Opera Atelier Announces 2017-18 Season - Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro', Monteverdi's 'The Return of Ulysses' and More!

Opera Atelier's founding co-artistic directorS Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg today announced the company's 2017-2018 season, which opens with Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2017), followed by Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses (Apr. 19-28, 2018). Subscriptions to the two-opera season are available now at operaatelier.com or 416-703-3767 x222. Individual tickets go on sale August 8 through Ticketmaster.

"We are thrilled to present a 2017-2018 season celebrating Love as the driving force that controls our destinies," say Pynkoski and Zingg. "Comedy and tragedy, laughter and heartache are seamlessly blended in each of our season's masterpieces, making them a timeless reflection on the role Love plays in all of our lives."

The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart's racy commedia dell'arte opera, had its premiere in 1786 and was a run-away success. Based on the shocking Beaumarchais play of the same name, Figaro is Mozart's hilarious take on a tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness in a world on the brink of revolution.

The Marriage of Figaro features Douglas Williams making his Opera Atelier debut in the title role, with Mireille Asselin (Susanna), Stephen Hegedus (Count Almaviva), Peggy Kriha Dye (Countess Almaviva), Mireille Lebel (Cherubino), Laura Pudwell (Marcellina), Gustav Andreassen (Bartolo), Christopher Enns (Basilio/Don Curzio), Olivier Laquerre (Antonio), and Grace Lee (Barbarina). Opera Atelier's Dora Award-winning production of The Marriage of Figaro runs October 26 (media night), 28, 29 (3:00pm), 31, November 3, and 4 (4:30pm). Time is 7:30pm except as noted. Figaro is sung in English with English surtitles.

Opera Atelier's 2017-2018 season continues in April with Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses, based on the Greek myth immortalized by Homer in The Odyssey. Monteverdi's deeply moving opera centres on Ulysses' return to his homeland and his reunion with his heroic wife Penelope and his son Telemachus after a twenty-year absence fighting in the Trojan War. This production abounds with gods, goddesses, flying machines and magical transformations, and celebrates the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi's birth.

Opera Atelier is thrilled to present dramatic tenor Krešimir Špicer in the title role. Špicer is internationally recognized as the world's greatest interpreter of this role. His definitive performances have received superlative reviews in major theatres and festivals throughout Europe and the US, including BAM (New York), the Barbican (London), the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris) and the Berlin State Opera. At Aix-en-Provence, his performance with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants created a sensation and was recorded for DVD by Virgin Classics.

Špicer is joined in this production by Mireille Lebel (Penelope), Carla Huhtanen (Fortuna/Melanto), Christopher Enns (Telemaco), Isaiah Bell (Eurimaco), Aaron Sheehan (Eumete), Douglas Williams (Suitor), Kevin Skelton (Suitor/Jupiter), Michael Taylor (Suitor), Laura Pudwell (Nurse), Stephen Hegedus (Neptune/Time), and Meghan Lindsay (Minerva/Cupid). The Return of Ulysses runs April 19 (media night), 21, 22 (3:00pm), 24, 27, 28 (4:30pm). Time is 7:30pm except as noted. Ulysses is sung in Italian with English surtitles.

The Marriage of Figaro and The Return of Ulysses will be directed by Marshall Pynkoski and choreographed by Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, with set design by Gerard Gauci and lighting design by Michelle Ramsay. Both productions will feature the full corps of Artists of Atelier Ballet, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under the baton of David Fallis.

Performances in Opera Atelier's 2017-2018 season take place at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) in Toronto. Subscriptions start at $95 and are on sale now by calling 416-703-3767 x222 or visting operaatelier.com/subscriptions. Single tickets go on sale on August 8, 2017. For more information visit Opera Atelier's website: www.operaatelier.com.

2017-2018 Major Sponsors

Season Presenting Sponsor: BMO Financial Group

Season Underwriter: El Mocambo Productions

Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.

Opera Atelier is North America's premier period opera/ballet company, producing the opera, ballet and drama of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. While drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, Opera Atelier goes beyond "reconstruction" and infuses each production with an inventive theatricality that resonates with modern audiences. Led by founding artistic directorS Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg since 1985, Opera Atelier has garnered acclaim for its performances at home as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia. Opera Atelier is committed to the development of young Canadian artists and offers innovative education programs for youth, as well as $15 tickets for ages 15 to 30.

To post a comment, you must register and login.