BrottOpera brings Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola’ to the stage

Great Hall in FirstOntario Concert Hall to be renamed the Boris Brott Great Hall Thursday

“Singing that you can feel in your soul.”

So wrote Gioachino Rossini of his vocal ideal in an 1851 letter to a nobleman.

Rossini knew a thing or two about singing. Not only was his mother a professional opera singer, and his first wife, Isabella Colbran, one of the finest sopranos of the early 19th century, but he, too, sang on stage as a boy soprano before becoming a celebrated opera composer. But what exactly did Rossini mean when he wrote, in his native Italian, “cantare che nell’anima si sente?”

“To sing what one feels in the soul is to give a personal, individual quality to every vocal line, rather than treating the music mechanically,” explained Emily Hamper, principal coach and administrator at BrottOpera. “Great Rossini singers must be able to accurately render quick, syllabic passages (‘patter’) without losing tempo or the accuracy of the text and pitches, and move seamlessly between vocal registers, all of which requires fantastic technique. However, they must also sing the lyric lines with honest expression and perfect legato. I think this quote reflects Rossini’s feeling that within the comedic scenes and patter moments, the human feeling of the characters must always be maintained and clearly expressed.”

Excellent tips for the cast of BrottOpera’s production of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) which will play FirstOntario Concert Hall on Thursday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m.

This past January, approximately 50 singers submitted applications and video recordings of two arias to BrottOpera. These were evaluated by Boris Brott prior to his tragic hit-and-run death on April 5 and co-artistic director, Taras Kulish, now interim artistic director of BrottOpera.

At present, John Tessier, a tenor of international repute, will sing the role of Don Ramiro, Prince of Salerno. Ramiro’s valet, Dandini, and his tutor, the philosopher Alidoro, will be sung by baritone Geoffrey

Schellenberg and baritone Cesar Bello respectively. Maxime MartinVo will sing Don Magnifico, Baron of Monte Fiascone. Magnifico’s daughters, Clorinda and Tisbe, will be sung by Tamar Simon and Tallita Gagner respectively. Magnifico’s stepdaughter, Angelina/Cenerentola, will be sung by Lizzy Hoyt. Incidentally, Hoyt and Tessier will reprise their BrottOpera roles when Manitoba Opera stages “La Cenerentola” this November.

Guest conductor Tyrone Paterson, Manitoba Opera’s music adviser and principal conductor, will lead the National Academy Orchestra of Canada. Italian producer-director Enrico Castiglione, who worked with Brott on several projects including a DVD of Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” in Rome’s Teatro Argentina and Bernstein’s “Mass” before Pope John Paul II in Vatican City in 2000, will bring along costumes and stage direct.

Tickets at brottmusic.com or by calling 905-525-7664: $69, senior $64, student $25, 12 and under $10 (HST and fees included).

Prior to “La Cenerentola,” the cast will perform in BrottOpera’s “Viva l’Italia PopOpera” on Thursday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. in McMaster University’s L.R. Wilson Concert Hall, 1280 Main St. W.

The opera highlights program includes, among others, Schellenberg in “Largo al factotum” from Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” Gagner in “Non so più” from “Le nozze di Figaro,” Hoyt in “Nacqui all’affanno/Non più mesta” from “La Cenerentola,” and Tessier in “Una furtiva lagrima” from Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore.” Paterson will lead the NAO in Verdi’s “Overture to La forza del destino” and the “Intermezzo” from Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana.” The encores will be the customary “Libiamo” and “Va, pensiero,” from Verdi’s “La traviata” and “Nabucco” respectively.

Tickets: $59, senior $54, student $25,12 and under $10. PopOpera/La Cenerentola ticket bundle: 10 per cent off.

At the Brott Music Festival’s opening concert on Thursday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., the Great Hall in FirstOntario Concert Hall will be renamed the Boris Brott Great Hall in honour of the late conductor.

“We were touched so many in the community felt strongly that such a naming would be an appropriate memorial to Boris,” said BMF executive director Ardyth Brott on behalf of the Brott family in a press release. “We want to thank Mayor Eisenberger, Hamilton City Council, FirstOntario Concert Hall and those who worked behind the scenes to make this happen.”

The concert includes BMF interim artistic director Alain Trudel conducting Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” and Louis Applebaum’s “Place Setting,” the first piece Brott conducted at the Great Hall’s inauguration in September 1973.

Tickets: $59, senior $54, student $25, 12 and under $10.