Author Archives: OBR

Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia”

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Opera by Request presents Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday April 6 at 7:30 pm

Please note the location: Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, 41 Chatsworth Dr. (Yonge and Lawrence).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.

Figaro……….Jay Lambie, baritone
Rosina……….Nicole Bower, soprano
Count Almaviva….William Parker, tenor
Bartolo………Douglas Tranquada, baritone
Basilio……….Henry Irwin, bass-baritone
Bertha……….Jean-e Hudson, mezzo-soprano
Fiorillo/Sergeant…..George Ossipov, bass-baritone

William Shookhoff, pianist and music director

Verdi’s “Rigoletto”

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Opera by Request presents Verdi’s Rigoletto, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday March 23, 7:30 pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St. (corner of Bathurst).  All tickets $20.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.

Rigoletto………………………………Marco Petracchi, baritone
Gilda…………………………………..Sara Papini, soprano
Duke of Mantua………………………….Pablo Benitez, tenor
Maddalena………………………………Sarah Hicks, mezzo-soprano
Sparafucile/Monterone…………………….Henry Irwin, baritone
Borsa…………………………………..Francis Domingue, tenor
Marullo…………………………………Jeremy Ludwig, baritone
Ceprano………………………………..Domenico Sanfilippo, baritone
Countess Ceprano/Page/Giovanna…………….Allyssa Woolheather, soprano

William Shookhoff, music director and pianist

Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and “Il Tabarro”

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A co-production with the Calgary Concert Opera Company
http://www.calgaryconcertopera.com

Suor Angelica – Forced to enter a convent by her family, a young nun takes poison when a heartless Aunt coldly informs her of the death of her child. Seized by remorse, she prays for forgiveness and witnesses a miracle.

Il Tabarro – Set on a barge in the Seine river, a captain discovers his wife’s infidelity, and exacts a shocking revenge.

Friday Feb 22nd, 7 pm, St Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Calgary ($25 adv/$30 door);
Saturday, Feb 23rd, 7 pm, Ranchmen’s Club, Calgary ($70);
Sunday, Feb 24th, 3 pm, Okotoks United Church, Okotoks ($25 adv/$30 door)

Suor Angelica Cast
Suor Angelica: Erin Armstrong & Michèle Cusson
Principessa: Barbara King
Genevieve: Audrina Steciw
Monitor: Sara Staples
Mistress of the Novices: Laura Styler Jones & Bethany Routledge
Nursing Sister: Laura Styler-Jones
First Touriere (Cercatrice): Lauren Woods & Amanda Massey
Second Touriere (Cercatrice): Jennifer Wosley
First Lay Sister: Elaine Brown
Second Lay Sister: Amanda Massey
The Abbess: Bethany Routledge
The Novice: Jennnifer Wosley
Suor Dolcina: Doris Weiss
Suor Osmina: Leila Keith
Narrator: Harris Kirshenbaum

Il tabarro Cast
Michele, a barge-owner: John Conlon
Giorgetta, Michele’s wife: Naomi Eberhard & Michèle Cusson
Luigi, a stevadore: Kevin Armstrong
‘Tinca’ (‘tench’), a stevedore: Boris Derow
‘Talpa’ (‘mole’), a stevedore: Graham Paynter
La Frugola (“the rummager”), Talpa’s wife: Barbara King


Music Director
: William Shookoff
Other Accompanist
: Grace King L.R.S.M.

Memorial Concert

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Friday, Jan 18th, 7:30 pm.  College St. United Church, 452 College St.  By donation.

It is with great sorrow that all of us associated with Opera by Request received the news on Christmas Day of the untimely passing of Alla Ossipova.  It was only a few short months ago that Alla delivered a stunning performance of Fricka in Wagner’s Die Walkure, the latest in several superb performances which Alla delivered over the years.

 

To commemorate her life, her husband George Ossipov requested a concert be presented in her memory.  A number of singers who performed with Alla in recent years will share their talents in her memory.  Donations collected at the concert will be shared by Opera by Request and Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, the two venues where Alla was most recently able to showcase and develop her talents.