Friends of Music – Stars of Tomorrow

Stars of Tomorrow, hosted by Iain Scott, is an annual operatic treat presented by Friends of Music. His unique and entertaining perspective on opera makes Iain one of Canada’s most popular opera educators. He has been a regular guest on CBC radio’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and the Met’s Opera Quiz from New York. He has a company called Opera–IS which gives opera ‘tours’ and opera courses. He is much in demand and has brought many new converts to the genre. Not surprising. At the concert on March 14th at St. Peters Church in Cobourg he had the audience and the three opera singers in the palm of his hand.

The way it works is three final-year students from the Opera Program at the University of Toronto Opera School are chosen to come to Cobourg each year. They are considered by the school to be opera’s Stars of Tomorrow. This year the Stars were soprano Andrea Cerswell, baritone Andrew Love and lyric tenor Patrick Jang. Accompanied by pianist Andrea Grant, a member of the University’s Opera Division staff, they performed works by Rossini, Donizetti, Massenet, Bizet, Mozart, Lehár, Britten and Gilbert & Sullivan.

Iain, in his inimitable and very funny fashion, introduced each piece, telling the story in modern lingo. The three singers, perhaps a little nervous in the first half, were obviously as entranced by Iain as was the audience. He also seemed to put them at their ease and by intermission they were in top form and it was obvious why they had been chosen.

The reception after the concert was also fun and an opportunity to find out from the students a little of who they are and the avenues they hope to pursue.

Iain will bring three more students next year, sometime in the Spring. Friends of Music never knows who or when until the last minute. That’s because they have to wait for the school to decide who the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ will be and when they will be ready to perform. Whoever they are they will be a delight, just as they have been every year.