VOICEBOX/Opera in Concert's 40th Anniversary Season Closes with STIFFELIO, 3/23

The celebration of commemorative anniversaries for three great composers was the theme for VOICEBOX/Opera in Concert's own 40th Anniversary and the season closes with Verdi's STIFFELIO on Sunday, March 23, 2014 with a single performance at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts at 2:30 pm. This inflammatory work from 1850 concerns an adultery in the house of a Protestant minister and was so severely censored by the Italian authorities that Verdi withdrew it in 1856 and it was only intermittently revived - in various forms - in the 20th century. In 1992, scholars were given access to Verdi's autograph score by the Carrara family and the original version was produced at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 21 October 1993. It is this version that VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert will be presenting.

None of Verdi's operas was as unusual in its subject matter as that of STIFFLEIO with its tale of treachery, adultery, revenge and forgiveness. His music for this work was equally unconventional and the overall musical effect seems less important than the expressive details designed to heighten the dramatic moment. Verdi's view of religion and society was never more vividly on public view.

"Our season has been immensely rewarding so far, with stunning performances of Britten's GLORIANA and Rameau's HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE" said VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert's Guillermo Silva-Marin. "We expect the grand finale to be just as exciting and revealing." The all Canadian cast for STIFFELIO will be led from the piano by Raisa Nakhmanovich, one of Canada's most esteemed musicians and keyboard collaborators. The title role will be sung by tenor Ernesto Ramirez, recently returned from Mexico City and performances as Tamino in THE MAGIC FLUTE. His wayward wife, Lina, will be soprano Laura Albino, an alumna of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio. Baritone Geoffrey Sirett - remembered as Zoroastro in ORLANDO - will be Stankar. Returning to our stage, we will have Marco Petracchi as Jorg and Dina Shikhman as Dorotea. The VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert Chorus will be led by founding director Robert Cooper. C.M. The performance is generously supported by a grant from the Jackman Foundation.

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.

Opera in Concert is supported by the Jackman Foundation, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Single tickets are available from the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane Mallett Theatre 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.