Newsletter December 1994 Bulletin
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NATIONAL CAPITAL OPERA SOCIETY Newsletter December 1994 SOCffiTE D'OPERA DE LA CAPITALE NATIONALE Bulletin decembre 1994 P.o. Box 8347, Main Tenninal, Ottawa, Ontario KIG 3H8 C.P. 8347, Succursale principale, Ottawa (Ontario) KIG 3H8 Summary of forthcoming local events Brian Law Opera Recital of fmalists 21 Jan 1830 First Unitarian p2 Scholarship and optional dinner Church, Cleary Ave 'Tell me the Truth Susan Blyth-Schofield, 10 Feb Noon Freiman Hall, p3 about Love' soprano: songs and arias University of on a St Valentine's theme Ottawa Student Auditions National Association for 18 Feb; 0930 to Tabaret Hall, p3 Teachers of Singing, 1800; University of preliminary and fmal 19 Feb 1430 Ottawa rounds La boheme, by Production by Opera Lyra 13, 15, 17, 2000 National Arts p7 Puccini Ottawa and 19 Apr Centre, in the Opera La traviata, by Verdi Perfonnance by Atelier 4 Apr National Library Lyrique de Montreal An opera not yet Opera created and 18 Mar Place to be p7 written or composed perfonned by Opera Lyra announced Ottawa Children's Workshop :; The Mikado, by Perfonnance by the Savoy 31 Mar to 2 2000 Centrepointe i" Gilbert and Sullivan Society Apr and 5 to (1400 on Theatre ! r 8 Apr 2 Apr) ..- 1 At the Society's recent dinner for Louis Quilico, our Murray Kitts, our Treasurer and the author of photographer must have been too shy to take a shot most of the interesting parts of our Newsletters, with the guest of honour in the foreground. Here looks very relaxed chatting with David and we see Louis taking a back seat to his wife, the Shelagh Williams. pianist Christina Petrowska. The Brian Law Opera Scholarship Competition The second competition for the Brian Law Opera entries. The judges for the preliminary stage Scholarship takes place on Saturday, 21 January were Barbara Clark, Garth Hampson, and Tom 1995, in the First Unitarian Church at 30 Cleary Annand, with Bobbi Cain for the Society. The A venue in Ottawa. For this important event we jurors for the fmal competition will be Diane are eager to see every member and fIll every seat. Loeb, mezzo-soprano, from Toronto, and two Recently the preliminary judging of the tapes conductors from Montreal, Louis Lavigueur and submitted by all entrants took place, resulting in Iwan Edwards. the following six finalists: Dinner Marianna Bell, mezzo-soprano To make this into even more of a special Kimberley Briggs, coloratura soprano occasion, we are holding a dinner at the same Julie Ann Nesrallah, mezzo-soprano place immediately following the recitals and the Marlene Piitz, coloratura soprano announcement of the winner. While the judges are pondering their decision, a cash bar will be Mary Ann Swerdfeger, mezzo-soprano open. The price of a ticket to the recital alone is Maria Knapik-Sztramko, lyric/spinto soprano $8, and the price for both recital and dinner is All the finalists are natives or residents of the $40, and the combination tickets must be bought National Capital region, and are studying at one in advance-by 18 January at the latest-so that level or another to be opera singers, both of the right number of dinners can be prepared. which conditions are required under the tenns the Dinner tickets are limited to 100, so order Society set for the Scholarship. promptly by calling Bobbi Cain at 2250124. Tickets for the recital alone can be obtained from The reason that all the fmalists are women has any member of the Board, from Pflug Optical at nothing to do with unusual tastes in the judges 1580 Merivale Road (723 2766), or at the door but everything to do with the absence of male on the evening of the perfonnances. 2 As we mentioned, we would like to have a sell please volunteer by calling Bobbi Cain, still at out, so any member who can persuade friends to 2250124? come too or sell tickets in any way, even to Donation wanted complete strangers, is strongly encouraged to do so. Let's make this not only an artistic success For the fIrst competition two years ago, when but a fundraising success too! Laura Dzubaniuk was the winner, we were fortunate enough to receive a donation that Have we a photographer? allowed us to award consolation prizes of $100 We would like to take good black-and-white to defray the costs of travel, making recordings, photographs of the presentation to the winner, and so on. If there be any member willing to for improving the appeal of the Newsletter and perform this generous act for the second for use in later publicity. We would also like to competition, or if there be anyone who knows of minimize the cost of this, so if there is any someone who might, would you please call member with the skill and equipment to Bobbi Cain at the number that you can probably undertake this important assignment, would. you remember by now. 