By Kevin Plummer

Photo of the cast of A Hand of Bridge rehearsing courtesy of Toronto Chamber Opera Productions.
Always eager to reach new audiences, local opera companies have been pretty innovative in their offerings recently. First, the well-established Canadian Opera Company and Royal Conservatory of Music teamed up to throw turntablism and improvisation into the opera mix for the Hip Hopera. For busy people who are interested in opera but don’t have three and a half hours to spare for Carmen, now comes Three Operas In One Hour. The unique opera experience will treat audiences to three full chamber operas—Dieppe, A Hand of Bridge, and the world premiere of O D’Amarti O Morire—all in only an hour.
The event kicks off the inaugural season of Toronto Chamber Opera Productions, the new kid on the opera scene mandated to stage an audience-developing repertoire performed by emerging young talents. The brain behind the company and the production’s conductor, Brian Wismath, explains: “For anyone who is intimidated by attending opera, this is a great event. The three operas vary in subject and length, are incredibly entertaining, yet remain sophisticated enough to satisfy opera lovers.”
With music by Matthew Tozer and libretto by Nick Milne, Dieppe (2006) is a “profoundly Canadian” piece recounting the ill-fated Canadian raid on the French town in August 1942. Told from four different perspectives, the drama follows a soldier on the frontlines, his wife Betty on the home front, an enemy gunner who has conflicted emotions about the attack, and a German nurse. Next, A Hand of Bridge (1959) is a witty satire, and—at only nine minutes in length—one of the shortest operas in the world. Its tale examines the love and betrayal hidden within a card game, during which each character takes a turn revealing their innermost thoughts through an arietta. The original Italian will be sung in English. Finally, for those who prefer their opera bloody, the performance closes with the premiere of O D’Amarti O Morire. The based-on-true-events story concerns Carlo Gesulado, an Italian composer who brutally murdered his wife (also his cousin!) and her lover in their bed in 1590.
Three Operas In One Hour takes place at the Walmer Centre Theatre (188 Lowther Avenue) on May 30 and 31 with doors at 8 p.m. Full details are on the TCOP website, and tickets—$15 (regular) or $10 (for students)—can be reserved in advance or bought at the door.