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The power of love takes centre stage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this May when the Canadian Opera Company premieres its first production of an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck – the masterpiece Orfeo ed Euridice. Canadian Robert Carsen, one of the most prominent names in the international opera scene today, makes his much-anticipated return to the COC to direct his highly-acclaimed production. Carsen is joined by renowned opera and concert conductor Harry Bicket and opera stars American countertenor Lawrence Zazzo and Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. Orfeo ed Euridice is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™, and runs for eight performances on May 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 24, 26 and 28, 2011.

The Cast

• Grammy-nominated Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, who has won Juno awards in four consecutive years and recently charmed Toronto audiences as Pamina in the COC's 2011 production of The Magic Flute, sings the role of Euridice, Orfeo's wife.
• American countertenor Lawrence Zazzo, a singer who "deserves to be known as the king of countertenors" (Financial Times), sings the role of the grief-stricken Orfeo.
• Ambur Braid, a current member of the Ensemble Studio, delighted Toronto audiences at Operanation 7 with a performance of Der Hölle Rache accompanied by indie rock darlings Broken Social Scene. As the Queen of the Night in the Ensemble Studio special performance of The Magic Flute, she "applied a rich rather than merely brilliant voice to the Queen of the Night’s arias while successfully conveying the evil intentions of the character." (National Post). She will sing the role of the god Amore, who helps Orfeo recover his lost wife. 

The Production

"The most profound emotional experiences are often achieved by the simplest means. Such was the case with Robert Carsen's new production of Orfeo ed Euridice for Lyric Opera, a brilliant mounting that achieved pristine visualization of Gluck's pure, straightforward music." - Opera News

More critical acclaim for Robert Carsen's production

Links

• Synopsis
• Essays and Further Reading
• Listening Guide

Photos

Click "Download" below the photos for larger versions. If using the photo on your website or blog, please be sure to include the photo credit.

Download (centre) David Daniels as Orfeo in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Robert Kusel/Lyric Opera of Chicago		Download David Daniels as Orfeo and Isabel Bayrakdarian as Euridice in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Robert Kusel/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Download Isabel Bayrakdarian as Euridice in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago		Download (centre, l–r) David Daniels as Orfeo and Isabel Bayrakdarian as Euridice in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Download Isabel Bayrakdarian as Euridice in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago		Download (centre) David Daniels as Orfeo in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice, 2006. Photo: Robert Kusel/Lyric Opera of Chicago

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