Remember that talented young kid who starred as Conrad Birdie in the New Westminster Secondary School production of Bye Bye Birdie back in 2009? The one who stepped out in top hat and tails as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Royal City Musical Theatre’s 2015 production of My Fair Lady?
Well, he’s back – this time in the operatic spotlight as Silvano in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), onstage Nov. 17, 19 and 25. The production is presented by critically acclaimed companies Opera Mariposa and Heroic Opera, and it features two casts of acclaimed and award-winning performers from across five continents.
Among them is the above-mentioned young performer from New Westminster, Thomas Lamont. Lamont’s career since leaving NWSS has also included solo performances with the Vancouver and Chilliwack symphony orchestras, as well as playing lead and cameo roles with Metro Theatre, Opera Mariposa, Vagabond Players and DragonDiva Operatic Theatre.
Jacqueline Ko, artistic director of Opera Mariposa, said Lamont was the perfect choice to join the cast of Un ballo in maschera.
“Verdi’s lush, expansive score demands exceptional artists, and we knew that Thomas was up to the challenge,” she said in a press release. “We’d previously worked with him in concert – he sang only one song, but afterwards, it seemed like every single audience member came up to ask who he was and rave about his performance. We’re so glad to be working with him again, and thrilled that he’ll be lending his beautiful voice and compelling stage presence to the role of Silvano the sailor.”
Lamont, for his part, says he’s delighted to be part of the show.
“Ballo has pretty much everything – passion, intrigue, sorcery, spectacle, and of course great music,” he said in the release. “I enjoy performing in a lot of different styles, from pop to jazz to musical theatre, but I was trained as an operatic tenor, and it’s wonderful to perform alongside so many other amazing artists and bring this magnificent opera to life.”
Other artists in the cast include award winners from the Metropolitan Opera auditions, Asia’s Got Talent and more. The production is directed by Vancouver Opera’s Adam Da Ros and veteran music director Richard Epp.
Un ballo in maschera is onstage Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2:30 P.M. AT Canadian Memorial United Church, 1806 West 15th Ave in Vancouver. It’s also on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Marpole United Church, 1296 West 67th Ave. in Vancouver.
Tickets are $28 general, or $24 for students and seniors, or $18 each for groups of four or more. They’re available at the door, online at www.operamariposa.com or www.heroicopera.com, or from Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.
