Opera Atelier Announces 2018-2019 Season

Opera Atelier's founding co-artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg today announced the company's 2018-2019 season. The season opens with a French Baroque double bill of Charpentier's Actéon paired with Rameau's Pygmalion (Oct. 25 - Nov. 3, 2018), which will embark on an international tour to the Palace of Versailles and a soon-to-be-announced prestigious US venue. The season continues in spring 2019 with Mozart's Idomeneo(Apr. 4 - 13, 2019), starring Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman in her Dora Award-winning performance as Elettra.

Charpentier's Actéon & Rameau's Pygmalion (October 25 - November 3, 2018) - These famous Greek myths, taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis, are transformed into riveting operatic masterpieces in the hands of two of the greatest composers in French music history.

The performance begins with Charpentier's Actéon, the deeply moving story of the young hunter turned into a stag by Diana, goddess of the hunt. Actéon's magical transformation takes place on stage - a tour de force for the singer in the title role. He is then hunted by his own men and hounds. Following the intermission, Opera Atelier presents Pygmalion, Rameau's glittering Rococo masterpiece, in which a beautiful statue is transformed into a living, breathing woman by the power of love. Pygmalion opens with Opera Atelier's first Canadian commission for solo baroque violin and contemporary dancing, entitled Inception. This creation has been conceived as a theatrical intervention that leads into and merges with Rameau's famous overture. Performed by composer/violinist Edwin Huizinga and choreographer/Artist of Atelier Ballet, Tyler Gledhill, Inception is literally a pas de deux for instrumentalist and dancer, transforming the performance space as part of the evening's theme of metamorphosis.

Colin Ainsworth is featured in both title roles, alongside Mireille Asselin (Diana & Amour), Allyson McHardy (Juno & Céphise), Jesse Blumberg, Christopher Enns, Meghan Lindsay, Cynthia Smithers and Anna Sharpe. Performed in French with English Surtitles.

Following its Toronto dates, Actéon & Pygmalion will tour to the Royal Opera House in Versailles, marking Opera Atelier's fifth appearance since the company's debut there in 2012. The production will also tour to a prestigious US venue, which will be announced in the coming months. While in Versailles, Opera Atelier will present an expanded version of Harmonia Sacra, the staged and choreographed performance that premieres in Toronto next month (Currelly Hall at the Royal Ontario Museum, Feb. 15) and debuted to great acclaim in the Royal Chapel in 2017. Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra will be joining Opera Atelier on these tours.

Mozart's Idomeneo (April 4 - 13, 2019) - The radiant Canadian superstar Measha Brueggergosman makes a triumphant return to Opera Atelier as Elettra in Mozart's Idomeneo,the role which won her a Dora Award and international accolades. Brimming with Mozart's show-stopping arias, deeply emotional ensembles and spectacular dancing, Idomeneotells the story of the Greek hero of the Trojan War who is forced to choose between the life of his son and a terrible promise he has made to the god of the sea.

Measha Brueggergosman is joined by a thrilling cast of Canada's finest singers. Tenor Colin Ainsworth makes his debut in the title role, with recently named "Breakthrough Artist in UK Opera" Wallis Giunta (Idamante), Meghan Lindsay (Ilia), Olivier Laquerre (Arbace), Douglas Williams (Neptune), and Bradley Christensen (Priest). Performed in Italian with English Surtitles.

Actéon & Pygmalion and Idomeneo will be directed by Marshall Pynkoski and choreographed by Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, with set design by Gerard Gauci, lighting design by Michelle Ramsay and costume designs by Michael Legouffe and Margaret Lamb respectively. Both productions will feature the full corps of Artists of Atelier Ballet, and our longtime partners Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Elisa Citterio, Music Director) under the baton of David Fallis. We are pleased to announce that this season Opera Atelier will collaborate with the Chorus of the University of Toronto Schola Cantorum, along with members of the Choir of the Theatre of Early Music, under the direction of Lead Vocal Consultant and Chorus Master Daniel Taylor.

In addition to singing this season's three title roles, Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth has been named Opera Atelier's first Artist in Residence for 2018-2019. Opera Atelier is honoured to have an artist of Mr. Ainsworth's stature and experience join the company in this capacity. Mr. Ainsworth will share his artistry with the next generation of Canadian singers in masterclasses, and will join Opera Atelier for our free Making of an Opera program for diverse, Toronto-area high school students.

Performances in Opera Atelier's 2018-2019 Toronto season take place at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) in Toronto. Subscriptions to the two-opera season start at $99 and are on sale now by calling 416-703-3767 x222 or visiting operaatelier.com/subscriptions. Single tickets go on sale on August 8, 2018 through Ticketmaster. For more information visit Opera Atelier's website: www.operaatelier.com.

2018-2019 Major Sponsors

Season Presenting Sponsor: BMO Financial Group

Season Underwriter: El Mocambo Productions

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

Opera Atelier is North America's premier period opera/ballet company, producing the opera, ballet and drama of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. While drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, Opera Atelier goes beyond "reconstruction" and infuses each production with an inventive theatricality that resonates with modern audiences. Led by founding artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg since 1985, Opera Atelier has garnered acclaim for its performances at home as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia. Opera Atelier is committed to the development of young Canadian artists and offers innovative education programs for youth, as well as $15 tickets for ages 15 to 30.