December 2001 - Nr. 12
K-W and Beyond
by Irena Wandschneider
First Opera of the Season
at The Centre in the Square
The Season in Kitchener-Waterloo opened with "The Elixir of Love", a light opera by Donizetti. Opera buffs arrived in full force, long gowns, tuxedos and all. It was a delightful evening, music light and melodious, stage settings and costumes classic in muted colours and tasteful. The greatest bonus for the audience: superb young Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian as Adina, barely 26, charming with a voice to be envied. We are looking forward to future performances of this rising Canadian Star.
The accompanying tenor was Keith Ikaia-Purdy as Nemorino and James Westman, a baritone, as Belcore. Hungarian Stage Director Miklos Szinetar must have had a hand in Alessandro Sanquirico’s elaborate and impressive sets, which changed completely for each of the four scenes in minimum time.
The audience wholeheartedly appreciated the performance of these internationally known teams of artists. And the standing ovation for Isabel Bayrakdarian was well deserved.
There were rumours of a potential second performance; it seemed a possibility considering that the evening was practically sold-out. But as Peter Phoa of Opera Ontario explained: "We have to increase our subscriber base in Kitchener-Waterloo to 80% before we can have a second performance". With successful performances like this, Opera Ontario is well on its way to increase that needed subscriber base.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra
The K-W Chamber Orchestra opened its season in the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall at Wilfrid Laurier University presenting soloist Maria Knapik. Another case to be proud of is this young Canadian educated soprano singing Verdi, Donizetti, Mozart and – best of all – Shadow Song by Meyerbeer. The control of her voice and the abilities to hold and manage difficult stretches of coloratura were amazing. She deserved the double standing ovation to say the least.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra is a wonderful jewel of about 30 musicians (chamber music orchestra of 30 musicians?- it is a full scale orchestra, let me tell you) led by Graham Coles giving 5 concerts a year for a very affordable $60 subscription or $15.00 per concert. Very much liked, appreciated and worth it.
Stratford – last performances of the season
The Stratford Festival closed for the 2001 season. Two plays at The Avon Theatre "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Private Lives" dealt with the same issues of private relationship between couples, one lightly as a comedy with phenomenal humour (although even there were moments of pain to be reflected upon), another as a study in a unique and tormented relationship sprinkled with humour to make the underlying tone of the play less depressing and much more enjoyable.
"Private Lives" gave us a superb performance of Brian Bedford, who also directed the play. Instead of updating this comedy the producers transferred the audience back in time to 1930 ties with costumes, décor and hairdos. It was a pleasure of a really good theatre and a full house.
For "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?" I saw the closing night performance. The house was almost full in spite of cancellations from many American visitors. I expected that, after watching Richard Burton and Elisabeth Taylor in the movie of the same title, no other pair could shake me up, so I was genuinely surprised by my own reaction to the performance of Peter Donaldson and Martha Henry. They both gave depth and comprehension to their roles, portraying the human conflicts with genuine conviction. They are both mature, experienced actors engulfed in the turbulent characters they portray and worth seeing again and again, their pain and calculated cruelty so open for all to see. The subject matter is anything but light and with some luck the audience did eventually conclude just who was afraid of Virginia Wolf.
Memorable performances of the two main characters, greatly appreciated by the audience as reflected by the standing ovation, a piece of really good theatre in all dimensions, good younger actors in supporting roles, stage designed in all details.
I am looking forward to the 2002 season, excellent actors in new roles and new plays to enjoy.
