TOSC Presents Rusalka In Chamber
November 20 @ 7:30 pm - November 28 @ 7:30 pm
The Opera and Song Collective (TOSC) is delighted to be presenting Rusalka in Chamber in small venues on selected dates from 20 – 28 November, bringing the music to where the people live.
There are three performances at Boronia Park Uniting Church, 93 Pittwater Road, Gladesville (20, 22, 28 November at 7,30 pm) and one performance at the Goethe Institute, 90 Ocean Street Woollahra, on 24 November at 3 pm.
The concept was born in the lengthy second Sydney lockdown when founding Director Jill Sullivan created an online programme for singers to learn selections of Dvořák’s opera Rusalka with assistance from Czech- born and trained pianist, Šárka Budínská and Sharolyn Kimmorley AM. The project was created to provide ongoing educational and performance opportunities for young and mature professionals, first during the lockdown and now as TOSC participates in the Year of Czech Music 2024.
Under the extremely capable musical direction of Ms Kimmorely TOSC is presenting a semi-staged, slightly reduced version of Rusalka, with piano, performed in the original Czech language accompanied by English surtitles.
In the title role is young full lyric soprano, Jillian Halleron who sings opposite tenor Hongxin Jiang. Lisa Munckton and Jill Sullivan are sharing the role of Ježibaba the Witch, and Michael Lampard takes the leading bass role of Vodník the Water Gnome. Soprano Leah Thomas and Bronwyn Douglass perform Foreign Princess.
Matt Gaskin and Maria Hemphil as Gamekeeper and Kitchenhand bring comic precision to their partnership and provide a light relief from the intense nature of most of the remainder of the music. The Water Sprites alternate on different performances, sung by Alya Meyer and Emily Turner as First Sprite, Dana Kingsford and Emma Häll as Second Sprite and Yolanda Lorenazato and Angelique Tot as the Third Sprite.
NB: Both Matthew Reardon and Lucas Tamao have needed to withdraw for personal reasons and will not perform as mentioned on the flyer.