Toronto's Opera Atelier announces its 2021/2022 season: Wings of Desire
The good folks at Opera Atelier have certainly made me appreciate and celebrate this wondrous and spectacular art form over the last two years.
Opera Atelier is an opera/ballet company committed to creating period productions that are realized as complete artistic statements - built from the ground up with equal attention given to music, dancing, acting, and design. With a core repertoire that extends from Monteverdi to Mozart, Opera Atelier also explores period productions of later repertoire. For Opera Atelier, the pivotal aspect of period production lies in the in-depth examination of the original intentions of composers, choreographers, and librettists in order to find new ways to challenge ourselves as artists in the 21st century
I am looking forward to the company’s upcoming season and here it is.
Opera Atelier is delighted to announce a thrilling 2021 Fall Season with the film premiere of Angel - fully-staged and filmed at St. Lawrence Hall, in strict compliance with provincial health and safety regulations - streaming Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 7pm ET (available until November 12, 2021). Angel marks the culmination of composer Edwin Huizinga’s commission for the company; the first iteration of the work took place in the Royal Chapel in Versailles in 2017 where Opera Atelier was invited to participate in the official Canada 150 celebrations in France.
The 70-minute film will include stage direction by Founding Co-Artistic Director Marshall Pynkoski C.M., the full corps of Artists of Atelier Ballet with choreography by Founding Co-Artistic Director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg C.M., and additional solo contemporary choreography by Artist of Atelier Ballet Tyler Gledhill, and featuring the renowned Tafelmusik - Elisa Citterio, Music Director - under the baton of Opera Atelier Music Director David Fallis.
The production of Angel will include Opera Atelier’s first collaboration with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale - Canada’s premiere choral group specializing in Afrocentric music of all styles - under the direction of Brainerd Blyden-Taylor and reunites with Canadian filmmaker Marcel Canzona as the film director, director of photography, and editor.
Alongside soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Angel will feature tenor Colin Ainsworth, soprano Mireille Asselin, baritone Jesse Blumberg, soprano Meghan Lindsay, baritone John Tibbetts (Opera Atelier debut), and bass-baritone Douglas Williams.
The production will showcase new sets and art direction from Opera Atelier Resident Set Designer Gerard Gauci, and costumes by Michael Gianfrancesco and Michael Legouffe.
“Angel will be a lasting testament to the uncrushable spirit of creativity that has fueled artists and their imaginations throughout history,” says Opera Atelier Co-Founding Artistic Director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg.
Opera Atelier will return to in-theatre performances for the spring 2022 season. Full production details, casting, dates and ticketing information will be announced in January 2022.
Due to popular demand, Opera Atelier announces a two-week return of the Canadian Film Premiere Handel’s The Resurrection - streaming from Thursday July 29, 2021 through August 12, 2021. Hailed as “resplendent art in the face of adversity” by Opera Canada Magazine, the film features an all-star cast including soprano Carla Huhtanen, soprano Meghan Lindsay, mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy, tenor Colin Ainsworth, and bass-baritone Douglas Williams.
My review of the production: Review: G. F. Handel's 'The Resurrection' by Toronto's Opera Atelier — OnStage Blog
This re-release will also feature a Standard Audio Description version of the film prepared by Superior Description Services. The Standard Audio Description version of Handel’s The Resurrection will provide an immersive virtual experience and offers an accessibility service for Blind and Partially Sighted people to help them understand visual content. The audio-described version of Handel’s The Resurrection will be free of cost to members of the Blind and Partially Sighted communities. In addition, Pynkoski will offer a Pre-Show Chat on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 7pm ET on Zoom to offer insight into the film and answer any questions from the community.
Opera Atelier’s Board of Directors is proud to announce that Measha Brueggergosman has also been appointed Artist Advisor to the Board, effective immediately. In this capacity, Brueggergosman will join OA Artistic Directors in Board discussions regarding The Artist’s Creative Process, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the performing arts.
In the Spring of 2022, Pynkoski and Zingg will be making their debut at Opéra de Tours in a new production of a Grétry opera. Full details will be announced in January 2022.
Single tickets for the return of Handel’s The Resurrection will go on sale Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Tickets and information at OperaAtelier.com
Community members interested in viewing the Standard Audio Description version of the production of Handel’s The Resurrection or in attending the Pre-Show Chat, hosted by Pynkonski, on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 7pm ET on Zoom, may register by visiting OperaAtelier.com
Single tickets for the Film Premiere of Angel will go on sale Friday, October 1, 2021. A special online pre-sale for Opera Atelier subscribers will be available on Monday, September 27, 2021. Tickets and information at OperaAtelier.com
2021/22 Season Presenting Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.
To learn more about Toronto’s Opera Atelier, visit www.operaatelier.com.
Logo from Opera Atelier’s Facebook page.