Canadian Stage Presents OPUS, Now thru Nov 16

World-renowned trailblazers in the world of contemporary circus, the Australian performance troupe Circa arrives in Toronto with their newest work, Opus. The North American premiere is presented by Canadian Stage for five performances only at the Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front St. E.), tonight, Nov. 12 to the 16th. Under the direction of Circa artistic director Yaron Lifschitz and accompanied by live music from the acclaimed Debussy String Quartet, Opus mixes circus and classical music to share an unexpected and breathtaking experience.

"For a long time, we've wanted to introduce a new circus work onto our Bluma Stage," said Matthew Jocelyn artistic & general director of Canadian Stage. "How better to do this than by inviting Australia's most recognized circus company to join us this season with a remarkable invention also featuring France's Debussy Quartet and the music of Shostakovitch. This is circus as you have never experienced it, a true meeting of high and low art, and high and low ground."

In an display of power and virtuosity, Opus features 14 acrobats tumbling, spinning and flying to the sounds of Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovich's string quartets, played live on stage by the Debussy String Quartet. Circa is known for creating new ways to experience circus, merging physicality and poetry to create impossible feats that bend genres and are seemingly effortless. Opus explores the complex relationships between the individual and the group, between the march of history and the dictates of the heart and between the tragic and the comic.

"Circa's artists bring an ensemble performance filled with intimate moments and improvisation - more sculpture than storytelling," said Lifschitz. "In a sense, what we want the work to do is to be a non-verbal expression of an emotion that doesn't have any other name - in fact an emotion that you hopefully didn't even know you could feel until you saw that work."

Lifschitz is an internationally acclaimed visual artist based out of Australia. He has directed over 60 productions throughout his career including large scale events, opera, theatre, physical theatre and circus. Since 2006, Circa has toured in 30 countries across six continents. Opus is Circa's largest ever staging under Lifschitz's artistic direction.

The Debussy String Quartet was formed in 1990 by young musicians studying at the Conservatoire de Lyon in France. Winners of the Evian International String Quartet Competition, it performs around 80 concerts a year in Europe, Asia and North America. It is a regular guest at distinguished concert halls and many of Europe's finest festivals.

Continuing to foster conversations about art and theatre, Canadian Stage will host a series of additional programs alongside Opus performances. A post show talkback will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13 with members of the creative team. Friday, Nov. 14 will feature a pre-show talk with Karen Fricker, from Brock University, to discuss the vibrant world of contemporary circus and where Circa fits within it. Another pre-show talk on Saturday Nov. 15 will feature Lifschitz discussing Opus' theme and development process.

Opus will be on stage at Canadian Stage's Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front St. E) for five performances only. Performances run from Wednesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. The performance is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission. Tickets from $30 to $99 are available online, by phone at 416.368.3110 or in person at the box office. For details visit www.canadianstage.com.

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