Ruckus! at the Redwood: An Opera Revue Gala
Vol. 3.0 - The Circus Edition

Opera Revue has decided to perform "The Greatest Show on Earth".

Combining all the magnificent and death defying acts of a three-ring Circus while performing music from Verdi’s vengeful Rigoletto, Leoncavallo’s tragic Pagliacci, and Strauss’ slapstick Ariadne auf Naxos.

Professional opera singers and highly trained circus performers will continuously juggle your jaw and keep it from hitting the floor. Leave that to our trapeze artists. Fingers crossed... The 3rd Annual “Ruckus” Gala Show will now be at the Big Top Redwood Theatre. The facility comes complete with all the state of the art aerial equipment one can expect at a carnival of curiosities. Maybe even a flaming hoop to leap through. Snake charmers and Strongman acts will be sure to dazzle you as much as Smetana's Bartered Bride. Lions and tigers and bears? Maybe, we’ll see if the city grants those permits in time. In the meantime, send in the clowns.

Featuring the Opera Revue “band”
Danie Friesen - Soprano
Alexander Hajek - Baritone
Claire Elise Harris - Piano

And Special Guest Artists
Ambur Braid - Soprano
Haley Shannon - Aerial Silks
Kalen Davidson - Circus Artist

BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS!

Business Sponsors:
Cidel Private Bank
Notabl_
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Soulpepper Theatre
Cantare Music

Personal Donors:
Justin Irwin
Sandy McIntyre
Ann Summers Dossena

Meet our Guest Artists

  • Ambur Braid

    SOPRANO

    Renowned for her dramatically nuanced and psychologically complex interpretations, Canadian soprano Ambur Braid also brings to the stage an unmatchable authenticity and incandescent vocal power. Her Salome, Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), Die Färberin (Die Frau ohne Schatten), Eva (Schreker’s Irrelohe) andRachel (Halévy’s La Juive) have left an unforgettable impression, and this season Braid makes her anticipated role debut as Marie (Wozzeck) in two new productions.

    Praised as being “born to play Salome” (Bachtrack, 2023), it has since become a signature role for Braid, with huge critical acclaim in both Barrie Kosky’s production for Oper Frankfurt and Atom Egoyan’s production for Canadian Opera Company, the latter of which brought Ambur’s appearance in the film ‘Seven Veils’

    Recent concert highlights include Schmitt’s La Tragédie de Salomé with Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Alain Altinoglu and Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa. This season Braid returns to Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 at the Tanglewood Festival in Boston and with Gulbenkian Orchestra, both under Hannu Lintu. 

    Ambur Braid has received degrees from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and San Francisco Conservatory and is a studio alumna and former ensemble member of the Canadian Opera Company.

    @msamburbraid
    https://amburbraid.com/home/

  • Kalen Davidson

    CIRCUS ARTIST

    Kalen’s variety circus performances combine a wealth of amazing circus skills with a hilarious character and witty comedy.

    Experience with live musical comedy, physical theatre and vaudeville cabaret, as well as massive festival and high end special event performances over many years as a full time dedicated professional performer and producer.

    Notable Circus Companies & Shows
    Cirque Du soleil – Performer / Character Artist
    Circus Orange – Performer / Character Artist
    Zero Gravity Circus – Featured Stage Performer
    North Fire Circus – Featured Stage
    Performer

  • Haley Shannon

    AERIAL SILKS

    Haley attended her first Aerial Silks class in 2007 and has never looked back (or down!) She's been honoured to work as an Aerialist for theatre, film, corporate events and nightclub entertainment.