Jul 15th, 2010
by Marshall.
Great news! Joe White and the Seven Divorcees which stars one of OAS’s favourite signers, Curtis Sullivan, has been invited to be part of the Best of the Fringe at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts in the studio theatre space. It will be playing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings this week and tickets can be secured at www.tocentre.com.
I know many people were turned away on Saturday. Here is your chance to take another run at seeing this marvelous piece of comic music theatre. Try not to miss it!
Posted in: Events.
Jul 9th, 2010
by Marshall.
Yesterday afternoon I found out quite by accident that baritone Curtis Sullivan (my best friend!) was performing in a musical as part of the Fringe Festival. How can he not have told me?! He must have known the show was wonderful – anyone would know this to be the case within the first few minutes. It’s called Joe White and the Seven Divorcees and takes place at the Bathurst St. Theatre. There is one performance left – tomorrow (Saturday afternoon at 7:30 p.m.). Tickets are $10.
The cast is made up of a marvelous collection of music theatre artists accompanied by a small live band. The seven divorcees are wonderful comic actors and all of them (Sneezy in particular) move like a dream. The prince is an adorable combination of naivety and charm – and gets to show his polar opposite side after drinking a poisoned potion.
Curtis Sullivan however steals the show as the evil king – handsome, big voiced and outrageous. I feel as though he was doing his very best impersonation of himself with no filters whatsoever. A perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon and I highly recommend it.
Posted in: Entertainment.
Jul 7th, 2010
by Marshall.
I’ve just seen the gorgeous photograph of Jeannette taken by Tara McMullen for Rosemarie Umetsu’s upcoming show Iconic Beauty 2010. The shot is a wonderful contrast to the big hair and gigantic gown of Opera Atelier’s 25th Anniversary image. Rosemarie has an uncanny knack for matching her creations to the ideal person to model them. I’ve seen her gowns on numerous OA singers but this is the first time she has dressed one of our dancers. She has instinctively tapped into a side of Jeannette that combines a ballerina’s elegance with high fashion glamour. In fact, the image makes me think of old fashioned Hollywood photos in which the model transcends everyday life and becomes something iconic.
I can’t imagine even an OA costume showing Jeannette’s beautiful neck and shoulders to better advantage.
To see more of Rosemarie’s work or to make appointment at her atelier click here.
Posted in: Art.
Jun 28th, 2010
by Marshall.
On Thursday while I was in New York meeting with Ralph Rucci (more on that later) Jeannette was in Toronto for a shoot with photographer Tara McMullen. Jeannette had been invited to model one of the evening gowns designed by Toronto’s spectacular couturiere Rosemarie Umetsu.
Jeannette had been invited to be part of Iconic Beauty 2010. The project was started 3 years ago as an ongoing project to celebrate the individual style and art of the Canadian female artist through the medium of fashion photography. Every year Rosemarie picks 20 Canadian women representing a wide range of artistic disciplines. and in collaboration with a different fashion photographer each year, dresses and fashion photographs each subject.
I had seen Rosemarie’s gowns on numerous singers who work with Opera Atelier and was excited to see what she would give Jeannette to wear. I expected something spectacular but nothing could have prepared me for the “geranium red stretch silk satin” creation which she chose for Jeannette.
I’ve only seen some blurry Blackberry photos thus far, but if they are any indication of what we will see on Tuesday, we can’t help but have some thrilling photographs. Jeannette looks more glamorous than ever!
I don’t want to give too much away until we post some of the images next week but in the meantime thank you to Rosemarie Umetsu, photographer Tara McMullen and makeup artist Ivy Lam for their wonderful work.
Posted in: Backstage.
Jun 18th, 2010
by Marshall.
Wednesday morning I was stopped in my tracks by an astonishing photograph of Argo “kicker” Justin Medlock. I don’t know anything about football, but I know a great deal about ballet and that young man has the legs, feet and even the flexibility, of a ballet star!
Sadly, it is too late for Mr. Medlock to explore this career option, but if his children inherit his legs and feet I hope he will not hesitate to give us a call.
Posted in: Uncategorized.
Jun 17th, 2010
by Marshall.
On Monday I attended the press conference for Drama & Desire at the Art Gallery of Ontario. I would never have believed that a press conference could be so exciting. Drama and Desire focuses on paintings inspired by the theatre, from the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century – primarily by French artists.
This marvelous collection of paintings has been made even more thrilling by the involvement of Opera Atelier’s set designer Gerard Gauci who was invited to design the exhibition. At Monday’s press conference, Matthew Teitelbaum referred to Gerard as a magician – something which all of us already knew to be the case! From the moment you step through the entrance to Drama & Desire you feel you are walking onto a stage and the inclusion of painted scenery, costume pieces and props from Opera Atelier and the Stratford Festival heighten the theatricality of this show. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to operate 19th century wind and rain machines while watching lightening strike in the gallery of 19th century Romantic paintings!
Monday’s press conference included a very beautiful performance by Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg and Tyler Gledhill – dancing to a chaconne by Rameau. I watched their dancing with a real sense of déjà vu given the fact that Jeannette first danced at the Art Gallery of Ontario 25 years ago in one of Opera Atelier’s first fully staged productions.
