Weber's Der Freischütz Paired with Mozart's Magic Flute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – Opera Atelier’s founding Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg today announced plans for their 2012-2013 season, which will include OA’s first production from the Romantic period in the company’s 26-year history. Premiered in 1821, Weber’s Der Freischütz (The Marksman) is based on German folklore and folk music and is widely considered the first and most important German Romantic opera. This is an artistically bold move into uncharted territory for Opera Atelier, which has previously dealt exclusively with Baroque and Classical work from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is part of the company’s ongoing mission to shake off the preconceptions about “period production” by re-imagining and revitalizing the great works of the entire operatic canon. Der Freischütz will open Opera Atelier’s 2012-2013 season. It's followed by a revival of Mozart’s wildly popular The Magic Flute.

“This may be the biggest repertoire announcement of our company’s history,” says Co-Artistic Director Marshall Pynkoski. “No historical period exists in a vacuum, and we have long been interested in exploring the influences of the Baroque period on artists working in its wake. The interplay of artistic themes and styles between the Baroque and Romantic worlds is indisputable, and we look forward to exploring these connections in Der Freischütz while we treat our audience to an experience that is at once entirely new and absolutely identifiable as the work of Opera Atelier.”

Der Freischütz is the story of Max, a young man who must pass a test of marksmanship in order to win his love’s hand and claim his position in the community. Frustrated at practice, Max enters into a Faustian deal for seven magic bullets: six will unerringly hit their intended mark, and the final one is at the command of the devil. The bullets are forged at midnight under the watchful eye of Samiel, the satanic huntsman. At the contest the following day, the seventh bullet becomes a catalyst for unimagined horrors. With its emotional intensity, integration of German folk legend, and depiction of nature as both sublime and untamable, Der Freischütz (The Marksman) is a quintessential work of the Romantic era.

The role of Max in Der Freischütz is a powerful vehicle for Croatian tenor Krešimir Špicer (who played the title roles in OA’s productions of Idomeneo and La Clemenza di Tito). He is joined by baritone Vasil Garvanliev as the villain Kaspar, soprano Meghan Lindsay as the heroine Agathe, soprano Carla Huhtanen as her companion Äanchen and baritone Curtis Sullivan as the satanic huntsman Samie. Bass-baritone Olivier Laquerre returns the stage as head forester Kuno with baritone Michael Nyby double-cast as the peasant Killian and Prince Ottokar, and bass Michael Uloth as the wise hermit. Der Freischütz will feature the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet. The creative team includes director Marshall Pynkoski, choreographer Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, set designer Gerard Gauci, costume designer Martha Mann, and lighting designer Bonnie Beecher. Music Director David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir. Der Freischütz runs October 27, 28, 30, 31, November 2 and 3, 2012 and will be sung in German with English Surtitles.

This exciting venture is made possible in part by the extraordinary generosity of Production Underwriter Michael A. Wekerle.

The Magic Flute is Mozart’s final work, and is one of the most-performed operas worldwide. It is about a prince, Tamino, who is sent by The Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from her nemesis Sarastro. Accompanied by the endearingly incorrigible Papageno and with the aid of a magic flute, the besotted Tamino ventures into the temple and quickly finds that all is not as it seems. An enchanting tale that delights audiences of all ages, The Magic Flute is perhaps Mozart’s greatest popular success.

This production of The Magic Flute will reunite several of the cast members from Opera Atelier’s 2006 production, including Colin Ainsworth as Tamino and Olivier Laquerre as Papageno. They will be joined by Ambur Braid as The Queen of the Night, Mireille Asselin as Papagena, Laura Albino as Pamina, and João Fernandes as Sarastro, as well as Aaron Ferguson, Eve McLeod, Laura Pudwell and Curtis Sullivan with the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet. The creative team includes director Marshall Pynkoski, choreographer Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, set designer Gerard Gauci, and lighting designer Kevin Fraser. Music Director David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir. The Magic Flute runs April 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 13, 2013 and will be sung in English with English Surtitles.

Performances for Opera Atelier’s 2012-2013 Season will take place at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) in Toronto with evening performances at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinee performances at 3:00 p.m.  Subscriptions start at $90 and are on sale now by calling 416-703-3767 x222. Single tickets go on sale on August 7, 2012. For more information visit www.operaatelier.com

Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, and the Creative Trust.

2012 - 2013 Major Sponsors

Season Sponsor: Sun Life Financial
Der Freischütz Production Underwriter: Michael A. Wekerle
Der Freischütz Production Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
The Magic Flute Production Sponsor: Scotiabank

Thoughts and Ramblings

by Brian Hay

This is a major change for Opera Atelier but it's also territory many of the musical participants are well grounded in. The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra has recorded several of the symphonies of Beethoven. The seventh and eighth stem from 1811 and 1812 which places them about ten years prior Weber wrote Der Freischütz. and several of his Piano Concerti as well. They've also recorded all of his Piano Concerti. After seeing Krešimir Špicer in the title role as Idomeneo a few years ago it seems he should be well suited to the role of the Marksman. The works are from different periods it's true, but Špicer is as versatile as he is powerful on stage. His performances in La Clemenza di Tito and Iphigénia in Tauris a few years ago prove that. Carla Huhtanen has a wide repertoire and Olivier Laquerre brings intelligence to all of his portrayals. Vasil Garvanliev has a fabulous presence on stage.

Colin Ainsworth and Olivier Laquerre were both great in Opera Atelier's 2006 production of the Magic Flute. Laquerre especially was hilarious. Ambur Braid and Mireille Asselin have both appeared on stage with Opera Atelier. Mireille's performances as Acis (Acis and Galatea) and Servilla (La Clemenza di Tito) were excellent. Ambur sang the role of Diana in OA's production Iphigénia a few years ago. Both have spent the current season honing their skills with Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio in addition to making other appearances. João Fernandes turned in a brilliant performance as Polyphemus in OA's production of Acis and Galatea in 2010. Laura sang the title role on Kevin Mallon's recording of 'Polly'. These people have all cut their teeth thoroughly and continue to do so.

If anything, the challenge of taking on something from a different period in the repertoire will inspire them.

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