Like a sunny day – expansively yellow, warm and vivacious – the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the focus of the young professional-level singers in York University’s seven-week, intensive Summer Opera Program. The program participants will take centre stage in a new production of an operatic favourite – Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Directed by internationally renowned soprano Stephanie Bogle, with musical direction and piano accompaniment by Brahm Goldhamer, this fully-staged production will be sung in Italian.
With singers in full costume and high drama on display, the audience will revel in the brilliant qualities of one of the world’s favourite operas. Don Giovanni is the tale of the seducer Don Giovanni and three of his breathtaking female targets. There’s merry marriage-making, mistaken identities and magnificent melodies – all in one performance!
The role of the infamous Don Giovanni is shared by baritone Jason Nedecky and bass-baritone Jan Vaculik.
Right: Jason Nedecky
This production also features bass-baritone Neil Aronoff as Don Giovanni’s servant Leporello, third-year York University music student Jamie Hofman as Masetto, bass-baritone Raymond Accolas singing the role of the Commendatore. The role of Don Ottavio, Donna Anna’s fiancé, is shared by tenors Joey Niceforo and Ricardo Gimena.
Also appearing in Don Giovanni are sopranos Janet Catherine Dea and Mi Young Eom who share the role of Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter.
Left: Jan Vaculik
Sopranos Rachael Harwood Jones and Ilona Karan share the role of Donna Elvira, a former victim of the coquettish Giovanni. The role of Zerlina is shared by sopranos Melissa Bencic and Angela Barbatano.
Running for four evenings on July 16, 17, 23 and 25 at 7:30pm, Mozart’s Don Giovanni will be held at McLaughlin College Performance Hall. Admission is $15 and tickets are available at the door.
Repeat performances will be held in Hamilton at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts as part of the Brott Summer Music Festival on July 31 and Aug.1 at 7:30pm. These semi-staged performances feature the National Academy Orchestra, under the baton of Boris Brott. Admission for these shows are $30/$25 and tickets are available through the box office at 905-522-7523.
Right: Janet Catherine Dea
These performances are the culmination of an intensive training program for professional singers, featuring master classes taught by some of the world’s top vocalists. (For more information on the Summer Opera Program at York, see the July 13 issue of YFile.)
Left: Mi Young Eom
For complete the complete program of the Brott Summer Music Festival, click here.
This story was submitted to YFile by Mary-Lou Schagena, communications, Faculty of Fine Arts.