Opera Atelier aficionados will be particularly thrilled to know that OA choreographer Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg has been invited to bring the exhibition’s Degas paintings to life by choreographing excerpts of a 19th century ballet barre and pas de deux. Two of the Artists of Atelier Ballet (Jack Rennie and Julia Sedwick) will be performing Jeannette’s choreography in the exhibition space on Sunday afternoons at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Congratulations to Gerard, Katharine Lochnan and everyone involved in creating this unique exhibition. I have no doubt it will become Toronto’s must-attend blockbuster of the summer. Hope to see you there!
Drama & Desire runs June 19 – September 26, 2010
Drama & Desire Admission Prices:
Adults: $25.50
Seniors: $21.50
Students (with valid ID): $14.50
Families (2 adults and up to 5 children): $65.00
Youth (ages 6-17): $14.50
Children under 5: Free
AGO Members: Free
All prices include admission to the AGO’s permanent collection.
Posted in: Art.
Jun 2nd, 2010
by Marshall.
Last Sunday we presented the students from the School of Atelier Ballet in our Dance Through Time program as part of Doors Open Toronto. It was a wonderful experience to see the 25 students ranging in age from 11 to 19 performing in the Ballroom of St. Lawrence Hall.
The Dance Through Time presentation always represents a full year of intensive rehearsal with Jeannette who is choreographer for the entire program. It is a huge undertaking and involves SAB students learning dances from the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic ballet. I can’t imagine a more moving experience than seeing so many young people striving to produce something that challenges them physically and artistically.
The program played two times to a widely appreciative audience of 400 people – a great success and a great tribute to Jeannette and all of the students involved.
Posted in: 2009/10 Season.
May 27th, 2010
by Marshall.
Join the students of the School of Atelier Ballet this Sunday, May 30 for two FREE performances of Dance Through Time.
DATE: Sunday, May 30, 2010
TIMES: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
(Doors open at 12 noon)
VENUE: St. Lawrence Hall
157 King Street East, 3rd Floor
Students from the School of Atelier Ballet will perform an hour-long program showcasing Renaissance Branles, Baroque Court & Theatrical Dances, Waltzes, Mazurkas, Quadrilles from the early 19th Century, Spanish Sevillanas and excerpts from the Romantic ballet.
For more information click here: http://www.operaatelier.com/supportoa/events.htm
Posted in: 2009/10 Season, Events.
May 25th, 2010
by Marshall.
Opera Atelier is having a costume sale for the first time in the company’s history!!! 25 years ago I would never have believed such a thing could be possible, but now it seems incredible that we have waited this long.
The first time I ever encountered a major costume sale was more than a decade ago while Jeannette and I were working in Paris. While visiting the Paris Opera (the Garnier) I was shocked to see the foyer filled with a collection of stupendous costumes, all of which were to be sold the following week. I couldn’t imagine why the management of so prestigious a theatre would choose to part with so much of its history. As Opera Atelier approaches its 25th anniversary, I am now painfully aware of the reasoning behind such a decision.
Costumes take up an enormous amount of space – and storage space is sadly limited! Beautiful as Opera Atelier’s costumes are, the fact is, hundreds of them have not been worn in years. Also, Opera Atelier’s visual aesthetic has continued to grow and change and I honestly can’t imagine going back to the designs of our earliest productions.
We’ve decided to keep at least two representative costumes of each production as a record of Opera Atelier’s history. The rest, thanks to this costume sale, will be made available to theatre schools, professional companies and individuals like yourselves.
We’ve also decided to add something special to the sale by featuring a runway show, with our dancers modeling some of OA’s most iconic costumes. Please join us for a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a ravishing piece of OA history.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our donor and sponsor, Hal Spadling of All Canadian Self-Storage, who is hosting our cocktail reception and sponsors our storage space and takes such good care of us! Thank you Hal!
Runway Show and Cocktail Reception – $25
June 3, 2010
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Call 416-703-3767 x 26 to buy your ticket or email ali.kashani@operaatelier.com
Sale continues June 4 & 5
1 – 5 p.m. (Free admission)
All Canadian Self-Storage
1 Laird Dr. (at Millwood Rd.)
Posted in: Backstage, News & Features.
May 3rd, 2010
by Marshall.
Well, I have finally been given permission to announce what must be the worst kept secret of the Toronto music scene, namely, that the Canadian superstar Measha Brueggergosman will be joining Opera Atelier in our 25th anniversary season. She will sing the role of a lifetime – the role of Vitellia in OA’s North American period production premiere of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.
Measha will be the first among equals in a spectacular cast which includes male soprano Michael Maniaci, tenor Kresimir Spicer, soprano Mireille Asselin and mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel. Clemenza will also include an extended corps of Artists of Atelier Ballet and of course Canada’s incomparable Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under the baton of David Fallis.
Subscriptions have gone through the roof since our first announcement of our 25th anniversary season at the opening night of Figaro April 24, 2010. Subscriptions are still available. You won’t want to miss this thrilling event.
Posted in: Events, News & Features.
