The first production by Benevolence Opera Project took place on Friday evening at the Redwood Theatre. It was a benefit for the Redwood Shelter for women and children fleeing abuse. One could argue that the choice of Mozart’s Don Giovanni was a bit odd in the circumstances but it certainly got conversation going around the issues!
Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince was a huge success when it premiered in New York in 1924. It’s not hard to see why. It’s an undemanding “love versus duty” plot with plenty of tuneful numbers and lots of drinking and drinking songs which must have had a particular appeal during Prohibition!
On Monday I attended an event at Hope United Church billed as “Toronto Vocal Showcase”. It was, in a way, an extended audition. Sixteen singers sang for representatives of a number of (mostly) Ontario based music producing organisations together with a small contingent from the media. The affair was organised by Ryan Hofman and designed to give (mostly) unrepresented singers a chance to display their talents to the invitees.
operaramblings 