We're welcoming spring to the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre with two world premieres of Canadian compositions, a silver anniversary celebration of dance, and concerts from young, rising talent. You won't want to miss any of April's diverse performances in the Free Concert Series. Here are some highlights.
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Posted by Kristin McKinnon / in Free Concert Series / comments (0) / permalink
Enjoy a little Lucia di Lammermoor on Thursday April 4, 2013, when four graduates of the COC Ensemble Studio perform selections from Donizetti's bel canto classic. This free event takes place at 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Waterfall Stage in First Canadian Place, hosted by CBC Radio's Brent Bambury and featuring Peter Barrett, Teiya Kasahara, Adam Luther and Christopher Mokrzewski. Join us as Brent and our performers chat about the beauty of Lucia di Lammermoor, and perform some samples from the dazzling opera.
Posted by Danielle D'Ornellas / in Opera Appreciation / comments (0) / permalink
Salome
What's it all about?
Salome, the opera by Richard Strauss is based on the 1896 play by Oscar Wilde, but the story is much older. The original story is a Biblical tale about an obedient and unnamed princess (later known as Salome), her mother Herodias, her stepfather Herod, and their prisoner, John the Baptist. In the original story, Herodias bears a grudge against John the Baptist, Herod is infatuated with his stepdaughter, and Salome is a pawn. When Herod asks Salome to entertain him with a private dance, Salome obliges and requests the head of John the Baptist as a reward to deliver to her mother.
In Oscar Wilde's play and Strauss's adaptation, Salome is the tale of an emotionally disturbed princess who falls in love with Jochanaan (John the Baptist), a prisoner in her stepfather's palace. When Jochanaan spurns her affections and insults her, Salome swears that she will kiss his lips someday. Herod proposes that Salome dance for him, and recognizing an opportunity for reward, Salome agrees. Once his request is satisfied, Herod promises to give her anything she desires, and Salome requests the head of Jochanaan. Herod obliges and watches, horrified, as Salome kisses the disembodied head. Shocked and superstitious, Herod immediately calls for her death.
Posted by Danielle D'Ornellas / in Salome / comments (0) / permalink
Sara Fulgoni in the COC production of Bluebeard's Castle. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2001