Opera Atelier is revitalizing its original work ALL IS LOVE for their spring offering this year. An exploration of love in its many forms, ALL IS LOVE combines pieces from several different French composers to create an inspiring and moving programme. Helmed by Opera Atelier’s Co-Artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, ALL IS LOVE features new and familiar soloists as well as stunning visual art to accompany the music; it is an uplifting way to celebrate spring and all the love it brings!

Soprano Meghan Lindsay as Mélisande with Artists of Atelier Ballet in Act One of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in Opera Atelier’s fully-staged production of ALL IS LOVE.
Photo by Bruce Zinger

The through-line of ALL IS LOVE lies not in plot, but in theme, making it a unique and captivating experience. Each piece provides its own snippet of story, while also connecting thematically to the pieces around it. Love can be in the stars or in dreams, in myth and in nature. It’s enchanting while also capable of hurting us. Taking us through all of these themes is Amour, a winged angel who guides both audience and performer from one segment to the next. All of these are backdropped by incredible pieces of French Symbolism artwork (curated by resident set designer Gerard Gauci), making ALL IS LOVE larger than life in a new and dazzling way.

Opera Atelier Artist-in-Residence soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee with Artists of Atelier Ballet Eric Da Silva as Amour and Tyler Gledhill as Morpheus in Opera Atelier’s fully-staged production of ALL IS LOVE.
Photo by Bruce Zinger.

I appreciate the balance between dance and vocals which has been infused into ALL IS LOVE. With pieces coming in from several different operas, this could have easily been a vocal-heavy performance. However, Opera Atelier makes sure that the stunning artists of the Atelier Ballet get their time to shine as well. About halfway through the programme, there’s a piece called “Inception” featuring violinist and composer Edwin Huizinga and dancer Tyler Gledhill. It was incredible watching the two artists create and play off of one another, certainly one of my favourite pieces in the show.

Mezzo soprano Danielle Macmillan with Artist of Atelier Ballet Edward Tracz in Opera Atelier’s fully-staged production of ALL IS LOVE.
Photo by Bruce Zinger

With a ninety minute run-time, ALL IS LOVE is a perfect way to introduce a younger audience to Opera. Opera Atelier has even made up a graphic resource guide for audience members to enhance and explain the work and its themes. The graphics are based on real photos from the performance, making the moments and characters instantly recognizable. This is such a unique and fun resource, I’m so glad that I picked one up!

Soprano Meghan Lindsay as Mélisande and bass baritone Douglas Williams as Golaud in Act One of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in Opera Atelier’s fully-staged production of ALL IS LOVE.
Photo by Bruce Zinger.

ALL IS LOVE boasts the largest cast I’ve seen at Opera Atelier, with eight talented vocalists performing these iconic pieces of French opera. It’s always lovely to see Opera Atelier faves like Colin Ainsworth and Meghan Lindsay; they prove time and time again why they have become such mainstays with Opera Atelier and I love watching them perform. I’m glad to see that Cynthia Akemi Smithers gets a chance for her vocal prowess to shine, I’ve only seen her as part of the ballet ensemble previous to this and she does not disappoint. Jesse Blumberg and Douglas Williams give stunning performances; their baritone voices sailing through the space. Danielle MacMillan and Karine White dazzle with their impressive range and fierce performances. Beginning and ending ALL IS LOVE is Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, whose unique and powerful voice moves all who hear it. Along with the Atelier Ballet dancers and the Tafelmusik orchestra, ALL IS LOVE is a prime example of the ingenuity and unbridled talent Opera Atelier has to offer.

ALL IS LOVE runs until April 14th at the stunning Koerner Hall. There’s also plenty to look forward to from Opera Atelier’s 40th anniversary season, featuring Handel’s Acis and Galatea, as well as Charpentier’s David and Jonathan, both of which feature artists from Versailles, France. For more information about ALL IS LOVE and to get your tickets, visit: https://www.operaatelier.com/season-and-tickets/2023-2024-season/all-is-love

Cover photo: Soprano Karine White, soprano Cynthia Akemi Smithers, baritone Jesse Blumberg, and Artist of Atelier Ballet Eric Da Silva as Amour in Opera Atelier’s fully-staged production of ALL IS LOVE. Photo by Bruce Zinger.

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