Review: Acis and Galatea (Opera Atelier)

By Sam Mooney

Toronto’s Opera Atelier launches their 25th Anniversary Season with Acis and Galatea

Opera Atelier's production of Acis and Galatea

This is Opera Atelier’s 25th Anniversary Season.  It opened Saturday night with with Handel’s Acis and Galatea at the Elgin Theatre. My friend Elaine came with me.  Neither of us are particularly opera fans (or particularly not opera fans). My experience with Opera before last night was limited to seeing The Marriage of Figaro about 30 years ago.  Elaine’s wasn’t a lot broader. I wanted to go because my mother discovered opera at the age of 82 and loves it so it seemed like a good idea.

And it was a good idea.  This is the kind of opera that anyone could see and enjoy.

The music was beautiful.  Elaine’s favourite part of the evening was the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir.  The choir was in a box next to and just above the stage and their glorious voices filled the theatre.

The opera opened with dancers from the Atelier Ballet dancing on stage and the chorus singing.  Lovely.

The production stars Mireille Asselin, Thomas Macleay, João Fernandes and Lawrence Wiliford.  It’s sad and funny and quite lovely.

A really good introduction to opera.

Details:

Acis and Galatea is  playing until November 7, 2010 at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street)
– Performances are daily at 7.30 pm except Sunday at 3 pm
– Ticket prices range from $33.00 to $146.00
– Tickets can be purchased by phone at (416) 872-5555, in person at the Elgin Theatre box office, 189 Yonge Street, or online.

Photo of Mireille Asselin & Thomas Macleay by Bruce Zinger

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