April, 2007 - Nr. 4
THE MERRY WIDOW - A TIMELESS MASTERPIECE
Finale for Toronto Operetta Theatre Season
Toronto...Franz Lehar's acknowledged masterpiece, THE MERRY WIDOW, brings Toronto Operetta Theatre's 2006-2007 season to a close with six performances April 22 (mat), 24, 25, 27, 28, April 29 (mat) at the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane Mallett Theatre.
With just four hauntingly placed notes, Franz (Ferencz) Lehar, a Hungarian band master, entered musical history and 'The Merry Widow Waltz' took its place among the most famous melodies of all time. Lehar toys with the tune throughout the operetta and when at last the full refrain is sung by the 'merry' widow and her handsome count, the erotic tension is released, the lovers fall into each others arms and audiences invariably respond with bursts of applause.
THE MERRY WIDOW premiered at Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1905, a year that also saw Einstein publish his theory of relativity and the first performances of Strauss' scandalous SALOME. THE MERRY WIDOW enjoyed immediate success and has been a staple of opera and operetta companies for more than a century. Sly social comment is always at the heart of the operetta genre and THE MERRY WIDOW is filled with witty scenes reflecting class-struggle, diplomatic bungling and the never-ceasing battle of the sexes. Through Lehar's genius these themes are bound together in a romantically inspired score rich in melodic invention and musical sophistication.
Toronto Operetta Theatre's new production stars Elizabeth Beeler as Hanna Galwari and Theodore Baerg as Count Danilo. Ms. Beeler has been acclaimed in TOT productions including COUNTESS MARITZA and Weills's LADY IN THE DARK. Mr. Baerg - seen last summer at Stratford as Emile deBecque in SOUTH PACIFIC - makes his TOT debut as the dashing playboy count and has scored success in this role with companies including San Francisco Opera and New York City Opera. Sean Watson plays the befuddled Pontevedrian Ambassador Baron Zeta and Gisele Fredette is his innocent wife, object of attention from lady's man Camille de Rosillon, played by Stuart Howe. The TOT orchestra, cast and chorus will be conducted by Kevin Mallon, Artistic Director of Opera Cork, Ireland and the Aradia Ensemble. TOT General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin will stamp the production with his inimitable style as stage director.
TOT's 2006-2007 Season is generously supported by the Margaret Breckner Foundation, the Wappel Family Foundation, Jackman Foundation, Scotiabank, RBC Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council and long time media sponsor Deutsche Presse. Tickets ($39, $58, $75) are on sale by phone at 416-366-7723, 1-800-708-6754, online www.stlc.com or in person at the Box Office at 27 Front Street East. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. All performances are at the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane Mallett Theatre, which is wheelchair accessible and close to municipal parking and transit.
EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTIONS
"A TOAST TO VIENNA - MUSICAL JOURNEY" at the Marriott, Toronto Downtown Eaton Centre
April 14, 2007
Dinner, Dance, Show, Silent Auction - $95 per person
ELIZABETH BEELER UNLACED, THE PREMIERE OF HER ONE WOMAN SHOW
Music theatre from Opera to Broadway - May 14, 2007, Jane Mallett Theatre - $30
