A dark tale of two men undone by the green-eyed monster of jealousy, is the Edmonton Opera’s season closer.
Opening tonight and playing Tuesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 29 at the Jubilee Auditorium, Otello is considered by many to be Verdi’s most mature and greatest tragic opera.
Verdi, a great fan of Shakespeare, was persuaded to come out of retirement to write the technically and dramatically demanding score. His success was such the opera received 20 curtain calls at its debut in 1887.
Since its inception, opera singers have made Otello part of their repertoire, however it’s been 30 years since this famous tale of love, jealousy, treachery and betrayal was sung at Edmonton Opera said artistic director Brian Deedrick.
Faithful to the Bard’s storyline, Otello (John McMaster) the Moor is a general in the service of the Venetian Republic and returns to Cyprus triumphant after repelling a Turkish invasion. He marries Desdemona (Sally Dibblee), a faithful daughter of the republic.
But their joy and love is short-lived when the evil Iago (Gregory Dahl), Otello’s lieutenant, is a man so jealous of his general that he sets out to destroy him. Iago spreads a web of lies about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness and it ultimately destroys the three.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32-$155. Call 780-451-8000 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca.
The Edmonton International Jazz Festival, running June 24 to July 4 is releasing tickets for some of its headline acts.
Living legend Chick Corea opens the festival with a solo piano concert at the Winspear Centre on Thursday, June 24. Opening for him is the Terry Clarke Trio.
With a career spanning over 40 years, Corea has an impeccable range from straight-ahead jazz and avant-garde to bebop and fusion to children’s songs and symphonic works.
The celebrated little girl with the big voice, Nikki Yanofsky, returns Tuesday, June 29 to the Winspear after a sold-out performance at the 2009 festival. Just four days ago, Yanofsky released her first studio album titled Nikki. She was recently a featured artist at the Vancouver Olympics and joined fellow Canadians in recording K’Naan’s Wavin’ Flag for Young Artists for Haiti.
And finally the renowned DJ Kid Koala presents The Slew, a set of 70 minutes of raw guitar cuts and heavy beats worked across six turntables. Originally scored as a film soundtrack, the project stopped after the documentary collapsed.
Kid Koala shared its demise with Chris Ross and Myles Heskett, members of the award-winning Australian band Wolfmother. They resurrected it and are touring with a performance at the Starlite Room on Wednesday, June 30.
Tickets for Corea and Yanofsky are available at 780-428-1414 or online wwwlwinspearcentre.com. Tickets for Kid Koala are available at 780-420-1757 or online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.
Teatro La Quindicina kicks off its third summer season with a revival of Stewart Lemoine’s screwball caper On the Banks of the Nut opening Thursday, April 29 at the Varscona stage.
This time around Lemoine takes us to 1951 Wisconsin in a madcap adventure that mixes star-crossed lovers, a hapless lady tourist, pie, Mahler and bird watching — the customary off-the-wall adventure.
Performances run until May 15 with a 7:30 p.m. starting time. Tickets are $15-$26. Reservations can be made at 780-420-1757 or online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.
