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MARCH 2017 ISSUE NO. 76 Suzie LeBlanc Stars in Massenet Rarity Favourite Canadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc will star in a concert performance of Jules Massenet’s Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame Sunday afternoon, April 9 th , 2:00 p.m., at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, 6199 Chebucto Road, Halifax. Sung in French with piano accompaniment, the opera will be a Co-Production and Co-Presentation by Cecilia Concerts and Opera Nova Scotia. Massenet, one of the most popular of the late French Romantics, is best known for his masterpieces Manon, Werther and Thaïs. Audiences are always captured by the beauty and sentiment of his melodies and by the sensitivity of his characterizations. Listeners to this upcoming performance will agree that Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame is no exception to Massenet’s talent for memorable music and affecting theatre. It retells the medieval fable of the despised, unlettered juggler whose gift of song and dance so please Our Lady for their sincerity of Faith that in death he is raised to Paradise by the grace of Our Lady’s gratitude Massenet intended that a tenor should sing the principal role of Jean, the forlorn but devout street entertainer of the title. However, the famous soprano Mary Garden took it over and popularized the work in the USA, after which it disappeared from opera houses except in France. With this performance Suzie LeBlanc revives the tradition of Mary Garden, who was acclaimed “the Sarah Bernhardt of opera”. Halifax has already heard Suzie’s effectiveness in French opera when she sang an ONS Informoperal of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, adding yet another idiom of repertoire to her acclaimed performances and multiple recordings of early music, Acadian and World folk song, and contemporary vocal compositions. Her vocal artistry, international acclaim, and her research and popularization of the songs of her roots have been recognized through the awarding of the Order of Canada and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of King’s College, Halifax. Two much-appreciated Halifax bass-baritones, both stalwarts of the ONS roster, will sing the principal male roles: Gregory Servant, Professor in Dalhousie University’s Voice Faculty, as the Prior, and Jon-Paul Décosse, recently heard at Opera Valentine, as Brother Boniface. The artist monks - poet, musician and sculptor - will be sung by Leander Mendoza, John Lindsay Botten, and Alan Manchester, also joining an ONS chamber choir representing the townsfolk, market sellers, monks, and angels. Pianist is Lynette Wahlstrom. Walter H. Kemp will conduct the performance. (continued on page 2) Suzie LeBlanc The poster for the first Paris production, depicting the closing scene.

Suzie LeBlanc Stars in Massenet Rarity - Opera Nova Scotia · Suzie LeBlanc Stars in Massenet Rarity ... French with piano accompaniment, ... interest, and no female solo leads

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MARCH 2017 ISSUE NO. 76

Suzie LeBlanc Stars in Massenet Rarity Favourite Canadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc will star in a concert performance of Jules Massenet’s Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame Sunday afternoon, April 9th, 2:00 p.m., at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, 6199 Chebucto Road, Halifax. Sung in French with piano accompaniment, the opera will be a Co-Production and Co-Presentation by Cecilia Concerts

and Opera Nova Scotia. Massenet, one of the most popular of the late French Romantics, is best known for his masterpieces Manon, Werther and Thaïs. Audiences are always captured by the beauty and sentiment of his melodies and by the sensitivity of his characterizations. Listeners to this upcoming performance will agree that Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame is no exception to Massenet’s talent for memorable music and affecting theatre. It retells the medieval fable of the despised, unlettered juggler whose gift of song and dance so please Our Lady for their sincerity of Faith that in death he is raised to Paradise by the grace of Our Lady’s gratitude Massenet intended that a tenor should sing the principal role of Jean, the forlorn but devout street entertainer of the title. However, the famous soprano Mary Garden took it over

and popularized the work in the USA, after which it disappeared from opera houses except in France. With this performance Suzie LeBlanc revives the tradition of Mary Garden, who was acclaimed “the Sarah Bernhardt of opera”. Halifax has already heard Suzie’s effectiveness in French opera when she sang an ONS Informoperal of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, adding yet another idiom of repertoire to her acclaimed performances and multiple recordings of early music, Acadian and World folk song, and contemporary vocal compositions. Her vocal artistry, international acclaim, and her research and popularization of the songs of her roots have been recognized through

