Grammy award winning baritone, Gino Quilico sings his newest project, Great Voices of Canada into Victoria this month.
Accompanied by pianist, Robert Holliston, and a guest soprano, Quilico combines audio and video clips, personal reminiscences, and fine singing to tell the stories of magnificent Canadian singers whose careers promoted Canada’s talents on the international opera stage.
The evening presents an evening of memories, capturing personal and professional stories of Canada’s influential operatic greats. From Edward Johnson who, in May 1935, became general manager of the Metropolitan Opera and held the position for fifteen years to Pierrette Alarie and Léopold Simoneau (known worldwide as Mr. and Mrs. Mozart). Quilico also pays tribute to Canadian opera legends like Raoul Jobin, Portia White (considered the first Black Canadian opera singer), André Turp, Pauline Donalda (Founder of the Opera Guild in Montreal and creator of the role of Concepcion in Maurice Ravel’s opera L’heure espagnole!).
Quilico’s stories featuring Richard Verreau (one of the most celebrated tenors of his time), Maureen Forrester, Jon Vickers, Louis Quilico (Gino’s father), Joseph Rouleau and Teresa Stratas should prove especially poignant and personal, having performed with all of them at some point in his accomplished career.
Having enjoyed a tremendous career himself, Quilico honours these legendary singers; the great voices of Canada who have been instrumental in building our country’s enviable reputation as leader in innovation and excellence in the operatic form.
Victoria’s own Holliston accompanies Quilico on piano. Holliston studied at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the University of British Columbia. He has performed throughout Canada, the US, England and New Zealand. He is frequently heard on CBC Radio and often collaborates with many of Canada’s leading singers including Richard Margison, Benjamin Butterfield, Judith Forst, Nathalie Paulin, Susan Platts, Peter Barcza and many more. He is Pacific Opera’s Principal Coach, Head of Keyboard at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the founding director of the Conservatory’s Opera Studio.
The Farquhar’s intimate setting and unrivalled acoustics provide the perfect setting as Quilico introduces each of the singers by telling fascinating anecdotes about their lives before singing an aria from their trademark opera.
Great Voices of Canada is a co-presentation with Pacific Opera Victoria and the Farquhar Auditorium on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets at University Centre Ticket Centre 250-721-8480 or tickets.uvic.ca.
Visit ginoquilico.com to learn more about the award-winning baritone.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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