Following their groundbreaking production of their made-for-the-internet opera, Escape Room, University of Toronto Opera is set to present a digital series, titled Opera in Miniature: A Festival of One-Act Operas. From April 22-25, 2021, Opera in Miniature features the young talent of UofT Opera, in compact works that premiere online. The Festival is free to stream with registration, and an impressive look at adaptive opera out of a leader in Canadian operatic training.
The Festival kicks off on April 22, 7:30pm ET with Le portrait de Manon – Massenet’s second take on the story of Chevalier Des Grieux and his ill-fated love – directed by Michael Albano and conducted by Canadian favourite Russell Braun. Parker Clements stars as Des Grieux.
On April 23, 7:30pm ET is a double-bill of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s Il segreto di Susanna and Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor. Michael Albano and Mario Pacheco share directing duties, alongside music director Andrea Grant (Il segreto di Susanna) and conductor Russell Braun (Der Schauspieldirektor).
April 24 and 25 at 2:30pm is La tragédie de Carmen, the 90-min version of Bizet’s most celebrated work. These two performances of La tragédie feature Elias Theocharidis and Mélissa Danis sing Don José and Micaëla; Alex Hetherington and Alessia Vitalie share the role of Carmen, and Escamillo is sung by Luke Nofthall and Danlie Rae Acebuque.
And on April 24 at 7:30pm ET, another double-bill: William Walton’s The Bear, starring Renee Fajardo as Popova, is paired with Lee Hoiby’s operatic take on Julia Child, Bon Appetit!, with Alexandra Fee as the melodic-voiced chef herself.
Opera in Miniature: A Festival of One-Act Operas is produced by Christina Bell, with production design is by Wesley McKenzie; video capture/editing is by Banana Camera, with audio by Kai Masaoka. The festival is free to stream – register now to secure your spot.
Jenna is the editor and co-creator of Schmopera. She also writes for The Globe and Mail and Opera Canada. She’s a pianist and vocal coach, and working with singers is how she fell in love with opera.
