March 2002 - Nr. 3
K-W and Beyond
by Irena Wandschneider
Opera Ontario – in Hamilton and Kitchener
Opera Ontario and the four productions it puts together annually for the enjoyment of South-western Ontario is something to look forward to: at least one of the grand category opera, one lighter and more of the operetta style, the third usually something lesser known or perhaps modern, and the Christmas Popera performance. In the past several years we have been offered "Aida", "Madame Butterfly", "La Traviata" and this winter it was "The Marriage of Figaro."
The last one was totally sold out in The Centre in the Square; so in order to see it I had to drive to Hamilton in one of the worst snowy nights of January. It was worth it. The introductory presentation to participating subscribers, explaining the intricacies of the side story of Cherubino and his problems, was excellent and helped to enjoy the performance even more.
![Jeannie Such as Susanna & Andrew Tees as Figaro [Photo: Opera Ontario]](203c-IW-a.jpg)
The
voices of Russell Braun and Andrew Tees were splendid, young and charming
Jeannie Such as Susanna sang her heart away. The current style of doing
classic operas is to modernize them in the acting, details and overall
presentation. Opera Ontario is a testimonial to this trend; let us have more
of it!
The last performance of this season will be "The Pearl
Fishers", one of the lesser-known operas by Georges Bizet, to be staged on
Saturday May 4 at The Centre in the Square.
The Chernobyl – Evacuation Zone
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, located in The Centre in
the Square building, has a very interesting photo exhibit running till March
24. Since 1994 David McMillan made six trips to the evacuated areas near the
now silent Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station. The devastating impact of this
disaster on the nearby deserted town can be experienced in this exhibit. It
is a series of about 26 photographs taken at various times after the
Chernobyl reactor failure - human tragedy expressed through very moving
pictures of a desolate, abandoned city, empty of human life, vegetation
taking over the ruins. Destruction not by physical visible force, but by the
invisible impact of radiation: isolation, abandonment, expression of lonely
grief and sorrow. Rather unusual and worth a visit. Take time to ponder each
picture.
Going to the movies - Gosford Park
This movie is written up all over the press. No need to list the actors, the credits or the list of nominations. So – just a comment: it is really enjoyable, very British, full of stylish period details, with care and attention to details, décor, costumes, music and all. I find it always fascinating that middle of the road American movies show only very beautiful eternally young people, while British actors are allowed to have pimples, sagging chins, too large noses, wrinkles, untidy hair and warts. They also show real worn out furniture, authentic teacups and lacy napkins, watches, glasses, mud puddles and real English weather. The who-done-it becomes immaterial, upstairs-downstairs lines more interesting than movie action. Thank God for classic British style movies! (Have I mentioned that this very British movie has been produced and directed by Americans? They just borrowed the actors, the style and the weather).
And the remainder: The posters for the concert of the K-W Symphony orchestra with Principal Conductor Martin Fischer-Dieskau at the Marshall Hall at Bingemans on April 20 are all over town, call Marg MacDonald at 519-725-0407 before they run out of seats. Have a great time!
