Puccini: “Turandot”

Opera by Request presents Puccini’s Turandot, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday, March 7, 7:30pm,  College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.

Turandot……………………….Naomi Eberhard, soprano Calaf……………………………..Corey Arnold, tenor
Liu…………………………………Amanda Daigle, soprano
Timur…………………………….Kyle McDonald, bass-baritone
Ping………………………………Lawrence Shirkie, baritone
Pang………………………………Francis Domingue, tenor
Pong………………………………Cian Horrobin, tenor

Narmina Efendiyeva, pianist and music director
The Annex Singers, Maria Case, director

POSTPONED: Puccini: ‘Il Tabarro” and “Gianni Schicchi”

In the interests of health and social responsibility, the cast of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Il Tabarro have chosen to postpone OBR’s upcoming production.  A new date will be posted shortly and notifications will be sent out. There will be NO PERFORMANCE on March 28. Thank you for your continued support in this difficult time.

Opera by Request presents a double-bill of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi, Saturday, March 28, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information

Il Tabarro:
Michele: Taylor Gibbs, baritone
Giorgetta: Angela Gibbon, soprano
Luigi: Cian Horrobin, tenor
Il Tinca: Lucas Pawluk, tenor
Il Talpa: George Ossipov, bass-baritone
La Frugola: Katie Barr, mezzo-soprano
Venditore: Joseph Wong, tenor

Gianni Schicchi:
Schicchi: Danlie Rae Acebuque, baritone
Lauretta: Georgia Perdikoulias, soprano
Rinuccio: Cian Horrobin, tenor
Simone: George Ossipov, bass-baritone
Zita: Katie Barr, mezzo-soprano
Marco: Taylor Gibbs, baritone
Betto: Kyle Merrithew, baritone
La Ciesca: Karina Bray, mezzo-soprano
Gherardo: Joseph Wong, tenor
Nella: Lori Mak, soprano
Doctor/Lawyer: Alastair Thorburn-Vitols, baritone
Guccio: Lucas Pawluk, tenor

Claire Harris, music director and pianist

UPDATE: Wagner’s Ring Cycle

In the aftermath of Opera by Request’s highly successful presentation of Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle in February, there has been great excitement regarding the repeat performance in Belleville on May 22-24, 2020.

First, let us state unequivocally, the Belleville Ring Cycle will take place. However, the unprecedented events that have transpired over the past several weeks require a responsible and sensible evaluation of when this event should take place. We will be monitoring developments as they unfold and put a schedule in place that we can accept with confidence. Stay tuned for further announcements as they unfold.

Wishing all our supporters strength and health in these difficult times.

Bill Shookhoff, Director, Opera by Request

Click here, or on the above image, to be directed to the ticket-buying website.

February 14-17, 2020
College Street United Church (452 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A1, Canada)

Joined by special guests from the Berlin Wagner Gruppe, Opera by Request goes all in with a 4-day production of Wagner’s epic, the Ring Cycle (Der Ring des Nibelungen) in its entirety. Rarely performed: see one, see two, or see them all!

CAST includes:
Miriam Gordon-Stewart as Brünnhilde
Susan Tsagkaris as Brünnhilde
Andrew Tees as Wotan
Robert Martin as Siegfried
Vanessa Lanch as Sieglinde/Freia/Gutrune
Peter Bass as Alberich
…and so many more!…

For all the details, please click here to visit our Ring Cycle website!

You may also contact 416 455 2365.

TICKETS:
Ringside seats (see all 4 operas) $70
Single tickets at the door $30

DATES:
Das Rheingold – Feb. 14, 7:30pm
Die Walküre – Feb. 15, 6:00pm
Siegfried – Feb. 16, 2:00pm
Götterdämmerung – Feb. 17, 3:00pm

Changed Location! Ring Cycle preview

In preparation for our historic Ring Cycle, Opera By Request presents an evening of highlights, information, and a chance to meet some of the artists involved.

7:00pm, Friday, January 24. Refreshments will be served. Admission is by donation, with proceeds going to Ring Cycle production costs.

Please note, the event has been moved to a new location:
College St. United Church, 454 College St, Toronto (Bathurst and College)


Participants include:
Susan Tsakaris, soprano (Brunnhilde)
Robert Martin, tenor (Siegfried)
Oliver Dawson, tenor (Mime)
Stephanie DeCiantis, soprano (Sieglinde)
Andrew Tees, baritone (Wotan)
Michael Robert-Broder, baritone (Donner)

Please phone 416-455-2365 for any additional information

Rossini: “Barber of Seville”

Opera by Request presents Rossini’s Barber of Seville, in concert with piano accompaniment, Friday, November 15, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St. (Bathurst).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for reservations and information.

Figaro…………………..Gene Wu, baritone
Rosina………………….Meagan Larios, mezzo-soprano
Almaviva………………Cian Horrobin, tenor
Bartolo…………………Aaron Durand, baritone
Basilio…………………..Kyle McDonald, bass-baritone
Berta…………………….Holly Chaplin, soprano
Fiorello/Sergeant….Bruce Reid, baritone

Natasha Fransblow, pianist and music director

Please note that there is a “Night In Tuscany” fundraising dinner before the opera by CUBAbility, in support of their cross-cultural musical symposium to be held in Manzanas, Cuba in January 2020. A “scrumptuous homemade Italian meal” including tiramisu will be served for $25, at the church, starting at 5:30. Please email heiwa@ca.inter.net for further details.

“Suds, Supper and Song” Ring Cycle Fundraiser

Join us for a special Opera by Request ‘Ring Cycle’ Fundraiser on October 17th!

Enjoy a delicious “Feast of the Senses” Gourmet Beer Dinner, accompanied by Maestro William Shookhoff and four fabulous Opera by Request singers. Each of the dinner courses will be accompanied by a different Granite Brewery Fine Ale. And with each course you’ll be entertained by performances of familiar songs and arias inspired by the various beer styles. Oliver Dawson, tenor and beer expert, will be your host for the evening, bringing to life the marriage of opera and craft beer.

All proceeds will go towards the Opera by Request 2020 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. This is only the 2nd time ever in Canada that the ‘Ring’ will have been performed in its entirety.

The event will take place at the Granite Brewery (245 Eglinton Avenue E., Toronto) on October 17th, 2019 starting at 7 pm. Tickets are available through eventbright.