer) Stefania Turkewich. The event is hosted by Stuart Hamilton and produced by composer Roman Hurko. It is presented under the auspices of  the Ukrainian Art Song Project, an endeavour spearheaded by Pavlo Hunka and supported by Ukrainian communities in Canada and worldwide.  www.ukrainianartsong.ca
https://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/ukrainian-art-song-project-presents-galicians-i-art-songs


First Round has already begun, starting Oct. 25th and continues this week, culminating in the Finals to take place at Koerner Hall on November 1st. The high-powered jury panel includes Irish pianist John O'Conor, Canadian James Anagnoson, Italian Fabio Bidini, and the chair is Yoheved Kaplinsky (USA).
http://www.ipianotoronto.ca/