the awarding of the Order of Canada and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of King’s College, Halifax. Two much-appreciated Halifax bass-baritones, both stalwarts of the ONS roster, will sing the principal male roles: Gregory Servant, Professor in Dalhousie University’s Voice Faculty, as the Prior, and Jon-Paul Décosse, recently heard at Opera Valentine, as Brother Boniface. The artist monks - poet, musician and sculptor - will be sung by Leander Mendoza, John Lindsay Botten, and Alan Manchester, also joining an ONS chamber choir representing the townsfolk, market sellers, monks, and angels. Pianist is Lynette Wahlstrom. Walter H. Kemp will conduct the performance.

(continued on page 2)

Suzie LeBlanc

The poster for the first Paris production, depicting the closing scene.

Suzie LeBlanc Stars in Massenet Rarity (continued)

Nineteenth century France Romanticism is framed by two works recalling its Gothic past: Victor Hugo’s monumental novel Notre Dame, published in 1831, and Massenet’s opera premiered in 1902, based on a miracle drama produced ten years earlier by Anatole France. Interestingly enough, even the choices of religious edifices match up, the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny where le Jongleur is set being of great significance comparative to that of Notre Dame de Paris. The source narrative is a medieval tale, and Massenet’s version makes it almost unique in the opera repertoire after 1800: the composer bold enough to offer to his audiences a work with no love interest, and no female solo leads. Adhering to the Anatole France play the piece is titled a Miracle, not an opera or lyric tragedy. The Third Act is a dramatic tour de force, with the steadily growing anger of the monks over Jean’s sacrilegious behaviour before the Virgin’s statue suddenly shifting to awe

and veneration when they see Our Lady bend to Jean in Benediction. The final pages impart one of the loveliest musical portrayals of religious sublimity in the operatic genre. “This very special collaboration between our presenting organizations allows Nova Scotia audiences to experience our very best vocal artists offering pioneering experiences in live opera to our community” enthusiastically said Dr. Walter H. Kemp, Opera Nova Scotia’s Artistic Director. Tickets (Adult $30, Seniors $25, Students $15, Children 12 and under $10) are available from Cecila Concerts 902-423-0143, [email protected]; Opera NS 902-425-8586; or at the door of the event. For more information call (902) 423-0143, 425-8586, or 852-5170.

Photos from the ONS December 2016 Presentation of

Time of Trouble

Above: Dr. Walter H. Kemp (ONS), Elizabeth Raum (composer); Rex Deverell (librettist); Nina Scott-Stoddart (MCO). At left: Rob O'Quinn (Archbishop Connolly); and Andrew Pickett (Bishop Hannann), with the Sisters. Photos by Peggy Walt.

B y Dappertutto

1. A) Name two operas which concern an important moment in French XVth century history which took place at the Cathedral of Rheims. The soprano heroine did not live much longer thereafter, and died a martyr.

B) In the Square fronting the Cathedral of Valladolid, the zealous persecution of heretics by the powerful Catholic authorities sees them drag their victims to the pyre despite the remonstrations of the heir to the Spanish Hapsburg throne (the tenor, after whom the opera is named).

C) Emerging from his coronation onto steps of the Cathedral of the Dormition, housed within the Kremlin, a new Czar meditates on his mixed feelings on achieving his political ambitions.

D) The First Act of this opera takes place inside the church of the Sant’Andrea della Valle, Rome, ending with a procession with Te Deum.

E) The Church of St. Sulpice, Paris, is only slightly smaller than Notre Dame. Among its long line of famous organists were the Clerambaults, Widor and Dupré. In the French libretto based on this opera’s story, at one of its chapels two estranged lovers get together again, as the tenor succumbs to his fickle sweetheart’s charms, luring him from his religious vows.

F) The 20th century composer Luigi Dallapiccola created an opera based on T. S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. In which cathedral does it take place?

And some brief extras:

2. Which character is not in a Massenet opera?

Philine; Charlotte; Chimene.

