General Director, Opera in Concert
In July 1994, Guillermo
Silva-Marin increased his commitment to the performing arts
community by accepting the position of General Director of Opera in Concert taking over for founder and
Artistic Director Stuart Hamilton. Under his directorship this
prestigious company continues to thrive and fulfil its mandate of
featuring Canadian talent starring in operas that are seldom
performed in Canada.
As General Director, Mr. Silva-Marin has maintained the Opera in Concert season of four opera productions. As a result of his efforts, Toronto audiences continue to enjoy an ambitious and diverse repertoire that has included such works as Marschner's DER VAMPYR, Verdi's LUISA MILLER, Bellini's LA SONNAMBULA, Lortzing's ZAR UND ZIMMERMANN, Arrieta's MARINA, and SADKO by Rimsky-Korsakov.
The extraordinary success of Handel's ARIODANTE in April 2001 as a second installment to our Handel trilogy of ALCINA and next year's SEMELE augurs well for the future productions of baroque repertoire. Guillermo SilvaMarin, once again proves his ability to broaden Opera in Concert's mandate to present non-standard operatic works of great beauty and appeal. The 2001-2002 season will also feature Bellini's LA STRANIERA and Verdi's NABUCCO.
Guillermo Silva-Marin can also be credited with premiering contemporary Canadian opera on the Opera in Concert stage. In 1995, audiences enjoyed Timothy Sullivan’s FLORENCE, THE LADY WITH THE LAMP , followed by Healey Willan’s DEIRDRE in 1997 and John Beckwith’s THE SHIVAREE in April 2000.
In 1994 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast Opera in Concert’s 20th Anniversary performance of Ambroise Thomas’ HAMLET and his MIGNON for broadcast as part of the OIC 25th Anniversary celebrations in 1999.
An orchestral component is included in one opera each season, while the Opera in Concert Chorus is featured in each presentation. A major choral ensemble with an outstanding reputation, the Opera in Concert Chorus has also been engaged by the National Ballet of Canada, the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, the International Choral Festival and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
