Togni to Stage New Opera April 1

Rehearsals are well underway for Halifax composer Togni’s new opera.

Nova Scotia composer Peter-Anthony Togni has just completed his first opera, with libretto by Sharon Singer.  The new work, which has been underway since 2010, is now in rehearsal in Toronto, and Classic Concerts NS has a sneak peek rehearsal photo of  the Love Scene with singers Lucia Cesaroni (Isis) and Newfoundland’s Michael Barrett (Osiris).

Other  singers are Michael Nyby as Seth and CBC Radio Two’s Julie Nesrallah as Nepthys.

Not up on your Egyptian Gods?  Here’s a brief synopsis, provided by librettist Sharon Singer:

Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt is inspired by a strange and compelling ancient Egyptian myth that centers of one of the world’s great love stories. Four siblings, children of the gods, Isis, Osiris, Seth, and Nepthys  come to earth to live as human beings. The idealistic King Osiris and his sister-wife Queen Isis bring their people the gifts of civilization: agriculture, weaving, a code of laws, the arts, and worship of the gods. Their brother Seth, however, is jealous of their power, their wisdom, and their devotion to each other. He murders  Osiris and usurps the throne, provoking a conflagration that Isis with all her strength, love, and magic, must try to extinguish.

Congrats to Peter and Sharon – looking forward to hearing all about the premiere, which takes place on Friday, April 1.  You can learn more about the work here.

Cesaroni and Barrett at a recent rehearsal