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| Image: Toronto Masque Theatre |
Toronto Masque Theatre presents two masques drawn from two traditions: a Baroque classic from the West, John Blow’s Venus and Adonis (1683) and a reimagining of an ancient tale from the East, The Lesson of Da Ji (2013), by Alice Ping Yee Ho and librettist Marjorie Chan.
Masque is a fusion of music, dance and theatre. Toronto Masque Theatre is one of the few companies in the world devoted to this form which flourished in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Venus and Adonis
Commissioned by Charles II and written by John Blow, this gorgeous, sensual masterpiece of the courtly masque features some of the most sublime music ever written. It tells how Venus fell in love with the mortal youth Adonis. While the goddess struggles with her amorous entanglements her son, Cupid, receives his own comic, romantic education. Told with a surprisingly feminist slant it tells us how we should “seize the day” in our pursuit of true love. Featuring Baroque dance choreographed by the acclaimed Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière.
The Lesson of Da Ji
Toronto Masque Theatre commissioned Alice Ping Yee Ho and Marjorie Chan to create a new masque inspired by the true story of the Shang Dynasty concubine Da Ji, and the King who enacted a tasty revenge on her secret lover. In Ho and Chan’s version, Da Ji takes guquin music lessons from a young nobleman named Bo Yi. Chan has provided a rich and inventive script which drives to a surprising and powerful climax while Ho’s gorgeous music will blend eastern and western instruments, including the guquin that Da Ji learns to play. It will feature a performance by traditional Peking Opera dancer William Lau.
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| Image: Toronto Masque Theatre |
Under the Artistic Direction of Larry Beckwith, who will also lead an ensemble of Baroque and Chinese instruments, the evening will feature soprano Vania Chan, tenor Derek Kwan, mezzoSoprano Marion Newman, and baritone Alexander Dobson. Dance drawn from both the Baroque and the Peking Opera traditions will be performed. Direction will be by Derek Boyes (The Lesson of Da Ji) and Marie-Nathalie Lacourisère (Venus and Adonis). Visual splendour is a key feature of masque and the evening will feature projections designed by Caroline Guibault, lighting by Gabe Cropley, and costumes by Angela Thomas.
When: Friday, May 10th, 2013 at 8:00 pm; Saturday, May 11th, 2013 at 8:00 pm; special Mother’s Day matinee, Sunday, May 12th, 2013 at 3:00 pm. A pre-show chat with Artistic Director Larry Beckwith and guests is held 45 minutes before all performances.
Where: The Al Green Theatre; 750 Spadina Avenue (at Bloor).
Tickets: $40; $35 (for seniors) and $20 (for under 30) available from the Al Green Box Office, 416-924-6211 ext. 0 or order tickets online from Toronto Masque Theatre
