The first production of Opera Atelier’s 2023/2024 season is Gluk’s Orpheus and Eurydice. Originally commissioned for the court of Marie Antoinette, this beautiful love story is now on stage at the historic Elgin Theatre. Masterfully done, as I’ve come to expect from Opera Atelier, Orpheus and Eurydice is an opulent night at the opera.
Orpheus and Eurydice is based on the Greek myth of the same name. Orpheus and Eurydice are madly in love, but when Eurydice unexpectedly dies, Orpheus is devastated and begs to the Gods to bring Eurydice back to him. He’s granted his request, but (as usual with the Gods) there are some rules he must abide by to bring her back to the land of the living with him. We follow him on his adventure to Hades and back to bring Eurydice home. This version has a most happy ending, and a message of the power of love which permeates the entire performance.
I love opera sets, they are larger than life, perfectly matching the art form itself. I am consistently amazed at how quickly they’re able to change over the sets as well; there must be so much happening back stage while we listen to the beautiful orchestral pieces! Gerard Gauci’s design for Orpheus and Eurydice is breathtaking – from Hades to the Heavens, we see it all! Michael Legouffe’s costuming was likewise dazzling, with everything from frightening demons to angels to joyous and colourful lovers on display. The only bug which they’re working out is the use of the smoke/fog machines in the first act. When we arrive in the afterlife to find Eurydice, they use fog machines to create the illusion that the dancers are dancing through clouds, and it is magical! However, there was a slight issue, as the fog eventually engulfed no only the dancers on stage, but the audience as well! While I fully understand that it was just an opening night mishap, it certainly made an impact!
My personal favourite technical element was the cloud which Amour rode in on; it gave us that perfect (and literal) deus ex machina moment, and the cloud itself was so well designed and executed. The vivaciousness of Amour is such a stark contrast to the pining Orpheus, that it makes for a delightful moment of levity as well!
Anna-Julia David makes her Opera Atelier debut as the aforementioned Amour, and her soprano voice rings throughout the theatre. Though she doesn’t appear very much in the production, what moments she has on stage she makes very memorable. Opera Atelier fans are no stranger to Colin Ainsworth who plays Orpheus; his stunning tenor voice is always a joy to listen to. Ainsworth really pulled out all the stops for this production, as Orpheus spends much of ACT I alone on the stage, and he held is own exceptionally well. Completing the singing cast is Mireille Asselin as Eurydice. It’s clear to see why she’s another Opera Atelier regular; her voice is marvellous and she made us really feel for Eurydice.
The soloists of Opera Atelier were once again joined by the Opera Atelier Ballet, lead by co-artistic director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg. This production has a 17 dancer troupe and they performed Zingg’s choreography masterfully. Alongside them are the Tafelmusik Orchestra, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. It’s astounding how the orchestra doesn’t fully fit in the pit, it rather spills out into the front few rows and the lower box seats! Unique to this production as well is the use of a harp which is actually from the same time period as Gluk’s opera. The harp was used to give voice to Orpheus’ Lyre, which he plays to help sway the gods and gatekeepers of the underworld to go and rescue Eurydice. It was fascinating to see the same style of harp which would have graced the courts of Marie Antoinette for this same opera being used here in Toronto.
I always look forward to seeing what Opera Atelier has on schedule. Their attention to detail is matched by the elegance each production exudes, and Orpheus and Eurydice is no exception. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.operaatelier.com/season-and-tickets/2021-2022-season/glucks-orpheus-and-eurydice-opera-atelier
Cover photo by Bruce Zinger
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