OperaFest 2021- Rigoletto

OpéraFest 2021

Rigoletto quartet: (L-R) Stuart Graham (Rigoletto), Lynn Isnar (Gilda), Narmina Afandiyeva (piano), Ernesto Ramirez (Duke), Julie Nesrallah (Maddalena)

“Excellent concert last night. The cast showcased talent, musicality and verve to highlight all that is good about the lyric theatre. Congratulations!”Guillermo Silva-Marin, General/Artistic Director VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert, Toronto Operetta Theatre

“That was WORLD CLASS!” Michael Spence

February 19 – March 9, 2024

STUART GRAHAM, Artistic & Stage Director

NARMINA AFANDIYEVA, Music Director & Pianist

JEANNETTE ASTER, Artistic Adviser

OpéraFest is a 3-week intensive role-study residency (tuition-free) for emerging and established artists; offering them a non-critical environment to develop new repertoire that culminates in a lyric showcase in the renowned Jeanne Lamon Hall. A principal objective of OpéraFest showcase concert is the professional recording (HD audio/video) offering the artists premium demo recordings of their individual performances for their portfolios.

Normally, our concert/showcase programming has been a concert of assorted arias and ensemble excerpts of the operatic repertoire. We upped our game for the 2023 edition and presented 2 complete one-act operas (A Hand of Bridge & Il Tabarro) in addition to a selection of arias and ensembles to complete the evening celebrating the talented cast and the lyric arts. For the 2024 edition, OpéraFest’s focus will be on the Bel Canto style and repertoire featuring excerpts from:

  • Bellini: NORMA
  • Bellini: I CAPULETTI E I MONTECCHI
  • Donizetti: DON PASQUALE
  • Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA
  • Verdi: UN BALLO IN MASCHERA

In this edition, our scene-study proposition is the juxtaposition and exploration of the distinct compositional signatures and temperaments that define each of these four principle Bel Canto composers and how it demands subtle technical and interpretive shifts from the artist.

CASTING:

  • SOPRANO: NORMA/AMELIA
  • SOPRANO: GIULIETTA/NORINA/CLORINDA
  • MEZZOSOPRANO: CENERENTOLA/ADALGISA
  • MEZZOSOPRANO: ROMEO/TISBE
  • TENOR: POLLIONE/RICCARDO (understudy)
  • TENOR: RAMIRO/ERNESTO/TEBALDO
  • BARITONE: DANDINI/MALATESTA
  • BARITONE: RENATO (understudy)
  • BASSBARITONE: PASQUALE/MAGNIFICO/SAMUEL
  • BASS: ALIDORO/TOM/CAPELLIO

CLOSING CONCERT: MARCH 9, 2024 7:30PM JEANNE LAMON HALL

Recent Editions

ADMISSIBILITY:

  • This artistic residency is open to emerging and professional level singers
  • NO AGE LIMIT

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should email their materials (C.V., bio, headshot) and, apart from their role consideration, their proposed repertoire to be workshopped for this residency.

AUDITION: (DEADLINE – DECEMBER 15, 2023)

  • Live Auditions

      • TORONTO (CAN): August 28 – December 15, 2023
      • CULIACÁN (MEX): August 30 – September 1, 2023
      • MEXICO CITY (MEX): September 3-13, 2023
    • If the candidate is unable to present a live audition, they may submit video links (YouTube, Vimeo) in their application email.

Please send all inquiries and application materials to Mr. Stuart Graham to:

info@stuartgraham.ca