À venir / Previews Par/by Wah Keung Chan
/ October 10, 2003
Operamania
For lovers of opera on video,
Operamania displays some of the best versions of works available on DVD and VHS
on a big screen. Hosted by musicologist Michel Veilleux, the event takes place
most Friday evenings at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Music. Veilleux
presents the opera before each screening, describing its history and a summary
of the plot. He often discusses the kinds of voices best-suited to given roles,
and the famous performers in history who played them, as well as the different
styles of outstanding singers in particular arias.
The schedule closely follows the operas presented at the Opéra de
Montréal and
other special screenings. A special series over four weeks will focus on the
soprano voice this year. (514) 343-6427
Opéra de Québec
 In its 20th season, and first under Grégoire Legendre as artistic director,
Opéra de Québec presents for the first time Puccini's Turandot.
Canadian tenor John Mac Master takes on the role of Calaf and soprano Turid
Karlsen is the ice princess. Victor DeRenzi conducts and John Pascoe provides
the staging. October 18, 21, 23 and 25. The 20th anniversary Gala takes place on
December 2, 2003, and will feature 20 well-known singers, including Lyne Fortin
and John Mac Master. The March 2004 (6, 9, 11, 13) production of Donizetti's
Elisir d'amore is the object of Opéra de Québec's annual
elementary school contest, Dessine-moi un opéra, for which 1,000 entries
were received. Jean-Marie Zeitouni conducts with Renaud Doucet directing. The
season concludes with Massenet's Manon with Yannick
Nézet-Séguin conducting soprano Nathalie Paulin, tenor Marc Hervieux and
baritone Jean-François Lapointe. May 8, 11, 13, 15. (819) 529-0688, www.operadequebec.qc.ca
Opera Lyra Ottawa
Opera Lyra Ottawa began the season with Don Pasquale. Its next event
is the Black & White Opera Soirée on February 21, 2004. The season concludes
with Verdi's Rigoletto on March 27, 29, 31 and April 3, 2004. Tyrone
Patterson conducts Gary Simpson (Rigoletto), Warren Mok (Duke of Mantua), Agathe
Martel (Gilda) and Julie Nesrallah (Maddalena). The Opera Lyra Guild organizes
opera video screenings at the National Library: Don Carlo (Verdi),
November 12; Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), January 20, 2004;
Turandot (Puccini), February 10; and Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss) March 9. (613) 233-9200,
Opera at the Universities
 The Montreal university opera scene kicks off with the Conservatoire de
Montréal's presentation of Albert Roussel's Le Testament de la tante
Caroline on October 2, 3, 4, 5 at the Monument National. Raymond
Dessaints directs Ensemble Amati with staging by Nathalie Deschamps. The
Studio d'opéra's artistic director, Louise-Andrée Baril, will then
prepare the students for the world premiere of Denis Gougeon's Hermione et le
Temps in February
2004. (514) 871-2224
While Bill and Dixie Neill take a one-year sabbatical, Robbin Wheeler has
been named interim director of Opera McGill. Its fall baroque opera will be
Monteverdi's Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria (Nov. 6 to 8), with Hank Knox
conducting and staging by Marie-Mathalie Lacoursière. Their main opera in
January will be Mozart's Idomeneo. (514)
398-4547
The University of Montreal Opera Studio's major production with orchestra
will be Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, with Jean-François Rivest
conducting the university's orchestra and staging by Alice Ronfard. (514)
343-6427
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