In perhaps the most anticipated announcement on the Toronto music scene, Against the Grain Theatre have released the line up for their 2013/14 season which features Handel’s Messiah and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande; both with fine casts. Full text of the announcement under the cut.
After mounting what Musical Toronto called “the most entertaining opera production of the season in Toronto” last June with Figaro’s Wedding, we’re roaring back to life with our hotly anticipated 2013/2014 season. The line-up includes a December, 2013 performance of AtG’s Messiah—a creatively re-imagined staging of Handel’s beloved oratorio—and an innovative new production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in June, 2014.
Learn more about our new season
As we proved with our popular re-workings of Le Nozze di Figaro and La Bohème, we’ve never shied away from new interpretations of cherished standards. Next up it’s Handel’s Messiah, re-titled AtG’s Messiah, because really: who doesn’t love a rousing Hallelujah Chorus? The score remains intact, but forget about the usual gowns and leather-bound choral folders. Our artistic director Joel Ivany teams up with dancer/choreographer Jennifer Nichols to give the piece a brand new form and movement, sure to be unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Presented at The Opera House, Toronto’s favourite east end rock hall, AtG’s Messiah runs for two nights on Dec. 14 and 15, 2013 at 8 p.m. The all-star lineup of fearless soloists includes soprano Jacqueline Woodley, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, tenor Isaiah Bell and baritone Geoffrey Sirett. Our music director Christopher Mokrzewski conducts the AtG orchestra and chorus. A 19+ event, this isn’t your grandma’s Messiah (but she would love it, so bring her).
The season continues in June, 2014 with an homage to Claude Debussy, as the AtG crew tackles the composer’s only complete operatic work: Pelléas et Mélisande. Sung in French with English titles, the production features an outstanding Canadian cast comprising baritone Etienne Dupuis as Pelléas, soprano Miriam Khalil as Mélisande, baritone Gregory Dahl as Golaud and bass Alain Coulombe as Arkel. The creative dream team that sent chills down everyone’s spine with our lauded 2012 production of The Turn of the Screw is reunited, with direction by Joel Ivany, set design by Camellia Koo and lighting design by Jason Hand. Tickets start at $40. Full details will be announced as they become available, but rest assured this will be the hottest ticket on Toronto’s opera scene this season!
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