Voice Afire productions are small ensemble concerts using a combination of actors, dancers, singers, and musicians. They are also music-theater, but with staging adaptable to the venue.
Our shows feature members of the Toronto Symphony and professionals from the world of theatre, dance, and opera in ensembles of 3-8 performers.
Voice Afire Productions include:
Madama Butterfly
This English language adaptation of Puccini’s complete opera uses just two singers, an actor, and four instrumentalists (clarinet, violin, cello and synthesizer) to stunning effect. With minimal changes to Puccini’s original text and music, the poignant play that inspired the opera emerges, as powerful as ever. Madam Butterfly, by the great American playwright David Belasco, was a huge hit in 1900 when Puccini saw it in London. This story of a clash of cultures, of the doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his Japanese bride, moved audiences to tears and is as relevant now as it was then.
I Hate Opera (But I Love Madama Butterfly)
This is a variety show that will delight and entertain all ages. The 1st half features the jazz keyboard wizardry of Juno-nominated Chris Donnelly as well as solos and duets from opera and even a narrated version of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.
In the 2nd half Opera lovers will gain insight into Puccini’s masterpiece while opera neophytes will discover a new world. By reducing the forces required to just 7 performers and by eliminating some of Puccini’s music in favour of the spoken word in English, this production of Act I of Madama Butterfly is an intimate theatrical experience - a play with music.
The Magical Singing Drum
Using a traditional story from East/Central Africa, Ray Luedeke, Toronto/New York composer, and Joseph Ashong, master drummer from Ghana, have woven together elements of traditional African music and dance with more contemporary sounds to create a unique blend that will delight audiences of all ages.This show features 6 performers.
Close Embrace/A Tango Cabaret
This is a show that will inspire the audience to want to dance tango, and, since the show ends with a tango lesson and a milonga, anyone willing and able can give it a try, or just watch and enjoy.
While a master of ceremonies leads us through a narrative exploring the “heart and soul” of tango, the dance team El Abrazo performs in the “close embrace” style of tango to the music of our four piece “tango nuevo” band and baritone Nelson Lohnes. The show also features a multi-media tango ballet with projected visuals,
Tango Dreams.
The Art of Love/Into the Labyrinth
Using a text banned for two thousand years, Ray Luedeke has created a contemporary, multi-media masterpiece. Two pianists and an actor interact with each other and with projected visuals created by visual artist Ron Hurwitz. This show is by turn wildly funny and then dead serious, but always riveting and entertaining. Don’t be surprised to hear music that ranges from Rumba to Tango to Avant Garde – all in the name of Love. Or is it Lust?
I Confess, I Have Lived
This pocket opera, in four acts written for 2 singers, 2 actors and four musicians (violin, clarinet, cello and synthesizer), is a tempestuous love story, an intensely political story, the story of the remarkable spiritual journey of a woman, Matilde Urrutia, third wife of the poet Pablo Neruda. Matilde, interested only in her home and garden. Matilde, champion of the "disappeared ones" under the reign of the murderous Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Matilde, subject of some of the greatest love poems ever written.
Based entirely on the poetry of Pablo Neruda and on material from the memoirs of Matilde Urrutia, I Confess, I Have Lived may be performed in either English or in Spanish.
Circus Terrifico
A collaboration between Motus O Dance theatre and Voice Afire, Circus Terrifico is a whimsical and poignant comedy featuring Tchaikovsky’s soaring scores and original music by Canadian composer Ray Luedeke. It makes audiences of all ages laugh out loud and leave with a (big, clownish) smile!
Performed with the signature MOTUS O physicality and humour, see for yourself how a little magic, some juggling, tight-rope walking and fortune-telling can fulfill every child’s fantasy to ‘run off and join the circus!’