RARELY HEARD MOZART BY OPERA IN CONCERT

The prodigiously gifted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, barely 23 years old, was poised to embark on an important career as an opera composer after his years as a touring keyboard prodigy. A Turkish-themed musical confection, loosely based on 'Das Serail', was to be his calling card and it is a remarkable work that never made it to the stage during his lifetime. The opera became known as ZAÏDE and will be presented by Opera in Concert at the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane Mallett Theatre on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 2:30 pm with Kevin Mallon leading the cast and twenty-two piece period orchestra, the Aradia Ensemble. 

 

ZAÏDE, a Turkish abduction drama, was begun 'on spec' in 1779 when Mozart believed he would win a position at a new national German opera company in Vienna.  That hope vanished after he had completed 15 numbers - only the overture and finale remained to be set down - and the ever practical Mozart put ZAÏDE aside to concentrate on a work for which he did have a commission…IDOMENEO.  Opera in Concert will use the Barenreiter edition of ZAIDE with a libretto by Schachtner based on the first performance in 1866.  The Signature Sounds of the score are quintessential Mozart as epitomized by the ravishing aria 'Ruhe sanft', sung by the heroine, Zaide. The work itself is unique in that Mozart experimented with the melologo or melodram, dialogue interspersed with music and at times with music as underscoring for text.  He never used this technique again, relying thereafter on the more straightforward singspiel format or recitative to carry the drama forward. 

 

Kevin Mallon and Dramatic Advisor Virginia Reh have re-imagined the opera to allow for a dramatic ending fitting to a story of love regained. The cast is impressive and combines established Canadian artists with emerging young professionals.  DeAnna Hendricks, who scored a personal triumph as Constance in OIC's recent DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES will sing the title role.  Her beloved Gomatz will be sung by Nils Brown, who has performed with L'Opera de Montreal and was heard last season at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music in the Jonathan Miller staging of Bach's St. Matthew PASSION. James McLennan, lauded for his recent Candide for Toronto Operetta Theatre will be Soliman.  Michael York whose other Mozart roles include the Count in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Papageno in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE will take on the role of Allazim.  Osmin will be sung by the young Macedonian baritone Vasil Garvanliev.  The opera will be sung in German (dialogue in English) with surtitles sponsored by Sun Life Financial.

 

Opera in Concert is generously supported by Sun Life Financial, the Jackman Foundation, members of the Patrons Circle, the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

 

Tickets $50 and $38 for ZAÏDE are available at the Jane Mallett Theatre Box Office at 27 Front Street East or by calling 416-366-7723, 1-800-708-6754 or online at www.stlc.com.  The theatre is wheelchair accessible and close to public transit and municipal parking.  Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.