3. Name the Massenet operas in which the following pieces occur: a) Adieu, notre petite table b) Meditation c) Pleurez, pleurez, mes yeux

4. Massenet’s jongleur is a juggler, dancer, singer and trickster, who arrives to entertain the townsfolk on a holiday. In which operas do the following offer amusement?

a) a troupe of Punchinello, Harlequin and Columbine strolling players b) a humpbacked court jester c) a travelling circus touring the country towns of Bohemia

Answers

1. A. Giovanna D’Arco (Verdi); The Maid of Orleans (Tchaikovsky)

B. Don Carlos (Verdi). C. Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky) D. Tosca (Puccini) E. Manon (Massenet) F. Canterbury Cathedral, site of the murder of Beckett.

2. Philine, the coloratura soprano in Mignon (Thomas). The Massenet heroines are Charlotte (Werther) and Chimene (Le Cid).

3. a) Manon b) Thaïs c) Le Cid 4.a) I Pagliacci (Leoncavallo); b) Rigoletto (Verdi);

c) The Bartered Bride (Smetana).

Massenet’s Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame is one of a very few operas set exclusively in front of and within a famous cathedral or church of similar proportions, in this case an imposing example of Romanesque style, the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny, Saone-et-Loire, in the XIVth Century. Our chief question explores some ecclesiastical operatic sites.

“To Love, or Not to Love”: Passionate Choices in Opera, 1781-2000

Introductory talks to the Metropolitan Opera HD transmissions Season 2016-2017

Lecturer: Dr. Walter H. Kemp, Artistic Director, Opera Nova Scotia

Tuesdays 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m., The Keshen Goodman Library, Lacewood Drive, Halifax

April 18 Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin May 9 R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier

Experience and appreciate opera on a whole new level. A Reading Knowledge of music is not required to enjoy these talks. Free admission, all welcome. Presented in cooperation with Opera Nova Scotia.

Opera For All! Layout by David Keenan

Newsletter of Opera Nova Scotia 6199 Chebucto Road, Halifax NS B3L 1K7

Tel. (902) 425-8586 www.nsopera.org e-mail: [email protected]

Opera Nova Scotia

Members at Large

Artistic Director – Dr. Walter H. Kemp

Administrative Officer – Vanessa Buhr-Rountree

Chair – Ifan Williams

Vice Chair – Dr. Eve Roberts

Treasurer – Carol Grimmitt

Secretary – Ann Conrad

Archivist – Jeanette Ireland

Education Director – Laura Johnston

Fundraising and Marketing Director – Erica Butler

Hospitality Director & Ticket Convener – Sheila Andrecyk

Membership Director – Elinor Benjamin

Properties & Space – Stan Salsman

Director of Volunteers – Lynette Wahlstrom

Ruth A. Boorman Dr. Neil Robertson

Dr. Peter Fillmore

Opera Nova Scotia appreciates the support of

Municipal Government

New Education Director for ONS Board

ONS has a new Board Member, Laura Johnston, who

becomes Education Director. Raised in Cape Breton, Laura

holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from

Acadia University, where her performance major was

saxophone. She also earned a Master of Education at

Mount Saint Vincent University. After six years of teaching

and administration at colleges in South Korea and Hong

Kong she returned to Nova Scotia as a full-time elementary

school music teacher in Halifax.

A Member and Vice President of the Carl Orff Society

of Canada Halifax Chapter, she participated actively in the

planning and events of their hosting of the Society’s

National Conference. She is a community voice student of

Dr. Jennifer Farrell, and sang at last Season’s Musicale to

raise funds establishing the ONS Scholarship for young

singers of promise studying at the Maritime Conservatory.

This June she plans to offer a complete recital of her own

for the same cause. A soprano with The Walter Kemp

Singers, she took the role of Cupid in last Season’s ONS

Production of King Arthur.

As Education Director Laura will coordinate the in-

schools visits by ONS performers, arrange the attendance

of school classes and individuals at our Spring Production,

and next Season develop a program involving HRM

students in the “Live in HD” Metropolitan Opera

presentations in cooperation with Cineplex Entertainment.

We welcome Laura and thank her for her keen interest

in volunteering her services for this important aspect of our

mandate.

In Memory of Ann Conrad

Opera Nova Scotia laments the passing of

Ann Conrad, an active member of our

Association and Board Secretary. Her love

of music was demonstrated by her

enthusiasm singing in several major

community choirs.