Opera in Concert Presents Canadian Premiere of GLORIANA Tonight

Tonight, November 24, 2013, VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents the Canadian Premiere of Benjamin Britten's GLORIANA. The work premiered in London at Covent Garden in 1953 and was written in celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a monarch now in the 50th year of her reign. "We are very excited about this performance" said General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin. "It is rare that we have the opportunity to present the Canadian premiere of a major work by a legendary composer from our own era to our public. I'm sure Toronto's opera lovers will be curious and thrilled by this magnificent work."

VOICBOX: Opera in Concert expresses its deep appreciation to the estate of Stephen Ireland for its generous support of this production. Mr. Ireland was for many years a valued member of the VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert Board of Directors and was a fervent admirer of the music of Benjamin Britten.

Though only 39 years old, Britten already enjoyed widespread fame and threw himself wholeheartedly into the composition of this opera, laying aside all other creative projects. He and librettist William Plomer chose to concentrate on the responsibilities of a monarch and vividly contrasted the public and private life of Queen Elizabeth I. Critics agree that they succeeded brilliantly and Elizabeth is touchingly seen as an embattled sovereign and a lonely woman.

Music Director and Pianist is Peter Tiefenbach in his VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert debut and Robert Cooper will lead VOICEBOX: OIC Chorus in the stirring choral scenes Britten devised for the Court of Her Majesty, Elizabeth I. In the title role, Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio alumna Betty Waynne Allison makes her VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert debut. Last season, Ms. Allison was featured by Pacific Opera Victoria in the title role of MARY'S WEDDING, a world premiere by composer Andrew MacDonald. She has also starred for Florentine Opera as Carlisle Floyd's SUSANNAH and made her debut in France as Alice in FALSTAFF for Opéra de Metz. Remembered by OIC patrons as Jirka in Dvorak's THE DEVIL AND KATE, tenor Adam Luther takes the role of the duplicitous Earl of Essex. Rounding out the cast are Jennifer Sullivan, Jesse Clark, Dion Mazerolle and Marco Petracchi.

Don't miss the pre-concert chat - THE BACKGROUNDER - with Iain Scott 45 minutes before each show; a chance to learn about the opera, the composer and the musical culture of the times.

VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert is supported by the Jackman Foundation, the Estate of Stephen Ireland, Istituto Italiano di Cultura,Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Tickets are available from the St. Lawrence Centre's Box Office, 27 Front St. East, by phone - 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 - or online at www.stlc.com. The theatre is wheelchair accessible and close to public transit and municipal parking. All performances are on Sunday afternoons at the St. Lawrence Centre at 2:30pm.