Review: Smetana’s The Bartered Bride

The opera was sung in the original Czech with projected translations. I give a great deal of credit to the performers for learning a language for a single performance, astounding as I don’t believe that Czech is the native language of any of them. My concert companion was a Czech friend, who was impressed with how well the cast managed the language.

 

– Joseph So,
Ludwig van Toronto

Our thanks to Joseph So of Ludwig van Toronto for this wonderful review of our recent performance of Smetana’s The Bartered Bride. Read the full review here.

Wagner: Der fliegende Hollander

NEW: Our March 16th presentation of Der fliegende Hollander has been postponed. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.
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Opera by Request presents Wagner’s Der fliegende Hollander, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday, March 16th, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.
Dutchman……………………Henry Irwin, baritone
Senta…………………………. Cristina Pisani, soprano
Daland…………………………Steven Henrikson, bass-baritone
Erik……………………………..Corey Arnold, tenor
Mary……………………………Monica Zerbe, mezzo-soprano
Steersman……………………David Walsh, tenor
William Shookhoff, pianist and music director

Smetana: The Bartered Bride

Opera by Request and the Canadian Institute for Czech Music present Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday, March 9th, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St (Bathurst).  All seats $25.00.
Buy Tickets Here

Marenka………….Grace Quinsey, soprano
Jenik………………..David Walsh, tenor
Kecal………………..John Holland, baritone
Vasek……………….Alexander Cappellazzo, tenor
Krusina……………..Henry Irwin, baritone
Ludmila…………….Mila Iankova, soprano
Micha……………….Mikhail Shemet, bass-baritone
Hata………………….Alexandra Beley, mezzo-soprano
Principal…………….Catharin Carew, mezzo-soprano
Esmeralda………….Thera Barclay, soprano
Akrobat……………..Kyle Simpson, baritone
William Shookhoff, music director and pianist

Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro

Opera by Request presents Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday, November 18th, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St (Bathurst).  All seats $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.
Figaro………………………………….Brian Dearden, baritone
Susanna………………………………Roanna Kitchen, soprano
Countess……………………………..Rianna Robinson, soprano
Count…………………………………Sebastien Belcourt, baritone
Cherubino……………………………Alessia Vitali, mezzo-soprano
Marcellina…………………………….Michaela Chiste, mezzo-soprano
Bartolo/Antonio………………………Kieran Kane, baritone
Barbarina……………………………..Sasha Koukarina, soprano
Basilio/Curzio………………………..Jordan Baldwin, tenor
William Shookhoff, music director and pianist

Verdi: Rigoletto

Opera by Request presents Verdi’s Rigoletto, in concert with piano accompaniment, Friday, November 10th, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst). All seats $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.
Rigoletto……………………………………Gene Wu, baritone
Gilda………………………………………..Emily Rocha, soprano
Duke of Mantua……………………………Daevyd Pepper, tenor
Maddalena, Countess Ceprano………….Alessia Vitali, mezzo-soprano
Sparafucile, Count Ceprano………………Wes Hui, bass-baritone
Monterone…………………………………..Luke Noftall, baritone
Borsa………………………………………..David Walsh, tenor
Marullo………………………………………George Theodorakopoulos, baritone
William Shookhoff, pianist and music director

Mozart: Idomeneo

Opera by Request presents Mozart’s Idomeneo, in concert with piano accompaniment,   Saturday, October 28th, 7:30pm. College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst).  All seats $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.

Idomeneo………………………………..Dillon Parmer, tenor
Ilia…………………………………………Maghan MacPhee, soprano
Idamante…………………………………Whitney O’Hearn, soprano
Elektra…………………………………….Whitney Sloan, soprano
Arbace, High Priest………………………Francis Domingue, tenor
Oracle……………………………………..Henry Irwin, baritone
Cretan women…………………………….Hillary Krutchick, soprano
                                                                Bree Horton, mezzo-soprano
William Shookhoff, music director and pianist