Opera Canada Magazine has just published their 50th Anniversary issue and featured a thoughtful, rave review for The Shadow from Editor Wayne Gooding.

Here are a few quotes:

“…Daniel and Poch-Goldin have fashioned a splendidly theatrical piece, one of the strongest developed by Tapestry.”

“We’re in absurdist territory in this opera, a world of dark impulses and imaginings, where private inner worlds break through public masks. Shakespeare’s Falstaff lightly referes to the inner world as ‘Our Saturday selves,’ but Jung talks of ‘a shadow side…of a positively demonic dynamism.’  The opera impressively exemplifies the same dualism; playfulness and farce animate The Shadow’s external storyline, but hte comic evocation of the dark side leaves you with the disquieting sense that you’re in a room full of dirty little secrets-and wondering whether you’ve let any of your own slip out.”

“Among a very fine ensemble of singers, pride of place must go to baritone Peter McGillivray as Raoul/Hernando. His central role bears the biggest burden, and he negotiated the difllcult and taxing score with great musical skill and all the dramatic chops to create a strong, pivotal character. Countertenor Scott Belluz, resplendent in a long, pleated topcoat and dark glasses, threw himself with evident relish into the diabolical title role, for which composer Daniel made full use of a high singing voice and lower speaking voice to create the Shadow’s other-worldly presence. Soprano Carla Huhtanen created a winsomely lovelorn Allegra, a powerful and eloquent presence in an otherwise all-male ensemble, while the not-inconsiderable supporting roles of the moneylender and the waiter (a  kind of Fawlty Towers Manuel in musical overdrive) were vividly handled by; respectively, baritone Theodore Baerg and tenor Keith Klassen. This is first and foremost an ensemble piece, and it’s for the
excellence of this that the singers and the seven-piece orchestral ensemble conducted by Tapestry Managing Artistic Director Wayne Strongman deserve the greatest kudos.”

Click here to read the full review.

The Shadow

by Alex Poch-Goldin & Omar Daniel
(World Premiere May 2009  in Toronto)
Director: Tom Diamond
Music Director: Wayne Strongman
Set & Costume Design: Camellia Koo
Lighting Design: Robert Thomson
Cast: Carla Huhtanen, Peter McGillivray, Scott Belluz, Keith Klassen & Theodore Baerg

One-act opera of intrigue, desire and deception featuring a countertenor in the title role; premiered at the Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs in May 2009.

Click here to read the Jewish Tribune’s recent interview with the creative team behind The Shadow, librettist Alex Poch-Goldin and composer Omar Daniel.

From the Jewish Tribune:

Set in Barcelona during the early 20th century, The Shadow, as described by Poch-Goldin, is “a morality fable of being oneself and how one would like oneself to be better. The plot is about a postman who is in love with a wealthy girl. To win her he assumes a secondary identity.  He wins her love but he finds out he cannot afford her. He borrows money to maintain his faÁade.”

As this opera is set in Barcelona, composer Omar Daniel said that his original score does have traditional Spanish undertones, complete with boleros and castanets.  Beyond that, he creates his own styles without resorting to Spanish musical clichÈs. He does affirm that there are “recognizable tunes and harmonies.  Those who associate modern music with unpleasant dissonances need not fear here. But his tunes are not shallow pop tunes.

“There are layers of depth in the score,” which one would not find on the pop charts, he said.

The Shadow premieres May 21-30, 2009 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

Tickets
$20-$49

Box Office
416.368.3110
canstage.com
totix.ca

Chris Hoile has devoted his May 2009 On Opera column in Wholenote Magazine to The Shadow and librettist/composer team Alex Poch-Goldin & Omar Daniel.

Read it here.

The Shadow premieres May 21-30, 2009 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

Tickets
$20-$49

Box Office
416.368.3110
canstage.com
totix.ca