MAZEPPA by Tchaikovsky
"If it at first it seemed a little foolhardy to mount such a big work on a small scale, any doubts were quickly laid to rest right from the opening women's chorus. You could just sit back, forget the spectacle and concentrate on Tchaikovsky's luscious vocal writing."

Wayne Gooding, OPERA CANADA

2018 - 2019 SEASON


Comedy Unbound!
A Tribute to Stuart Hamilton
Sunday, October 21, 2018
2:30 pm


JULES MASSENET
Werther
Sunday, November 25, 2018
2:30 pm


FRANZ SCHUBERT
Fierabras
Sunday, February 3, 2019

2:30 pm


KURT WEILL &
BERTOLT BRECHT
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Saturday, March 30, 2019
8:00 pm
Sunday, March 31, 2019

2:30 pm

 

 

 

 

FRANZ SCHUBERT
FIERABRAS

Sunday, February 3, 2019— 2:30pm

A German opera with english surtitles

The juxtaposition of two religions is the backdrop for powerful rivalries, the triumph of love and new understanding in the most idealistic of Romantic traditions.

Featuring
Kevin Mallon, Conductor, with Aradia Ensemble
Robert Cooper, Chorus Director

Matthew Dalen as Fierabras
Alexander Dobson as King Karl
Jocelyn Fralick as Florinda
Evan Korbut as Roland
Amy Moodie as Emma
Justin Welsh as Boland
Lawrence Wiliford as Eginhard

SYNOPSIS

ACT I

Emma, the daughter of King Karl, is in love with Eginhard. Their love must be kept secret since Karl does not approve. Karl's knights, led by Roland, have defeated the Moors and captured Fierrabras, the son of the Moorish prince Boland. Karl does not imprison Fierrabras. When they are brought to Karl's castle, Fierrabras spies Emma, and recognizes her as someone he fell in love with in Rome. Eginhard and Emma meet in the garden at night, but are interrupted by Fierrabras. The lovers plead with Fierrabras to protect Eginhard from Karl. Fierrabras agrees, and Eginhard makes his escape. The king approaches, and, thinking Fierrabras is trying to kidnap Emma, has him thrown in chains. As the act ends, Eginhard and the knights are preparing to leave.

ACT II

Eginhard (without clarifying the matter concerning Emma and Fierrabras) has been sent to Boland with Roland and Karl's other knights for peace talks. The Moors surprise Eginhard, capture him, and bring him to the Moorish castle, where Boland and his daughter Florinda are concerned over Fierrabras' fate. Eginhard informs them of Fierrabras' imprisonment. The rest of Karl's knights arrive for the peace talks. Boland, upset over Fierrabras' imprisonment, takes them prisoner and condemns them to death. Among the knights, his daughter Florinda recognizes Roland, (with whom she fell in love while in Rome) and decides to try to help them. She manages to free Eginhard, and, after a brief interlude with Roland, frees the knights from the castle prison. The knights, after battle in which Roland is captured, are returned to the prison, where Boland is upset over Florinda's behavior.

ACT III

Emma, who is waiting for Eginhard's return, confesses to her father that Fierrabras is innocent, and that she and Eginhard are in love. Karl frees Fierrabras, and they leave with Eginhard to go to the Moorish castle to free the imprisoned knights. The knights are being led to the execution pyre. Florinda pleads with Boland to spare Roland. In anger, Boland says that if she loves Roland, she can die with him. Karl, Eginhard, and Fierrabras arrive just in time to stop the executions, and convince Boland to release the knights. Karl and Boland make peace and allow Roland and Florinda to marry, as well as Eginhard and Emma. Fierrabras joins Karl's knights.