ZARZUELA GOLD

OPENS

TORONTO OPERETTA THEATRE’S 2011-2012 SEASON

Toronto, 27. September 2011…Toronto Operetta Theatre opens the 2011 – 2012 Season on Sunday, October 23 at 2 pm at the St. Lawrence Centre with ZARZUELA GOLD, a special concert highlighting the music of Zarzuela from Spain and Latin America. TOT is the only company in Canada devoted to music theatre in all its variety and has been instrumental in raising the profile of this exciting facet of the music theatre art form.  ZARZUELA GOLD will be presented under the Honorary Patronage of Don Francisco Pascual de la Parte, Consul General of Spain in Toronto.

Drawing from hundreds of Zarzuelas, some written as far back as 18^th century, TOT’s General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin has chosen a thrilling mix of dramatic, lyrical, passionate and witty arias, duets and ensembles from this vast heritage that showcases the undeniable Spanish musical allure, its fascinating rhythms and its signature tonality.

TOT features the sensational mezzo soprano Michele Bogdanowicz, who appeared in the title role of LUISA FERNANDA in March 2011, alongside the world-renowned Mexican born tenor Edgar Ernesto Ramírez, who is “garnering rave reviews for his distinctive Italianate sound, his youthful exuberance, and for his expressive musicality”. Mr. Ramirez comes back to us celebrating his most recent success in France where he boldly embodied the role of Nemorino in L’ELISIR D’AMORE with Opera Angers-Nantes.  Rómulo Delgado, also of Mexican background returns to us from Vienna after a rousing triumph as Don José in CARMEN. Colombian soprano Margie Bernal will complete a roster of artists that will also include General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin, for a stupendous musical matinee under Music Director and Pianist Raisa Nakhmanovich.

Excerpts from the Cuban zarzuelas CECILIA VALDES by Gonzalo Roig, MARIA LA O by Ernesto Lecuona will mingle with those from LA TEMPRANICA by G. Giménez, EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES by Federico Barbieri, LA TABERNERA DEL PUERTO by Pablo Sorozabal, LOS GAVILANES by José Guerrro and many more.

ZARZUELA GOLD will be immediately followed by a President’s Reception hosted by TOT Board of Director’s President Zofia Hall right on the premises of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts attended by His Excellency Don Francisco Pascual de la Parte, our artists, TOT Friends and special guests.

Imre Kalman’s greatest work, THE GYPSY PRINCESS (Die Csardasfürstin), the World Premiere of the Beckwith/Reaney ballad opera, TAPTOO! and G & S’s  H.M.S. PINAFORE completes the 2011-12 Season.

Toronto Operetta Theatre is grateful for the support of Deutsche Presse (media sponsor), the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, KPMG, Barrick, Marriott Hotels, the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.  All performances are wheel chair accessible at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – Box Office (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. On line sales www.stlc.ca For information, call TOT at (416) 922-2912.

For further information contact Henry Ingram at 416-922-2912.