|
|
Toronto Consort launches season with The Primadonnas Toronto, September 11, 2009 —A sequel to The Sopranos? Not exactly. The Toronto Consort opens its 2009-10 season at 8:00 pm on October 2 and 3 with a warm tribute to the original divas of the early opera world. The Consort’s own primadonnas Michele De Boer and Katherine Hill, sopranos, and Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano, are joined by soprano Suzie LeBlanc, whose voice is “flexible and pearly, with a voluptuous undertone … ” (Globe and Mail). Together, these singers inhabit the roles of four leading ladies of the 17th century opera stage: Anna Renzi, Virginia Andreini, Barbara Strozzi, and Vittoria Archilei. Featuring music by Monteverdi, Caccini, Strozzi, Rossi and Frescobaldi, The Primadonnas are guaranteed to make vocal sparks fly. For tickets and information, call (416) 964-6337 or visit www.torontoconsort.org. Today’s opera divas seem mild-mannered in comparison with their 17th-century predecessors, whose tumultuous lives were often tragic. Barbara Strozzi (a.k.a. Laura Pudwell) was talented as both a singer and a composer, and became the most well-published composer of secular chamber music in the 17th century. As the unmarried mother of four children, a whiff of scandal followed her throughout her life, and she was rumoured to be a courtesan. Anna Renzi (a.k.a. Suzie LeBlanc) is often called the first diva of the Italian stage. Her stunning acting abilities and creation of the first operatic “mad scene” set the standard for centuries to follow. Barbara Strozzi's father described her as "a sweet siren who gently ravishes the souls and pleases the eyes and ears of the listeners." Another of the original primadonne Virginia Andreini (a.k.a. Katherine Hill), rose to fame when she replaced a singer whose sudden death forced a re-casting of the title role of Monteverdi’s Arianna. Andreini learned the part in just six days, and performed it so beautifully that, “not a single listener remained unmoved, nor did a single lady fail to shed some tear at her plaint." Vittoria Archilei (a.k.a. Michelle DeBoer) was a singer, dancer and lutenist at the Medici court, and was a favourite of such composers as Sigismondo D’India. Her famous entrance in the spectacular Medici wedding entertainment La Pellegrina — descending to the stage from a cloud — remains a milestone in early music theatre. Acadian-born soprano Suzie LeBlanc has established an international career specializing in 17th and 18th century repertoire. She has appeared with many of the world’s leading early-music ensembles in concert and opera performances as well as on disc and on film. She now adds lieder, French mélodies and Acadian folk music to her repertoire. “LeBlanc dove in with her whole being, fully inhabiting the songs in mood, spirit and musicality. Her clear, bell-like soprano positively rang ...” (Toronto Star) Katherine Hill has specialized in music of the 17th century for the past 15 years. She spent five years in Europe performing with groups in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal and Germany, including the sequentia ensemble for medieval music, Gabriel Garrido’s Ensemble Elyma and Cappella Amsterdam. A native of Toronto, soprano Michele DeBoer has sung with groups including Tafelmusik, Opera Atelier, Toronto Masque Theatre, Aradia, Les Voix Baroques, Baroque Music Beside the Grange, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and La Chappelle de Québec, among many others. Grammy-nominated mezzo-soprano Laura Pudwell is known for her “astonishing vocal power and the firm brilliance of her tone” (Halifax Herald). She has a well-established international profile, with recent engagements in Paris, Salzburg, London, Houston, Boston and Vienna. She has sung with many leading orchestras and opera companies, including Tafelmusik, Les Violons du Roy, the Boston Early Music Festival, Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera, and Opera Atelier. This programme will also be presented at Barrie’s Colours of Music festival on October 1.
Media Contact: © 2010, Toronto Consort |
The Primadonnas
The Toronto Consort
|
||
 |