'Tell me the truth about love' The soprano Susan Blyth-Schofield will be University of Ottawa (564 2481) and asking for giving a noon recital on the theme of St. the Music Department. Valentine at the University of Ottawa on 11 Susan Blyth-Schofield is temporarily a local February. Among other songs there will be arias resident and has appeared recently in the Opera from La boheme, Carmen, and The Barber of Breva productions that we mentioned in Seville. The piano accompanist will be Evelyn 'Forthcoming events' in our previous issue. She Greenberg. has performed with the Canadian Opera There is the possibility of holding the recital in Company and in numerous places in Europe. Tabaret Hall instead of Freiman Hall, so before JMC you set out you should check by phoning the The NATS finals There's a day and a half of singing in store for On the Sunday, the finals start at 2:30 pm and the those who attend the fInals of the audition-cum cost of admission is $5. Each fInalist sings three competition being held by the National songs, at least one of which must be from an Association for Teachers of Singing on the 18 opera. After the competition is over, Stuart and 19 February. This competition is for student Hamilton will give a master class to some of the singers of all ages, from twelve up to thirty or singers, which the public can remain for. Mr so. The fIrst day, a Saturday, sees the Hamilton, well known to anyone who listens to preliminary round, with the singing starting at opera broadcasts on CBC, was one of the judges 9:30 am and continuing until 6 pm. It is, at the fInals of the fIrst Brian Law Scholarship, however, perfectly acceptable to come or go at when the winner was Laura Dzubaniuk. any time, and the admission is free. 3 Most melodious malediction It can be assumed that most of our members went orchestra was supposed to take up the music to hear Louis Quilico in Rigoletto expecting him completely. To this reviewer some imbalance to give another tremendous performance in a role between singers and orchestra resulted in failing where he has had few peers in his long career. to solve the music problem successfully. They were not disappointed. But what really The scenery and properties come from the bowled over the capacity audiences was the Gilda Canadian Opera Company and were designed by of Rebecca Caine. Her Caro nome was pure George Tsypin, so he is presumably responsible magic and her scenes with Quilico extraordinary, for the 'chaise roulante' on which the jester was not only for the range of emotional and dramatic obliged to scuttle around when engaged in his interplay but also for the musical achievement. regular employment. No doubt someone has Her duet with the Duke, sung by Zaza discovered a painting or a description of such a Zaalishvili, provided the latter with one of his device used by a jester at some time. However, best moments in the opera The Slavic tenor was in this opera lover's view, rolling about added not perhaps the ideal choice for Verdi's most nothing to the character or to the drama but left lyrical tenor role, but at least he did not inflict on people puzzled about its purpose. his audience a parody of the 'world's most The sets for Acts I and II cannot be faulted. The popular tenor' or offend them with the pomposity uses of staircases for Monterone' s curse in Scene of his acting. 1 and for Gilda's musings on her beloved in It was delightful to see Alexander Savtchenko, Scene 2 (both in Act I) were particularly who sang in our 'Showcase' earlier this year, effective. Act III presents us with some add another excellent performance as Sparafucile, problems. Having been treated to sets of the assassin, to his fast-growing repertoire. And exceptional strength and solidity we are asked to it was Alexander's wife, Laura Dzubaniuk, accept Sparafucile's Inn in a very sketchy form. winner of the fIrst Brain Law Opera Scholarship, One good thing about this set and the staging of who sang the role of the Page. Also from our the scene is that the audience can see what is 'Showcase' was Janet Harach as the Countess going on-perhaps too much. Despite the fact Ceprano. It should give all our members a that a storm is coming up and everyone seems to special pleasure to congratulate these singers. agree that rain will fall, the Duke consents to It was no surprise that Gary Relyea gave a sleep in a room that has no roof.