Opera club hosts mezzo-soprano

BY HOLLIE WATSON

Since it surfaced last October, the Manrico Tedeschi Opera Club has provided local residents with a unique opportunity to explore this classic genre through a spirited series of concerts.

This Sunday the club hosts the second of three concerts in 2007 at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre. Solo artist will be mezzo-soprano Sophie Laganiere.

“The format will be a bit different from last year’s concerts. On Feb. 25th we’ll start with a half-hour introduction that will include a mini-conference on the great mezzos. We’ll also take questions, perhaps talk about the future of opera,” explained Tedeschi, a tenor of international renown who during his distinguished 20-year career has sung in leading opera houses all over the world. Refreshments and discussion will follow the recital.

“What we’ve also done from the beginning is feature an artist from the West Island Artists’ Circle who exhibits several pieces of their work. I thought it was a good marriage; like singers, artists benefit from the exposure,” said the Pierrefonds resident, who recently returned from New York City, where he was a soloist in a production of Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall, to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Toscanini.

One of the concert series’ raisons d’être is to challenge young vocalists, “and give them a chance to sing in public,” he said, adding, “I was able to find agents in New York for three of the artists who sang last fall.”

The next concert will be March 25, when soprano Makiki Awazu will perform.

For members of the club (which is in the process of adopting its new name, Il Canto Opera Association), Tedeschi also organizes occasional mini-concerts “where we have discussions and listen to singers from the golden era of opera,” he said.

Membership also entitles aficionados to discounts to productions by L’Opera de Montreal, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and other special events. The club will also get involved in the annual week-long Italian Festival in Montreal this summer, and will be collaborating on a project with West Island chorale Cantabile. Each concert gets under way at 1 p.m., and families are welcome, as one of the club’s objectives “is to try to introduce young people to the opera,” said Tedeschi, who departs next month for Germany for over a dozen concert dates.

Pierrefonds Cultural Centre is located at 13850 Gouin Blvd. For ticket reservations call 514-624-1100. For more information about the Manrico Tedeschi Opera Club, call 514-626-8146.